Sometimes, I sit down to write posts about paint tips which I’ve learned during my experiences with the design process, and then I’ll delete the draft after thinking to myself “everyone must already knows this.”
But even as adults, we can sometimes be a little shocked by the new things we learn. Like just the other week when I found out that it’s not actually illegal to have the interior light on in your car while driving, which was something my parents told me was illegal as a child. What else did they lie to me about? Santa?
However, this draft is worth publishing because I recently used this paint trick and it worked. It’s very simple and I encourage everyone (whether you have a small space or a large space) to do this to create the feeling of a larger room.
Here it is…
Paint your ceiling the same color as your walls.
This will draw the eye up, which creates the illusion of a larger room and higher ceilings.
Bonus if you’re able to install some trim and crown molding, as I’ve found this can also make the ceilings look higher.
How do I know this paint trick works? Because people fall for it. It’s almost guaranteed that every time I share a full photo of our bedroom that someone will say “the room looks so much bigger!!” or ask “what the hell?!?! is the ceiling higher???
Yes, I was so sick of our 8 foot ceilings so I ripped out the drywall and added 10 inches of height to the room. Doesn’t it look great?
Before
After
I want to note that the first photo was taken with an iPhone and the second with a wide angle lens, but you get the picture (heh).
I’m in fact not a magician, but have learned to manipulate the standard 8 foot ceilings and boxy rooms that our super luxurious bi-level has to offer, and painting the ceilings and walls the same color is one of those tricks I’ll use again and again. In fact, I used the same method in our recent bathroom renovation:
Also, I want to debunk the myth that painting dark walls *and* a dark ceiling makes your room feel smaller. I feel like that rumor was started by someone who also installs carpet over hardwood floors and I don’t think it could be further from the truth. In fact, I think this trick actually works better with darker colors.
If you plan on going dark, just make sure your room gets a sufficient amount of light so it doesn’t feel too dreary.
Here are some examples of dark and light rooms which feature walls and ceilings that are painted the same color:
So there you have it! If you have been struggling with how to make the most of your small space, I encourage you to try this paint trick. And let me know how it goes 🙂
Looking for more paint tips? Click here to download my free guide to choosing the perfect paint color!
Have a great rest of your week!
Elizabeth Ramey says
November 19, 2019 at 7:18 pmHey Alisa! I recently found you on IG through the One Room Challenge and love your style! I am really liking the trim, wall and ceilings all one color. I am getting ready to tackle my half bath and am going to do this (at least the bottom half as I am wallpapering the top portion) and wondering if you use the same paint finish on the trim, wall, doors, etc. If so, which finish do you prefer? Thank you so much!
aglassofbovino says
November 21, 2019 at 4:58 pmHi Elizabeth! Great question. I use the same matte finish on the walls, ceiling, and doors (although I recommend semi-gloss on doors), and on the trim, I use semi or high gloss. Hope that helps!
Cindy says
January 23, 2020 at 11:11 pmHey we are doing built ins in our basement , with lower ceilings , would you also paint these the same color as the walls, ceiling, and trim?
Pete Walters says
November 22, 2020 at 11:47 amHello, what Ian TT e blue/grey color you used in your bedroom please? Thank you
Sara says
May 4, 2020 at 2:17 amSo beautiful! I like your style! Would you please let me know what is the paint color of your bedroom? The name/brand? Thank you!
aglassofbovino says
May 4, 2020 at 8:50 amThank you! It’s farrow and ball De Nimes 🙂
Kristen says
June 5, 2020 at 9:09 pmHi! This looks great, thanks for posting! Looks like you painted your outlet cover and outlets the same color as well. Did you also paint the light switches/dimmer…everything? If yes, does it scratch off over time? I’m told if I paint the light switches, the paint will peel off/chip over time from touching a lot.
Thanks!
Bailey Henley says
June 9, 2020 at 6:03 pmHi! I love your paint trick of painting walls and ceiling the same color. I, myself, am not afraid of dark colors. I’m wanting to repaint my bedroom and wanted to find out the name of one of the paints in a picture you posted. It’s the first pic after your before and after pics.
Thanks.
Casey says
July 19, 2020 at 7:59 pmLove this tip. Thanks for sharing!
Can you tell me the color of the room right after the bathroom before and afters? The dark grey color.
Thank you!
aglassofbovino says
July 19, 2020 at 8:11 pmhi! yes it’s SW agreeable gray.
Casey says
July 20, 2020 at 5:02 pmHello! I was actually interested in the color after the bathroom photos. The one with a leather chair in it – a darker gray 🙂 Thanks so much. I just discovered your page and love it!!
Kathleen Lenchner says
July 20, 2020 at 2:55 pmJust found you on IG and I am blown away at your design skills! Your taste is amazing.
Emily says
August 8, 2020 at 10:39 amI love this! have low popcorn ceilings and am thinking about covering them with shiplap and adding trim details to the walls and painting everything blue. There’s no overhead lighting, so I’m afraid it’ll be way too dark. What do you think? The room does get quite a bit of natural light at one end. Thanks!
Willyne Rouse says
November 9, 2020 at 3:49 amLove the ceilings and walls being the same color, this is something I had been pondering and your post has helped me decide to do it, I would like to know if it works with painting trim and baseboards white?
Luke Sponsler says
February 18, 2021 at 8:18 pmI have this same question.
If the walls and ceiling are all the same color (crushed ice: egg shell sheen) and the crown and door/windows casings are painted a lighter shade of white (snowbound: gloss sheen) will this have the same effect?
Will painting the crown moulding white alter the visual illusion?
Shah Mohammad Polash says
November 9, 2020 at 5:38 amMy friend is having a baby and wants me to paint the room for him. (Just because I recently painted my son’s room.)
It’s helpful to know you need to repair defects and clean surfaces before anything else. I didn’t have to worry about that in my own home because I painted over a builder-grade job. But my buddy’s house is pre-war. We’ll have to look into interior painting supplies!
Missy says
January 22, 2021 at 1:44 pmWhat is the amazing dark green color and who makes it in the library room with the large painting? It’s stunning. Thanks so much for your help!
Missy says
January 22, 2021 at 1:46 pmAlso, I failed to ask. The room I want to paint floor to ceiling in that shade of green has a guard rail and floor/ceiling trim. Do you have any suggestions what kind of paint?, meaning should it all be a matte finish? I’m just a tad confused with that as I don’t really want the single wood panel guard rail to be a focal point. Thanks!
cleaning services Hobart says
February 2, 2021 at 2:24 amThank you for your ideas trick I love it I appreciate your site this is very useful and a lot of information thank you.
Lisa says
February 11, 2021 at 10:24 amHi, I love your article and ideas on painting walls and ceiling the same color! I’m painting a small room, with the same color wood floors as your featured bedroom photo, the color bm palladian blue. What types of lighting fixtures would add heighth? Since the room has issues, placement of a ceiling fixture will be interesting. One wall is slanted, another is partly recessed…a five foot bench seat would fit there, and the current fixture and wiring wasn’t placed in the visual center of ceiling.
Diane says
April 17, 2021 at 11:28 pmHi Alisa, your bedroom and bathroom are gorgeous, well done. I have always been adamant that my ceilings be painted the same as my walls, I love that look and think a white ceiling in a gray or green or whatever room looks like the owner forgot to paint one wall. However, a designer recently recommended that when I next paint my kitchen/TV room, I paint the ceiling white because I have so many recessed can lights (I am obsessed with having enough light in the kitchen) and because the lights are white, they will stand out a bit less if the ceiling is white. I can see her point, my walls are going to be a pale greige, and the white lights will stand out on a greige ceiling. But I know having colored walls and a white ceiling will drive me nuts. What is your advice in this situation? Thank you.
Paul Yocum says
May 29, 2021 at 12:19 pmOk I’ll go along that painting ceiling and walls the same dark color makes the room look bigger and ceiling higher. But in your before and after example there apparently had been some changes made with the doors because it doesn’t appear to be the same room. But I’ll concede that it is. In your example the addition of all of the vertical trim lines is what mostly makes the room seem taller, not the paint.
Deborah says
July 29, 2021 at 9:48 pmIt cannot be the same room unless there were major Reno’s…….it’s not just the difference between a phone camera and a wide angle lens. I would have liked to see the actual room in two photos
Alisa says
July 29, 2021 at 11:37 pmHi DEBORAH:) it is the same room and no “major renovations” were done. and accusing me of lying is rude. You can see the before and after on my Instagram page. Farewell!
Valerie Kalstabakken says
June 20, 2021 at 11:57 amGreat advice to paint wall and ceiling same color. I have a log home that’s just plain dark. Wood everywhere. Albert nice it needs light. Can I paint the tongue and groove ceiling white like the walls and leave the log beams as is? Will than look nice ? Thank you!
Lesli Ledford says
July 17, 2021 at 12:31 pmHi. I so enjoy your blog. I have a question… when painting a room the same color (ceilings, wall, trim), do you use flat paint for the ceiling and trim as well. Or, semi gloss for trim and ceiling paint tinted the same color?? Thank you so much so your time
Lesli
aglassofbovino says
July 17, 2021 at 12:40 pmHi Lesli – it’s really personal preference! I use the same finish on walls and ceiling (eggshell or matte), then semi gloss on the trim.
Sheenaugh-lee says
July 21, 2021 at 8:40 amHi Alisa
Wow im loving your designs, im currently busy redoing our new office space and Im doing the Boardroom up It isnt a big room so Im loving your idea of painting the roof and the wall the same colour, I love the dark blue that you used and was wondering if you could tell me the name of the colour please?
Keep doing what you do its awesome
Kind regards
Sheenaugh-lee
Sheenaugh-lee says
July 21, 2021 at 8:43 amOh the other thing I plan to do is bring in cornises that has roses trim on it, I want the roses to stand out but dont want it one toned should I paint it this blue colour and just highlight the roses with a soft gold trim?
Your advice would be valued
aglassofbovino says
July 21, 2021 at 8:49 amHi there – thanks! It’s Farrow and Ball De Nimes 🙂
John Barnes says
July 26, 2021 at 10:07 amHi there, I’m super keen to give this a go and paint the walls and ceiling a rich blueberry blue colour; but also a little nervous! The room in question is a living space but doesn’t have a huge amount of light. Could that be a bit risky? Or perhaps I just then need to invest in good lighting solutions….
John Barnes says
July 26, 2021 at 10:08 amHi there, I’m super keen to give this a go and paint the walls and ceiling a rich blueberry blue colour; but also a little nervous! The room in question is a living space but doesn’t have a huge amount of light. Could that be a bit risky? Or perhaps I just then need to invest in good lighting solutions.
Alex says
August 13, 2021 at 10:07 pmHi, I love your post about same color ceilings and walls. I wonder if you use the same sheen on both, or if you paint the ceilings in a ceiling paint flat, and walls in matte or eggshell?
I have a 1920’s Tudor style house that doesn’t have a lot of light and many rooms have sloped ceilings without crown moulding which would lend to using the same color on both. I was thinking about Farrow & Ball’s Ammonite #274 for both walls and ceilings to give a little warmth. Thank you!
Susan Lant says
September 11, 2021 at 1:56 pmHi Alisa, what a FABULOUS website you have – you have great taste and your advice is inspirational! Am moving house and was a bit down and daunted by taking over a property which will be a major project but I cannot wait to get started now that I have seen your wonderful website with advice and the before and after photos are quite simply stunning. I found the bedroom photos out-of-this world! Please keep us updated with your wonderful projects. Please may I ask where I can buy the crystal glass and gold backplate door handles?