decorating help - what to do with above the picture rail

[Iwanttobeadog]

the walls will be F&B cat's paw - i'm not 100% sure about this colour but i picked up umpteen tins of random colours when our homebase was closing down so i'm going to go with it. i shall do the woodwork (skirting boards / door / fire surround in new white.

i can't decide if i should do the ceiling in new white too, and above the picture rail, or cat's paw right up to the ceiling with the picture rail itself in the white? i don't think i can do the picture rail in cat's paw as i don't have eggshell in that colour.

the ceiling is currently white and doesn't really need painting, and if i do do it in new white then would i need to do the ceiling of the adjacent room in the same?

i've been puzzling and going around in circles for days, someone please just decide for me

thanks

[wowfudge]

If you paint above the picture rail the same colour as the walls below imo it will look odd and it will also close the room in - white gives a sense of space while darker colours make things feel smaller. Is there coving too? New white is quite a strong yellowy cream, I'd stick to white above the picture rail and on the ceiling. If you have anything like a ceiling rose, maybe paint that new white? Paint the picture rail itself new white like the rest of the woodwork.

[Iwanttobeadog]

thanks wowfudge, that was my initial assumption as that's how it was previously. i was thrown by reading the F&B guidance that said painting all the way up was the way to go. although their ideas dont necessarily transalte well to my humble semi.

no coving, and no ceiling rose, although the ceilings are quite high

i thought about mixing three parts white emulsion to one part cat's paw for the strip above the picture rail to get a lighter version, but i'm not sure i want a stripey effect

[wowfudge]

I think if you are not careful you could end up with the area above the picture rail looking nicotine stained if you mix cat's paw with white!

[BravingSpring]

I'm thinking of doing the picture rail in the hall the same colour as the walls with the freeze and ceiling in white, sorry, that doesn't help if you don't have gloss in the same colour.