Painting ceilings - do they have to be white?

[JimbosJetSet]

Just that really. We have to paint a really high ceiling in our house, and it would be easier to paint the walls and the ceiling all the same colour (a pale neutral colour). Do ceilings that are not bright white look dull or dirty though?

[CrispyFern]

Yes we moved into a house with beige ceilings and it looked absolutely horrible, grubby, dark, yuk. No.

[DustInTheWind]

We have had all sorts of different coloured ceilings, the children had dark blue with stars, one place had a coffered ceiling and we painted it orange and the woodwork white.
So it depends on you, the quality of the light and what effect you want to create.

[DeadCert]

In my opinion it would look odd but it depends on your taste

[JimbosJetSet]

There is not much natural light - does that mean white ceilings are the only way forward?

[confused79]

Definitely white, I think. I finally got round to painting my step kids room the other month after living there for a few years. The room was always dreary, and couldn't place why as it was pale pink the majority of the room, and tiny part at the top burgundy. It wasn't until I started painting the ceiling I noticed they'd painted that pale pink as well. Place looks a thousand times brighter now that I've painted the ceiling properly!

[wonkylegs]

I wouldn't have the same colour as the walls especially if it's pale as it might look like a mistake but coloured ceilings can be fab.
I have a red dining room ceiling with grey walls & white coving/rose which looks amazing - it's a very high ceiling and looks very grand.

[burnishedsilver]

Sil has off white ceilings. They're horrible.

[Sandthorn]

I'm with wonkylegs... Non-White ceiling can be good if it's a definite contrast, and a well-considered look, but I think the same colour as the walls would look weird.

I take it, from your high ceilings, you have a period house? If there isn't a picture rail, would you consider installing one? Then you could paint the wall colour up to the picture rail and white above.

[Thisishowyoudisappear]

I think it can really work, but if you're using an off-white I guess there is a risk of it looking dingy perhaps? Personally I don't like to see a blinding bright white ceiling or woodwork - I think it can kill the adjacent colour.

[Blanketontheground]

Try strong green walls and pale sage green ceilings. Sounds odd but look beautiful.

[MrsDesperado]

Yes Blanket especially with white cornicing/rail/ceiling rose, a sage green painted ceiling looks wonderful