Hi! so we are closing on a new house today (yay!!) the main living area has a tiered ceiling (it roughly looks like an emerald cut diamond). So when I paint this room, would you leave the whole tiered ceiling white, or would you paint the first tier the same as the wall and just leave the one little rectangle section on the top (where the fan is, etc) white?
If you have any links to demonstrate what you recommend, that would be helpful.
We are using a Sherwin Williams light French gray on the walls.
TIA
Excellent suggestions. I Love the examples that have crown molding and trim work. Since ours is sloped more at a 45 degree and not a 90 that could really help define the ceiling space.
Y'all are wonderful! (oh, still not sure what I'll do, but I'm going to leave ceiling white for now and come back to these links!)
I believe you are referring to a "tray ceiling". Personally, I would probably paint some part of the ceiling a color other than white. See link for examples... https://www.google.com/search?q=tray+ceilings&client=...
Also go to houzz.com and search for tray ceilings to get different ideas.
Best of luck with your new house and have fun decorating!!
Google "tray ceiling paint ideas" for TONS for great stuff. One of my favorites puts the wall color on the vertical faces, white on the horizontal faces, and a classy, matching damask style wallpaper on the last section (where the fan would be). Gorgeous and very classy looking.
There are so many ways you could do this.
I love this look (I like a touch of blue without drowning in it):
http://www.ronspainting.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/...
I've seen a tray ceiling with a sky mural (just pale blue sky and a few clouds) and it was beautifully done - really opened up the room:
http://www.kensmurals.com/sky%20ceilings.htm
The light grey walls, white trim and dark blue ceiling is a nice look too:
http://decoratingbydonna.com/2012/08/31/what-color-should...
Changing my response, after seeing the above:
In a smaller home, I think you should leave the whole ceiling, including all tiers, white. In a mansion, such as those linked above, you can be more creative, but I still think you should always leave the first tier white.
Look at any high end decorating magazine, and you will see that most ceilings are white, and ceilings and tiers and mouldings are usually painted the same color.
If you paint the ceiling a partially different color, it will become a focal point. It depends on the rest of your decor, and the size of your room, whether you want your ceiling to be a focal point. If you have elaborate decor in your room you will want to keep your ceiling simple (all white). If your room is more spare, you can do more with your ceiling. If you have a lot of artwork in the room, you probably want to keep the ceiling simple as well, and all white.
Check out Architectural Digest, for one. Most of the ceilings in AD are pretty elaborate.
I think you should add a little gloss to your ceiling, as well. Use eggshell or satin paint, vs. flat. It's really beautiful that way.
Do paint swatches first, because whites can be really different, and some whites are really ugly! You want a rich, creamy, lovely white, not a greyish, dismal one.
Have fun!
I am sure you can figure out something great! But I do remember hearing advice from a decorator. She said to mix a bit of your ceiling color in with your white paint and it will be a good match. You should always mix paint if you have more than 1 can anyway because they can be slt off. Just mix the wall color in together.
I agree that it makes a difference on how high the celings are because it will call attention to them if you paint it a different color.
For me? I like drama in my decorating! I hate it in real life.
