designing home: Does a ceiling have to be white?

That's an easy one. Of course the answer is no, but very few people veer away from this standard. If you're feeling adventurous and want to break away from the pack here are some suggestions.

Consider practicalities
When you decide to paint your ceiling a colour you need to think about how that colour will flow into other rooms both physically and visually.

Is there a place (e.g., molding or beam) where you can stop the colour?

Minimalist kitchen design modern kitchen

Urban Homes

The ceiling in the kitchen is on a different plane than the living room, thus providing an easy break for painting.

How will the colour look when viewed from the next room or rooms?

In the room above the ceiling is acting as an "accent wall" and flows nicely into the living room. The same blue is used in hints around the room creating a visual flow.

Will you have to change the colour again when you paint your walls?

Chances are you will. Are you up to painting several coats to cover a colour?

Is your ceiling in good condition?

Flaws will show up more with darker colours.

Consider ceiling height
How high is your ceiling? Nine feet or above will provide lots of height for darker or warmer colours.

Beverly Bradshaw Interiors

Luxurious Gold and Silver Painted Dining Room Ceiling traditional dining room

Allison Cosmos

However, if you have standard ceilings (8 feet) and your rooms are smallish you might consider lighter, cooler colours to help the ceiling recede and give the feeling of greater distance.

via Gus and Lulu

Traditional Home

Blue seems to be a popular ceiling colour.

Consider your wall colour

DecorPad

If you really want to paint your ceiling and aren't sure which colour to choose, take the cue from your wall colour and simply go several values lighter.

Toby Fairley

Or keep the ceiling and walls the same colour and break it up with crown moulding.....

or go a value or two darker for the ceiling.

Consider your trim colour
If you have a trim colour other than white/cream, look to it for ideas for your ceiling.These room have a very pulled together look by using the trim colour as a branching off point.