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New paint dresses up a room instantly! But don’t forget about your ceilings, which occasionally need a fresh coat. You can paint your ceiling the same color as the rest of the room, or go bold with white or off-white to open up the space—the choice is really up to you. Just remember, since ceilings don’t need to be painted as often as walls, be sure of your choice as it'll be a while until you have to change it again.
It's now time for the details. While it's possible to use wall paint on these higher surfaces, ceiling paint has a higher viscosity so it's less likely to drop or blob during application. Additionally, most ceiling paint is super flat to avoid imperfections showing up alongside the gloss. For those repainting due to stains or water marks from a previous leak, make sure to prep your ceiling with one or two coats of primer first. Doing so will prevent the stains from bleeding through your final paint color.
You'll also need a reliable paint roller with an extension pole to help you reach every corner. Don't skimp out on a quality roller either as cheap rollers have the tendency to leave fuzz and generally make it more difficult to paint on a smooth coat. It's also best to not overload your roller with paint as this could result in unwanted drips. Scroll on for the best ceiling paint options and let the repainting begin!
We're starting off with our top quality pick for a non-reflective sheen ceiling paint. You can even tint it if you want a color beyond white. "Painted a ceiling that had never been painted since home was bought new 15 years ago," a verified purchaser wrote in a review. "Coverage was great. Looks clean and bright."
This tintable formula is an affordable option that includes primer for better coverage. It also provides mold and mildew resistence making it ideal for bathrooms.
Got stains? Here's the ultimate multipurpose stain blocker. To make it even better, you can use it on a variety of surfaces and not just ceilings. There's also a heavy-duty oil-based formula for tougher stains. "I remodeled my bathroom and primed first than painted," a five-star reviewer shared. "It hid every stain and discoloration. I would say after 25 years of not doing anything to my bathroom, it now looks brand new!"
If you're not sure when to add a second coat, this color-changing paint is a sanity saver. It goes on purple and changes to pure white when dry. "I had no idea there was color changing paint like this," according to a satisfied customer. "This paint makes it so easy to make sure you have good coverage and don't miss any spots when painting your ceilings. It was kind of shocking and a little scary at first when painting the ceiling with a paint that looks lavender. However, it made it very easy to see any little spots or crevices I missed so I could get a good, even coverage."
If you're sensitive to chemical odors or simply don't like the smell of fresh paint, Clare's zero-VOC formula is for you. The flat white finish reduces glare and as a bonus, it's mildew-resistant. "The ceiling paint didn't drip, rolled smoothly, and has a nice clean, white color," a shopper commented. "No complaints!"
Even though it's not ceiling specific, we recommend this for bathrooms where there's high moisture. The built-in antimicrobial agents inhibit mold and mildew growth, so if you have poor ventilation in a bathroom, add this to your cart!
Arricca Elin Sansone is a long-time House Beautiful design and garden contributor. She also writes for many other print and digital publications, including Veranda, Country Living, and The Pioneer Woman.