If you’re thinking about calling a painting contractor to recoat your ceiling, you’re not alone. While ceilings don’t face as much wear and tear as interior walls, they still require new paint every so often. Follow the guide below to determine when to repaint and how to choose the right color and finish.

Knowing When to Repaint

Keep an eye out for marks made by the kids; yellowing from sun, smoke, or age; or unsightly brown water stains. After you scrub away the smudges or fix the leak, call a painter to seal problem areas and roll on a fresh, even coat. 

When this happens, you’ll need to decide whether to paint only the ceiling or redo the entire room. If you had the walls painted recently, you might be satisfied with the ceiling alone. Conversely, repainting the whole room at once ensures a cohesive, satisfying look. In any case, if you work with a skilled painting contractor, your ceiling could go as long as 10 years between paint jobs.

Choosing the Right Color

The color you paint your ceiling can have a sweeping impact on the look and feel of the room. That’s why many painting contractors recommend white or other light tints. Dark colors can make the room feel cramped and call attention to defects — especially if your ceiling is textured. White is also best if you tend to change wall colors. Whichever shade you switch to everywhere else, the ceiling will always match.

If you want a colorful ceiling that avoids clashing with the walls, find a complementary paint a few shades lighter than your wall colors. There are even paints made specifically for ceilings, designed to keep your space bright and open.

Finding the Perfect Finish

Eggshell is the most popular finish for walls, but is it right for your ceiling? In order of descending shine, you can choose from high-gloss, semi-gloss, satin, eggshell, flat, and matte finishes. Walls in kitchens or family rooms usually receive glossy paints to protect from scuffing and spills, while bedrooms can get a coat of anything from satin to matte, depending on the usual amount of traffic. Eggshell, flat, or matte are best for ceilings, but consult your painting contractor before deciding.

 

Do you need help making interior painting decisions? If so, Bill's Painting is happy to answer your questions. Based in Cincinnati, their painting contractors have assisted local clients for more than three decades. They perform interior and exterior painting for residential and commercial projects, hand-washing every home before getting started. They also do color matching, custom shades, and even historical restorations. Call (513) 742-3937 today to ask a representative about your project and visit their website to learn more about what they can do for you.