Why Painting Your Ceiling Changes Everything

Let’s talk ceilings—because, honestly, they can make or break a room. It’s wild how often the ceiling gets completely overlooked, just slapped with whatever’s left in the paint tin, while all the effort goes into choosing the right shade for the walls. But here’s the secret: your ceiling is your fifth wall. It’s the biggest, most dominant surface above your head, and what you choose to do with it can truly transform the way your whole space feels.

Ceilings have always fascinated me—they’re not just a leftover bit of plaster, they’re a blank canvas for creativity, depth, and personality. Interior designers and Interior Magazines everywhere agree: ceilings are no longer an afterthought, but an essential statement in every well-designed room.

Before we dive in, here’s some inspiration for you:

If you want to see masterful use of colour (and ceilings that never get ignored!) Studio Ashby are my go-to. Their spaces are a feast for the eyes—layered, joyful, and so beautifully thought through from floor to, yes, ceiling.

I was thrilled to be asked to contribute to this fab House & Garden article, all about the clever paint tips that make any room feel instantly bigger and brighter. So many useful gems—perfect if you’re planning your next refresh.

Curious what the experts really think about white ceilings? This piece in Homes & Gardens is packed with advice, bold opinions, and a few surprises (including my take!). The perfect read before you pick up that paintbrush.

So many people are convinced that “brilliant white” is the only option for ceilings, as if it magically brightens a room. But here’s the truth: that stark, bright-white ceiling just draws your eye upwards. Your gaze hits that sharp line where the wall ends and the white begins, which stops the flow of the space and makes even beautiful rooms feel disconnected or unfinished.

I’ve seen countless examples where a perfectly lovely room is let down by a harsh, white lid. The effect? The room feels smaller, more chopped up, and—let’s be honest—a bit  “basic.” Sometimes it even highlights wall imperfections or dulls your chosen colour palette.

Take a look at the images below that I took from an estate agent’s listing (sorry if they are your home!). You’ll spot the stark lines, the hard transitions and even the most beautiful room feel ‘not quite right’. Compared to the examples from Pinterest, I really hope you can see the difference a ceiling can make. 

Here’s my number one trick, and it’s so simple: colour drenching! If you’re leaning towards a neutral or a pale shade for your walls, take that colour right up and over the ceiling too. The result is magic. Suddenly, the whole room feels wrapped, calm, connected, and so much more grown-up. The edges blur, corners soften, and there’s a gorgeous sense of flow.

Colour drenching with soft neutrals, gentle greens, muted blues, or even contemporary beiges transforms spaces—making them feel larger, more intentional, and far more luxurious without any extra spend.

I’m here for a statement ceiling and, yes, a moody dark ceiling can look absolutely stunning. But the secret? Don’t just paint the top and leave the walls pale. For true drama that feels intentional, carry the colour over every wall, around every corner. This “embrace the drama” approach creates mood and depth, instead of making the ceiling feel like it’s closing in on you.

An alternative that just looks so epic is to go for a tonal drench. This is where you choose a dark tone for the ceiling, extending down to the picture rail, and then a mid-tone for the walls and woodwork. It just looks absolutely delicious. 

When done properly, a dark, colour-drenched room feels like the chicest, dreamiest space. When done halfway? Just an oppressive  room with a really low-feeling lid.

If you love a light, bright ceiling, you can absolutely make it work beautifully—just take a moment to consider the undertone and how it complements your wall colour. Use a white with the same undertone as your wall paint. Pink walls? Use a white with a soft pink undertone. Green walls? A hint of green or yellow in your white. Beige or taupe? Aim for a warm white with a hint of pink.

That undertone match smooths the transition, erases the dreaded “border line,” and makes the flow feel totally intentional—like someone really thought about the space, start to finish.

If your home has quirky eaves, sloped ceilings, or a loft conversion, here’s something I’ve found makes a huge difference: colour drench the whole area. Carry your chosen colour around all the surfaces—the triangular bits, the slopes, everything. Leaving those quirky ceiling bits white just draws even more attention to them! It slices up your space and makes the geometry feel busy and claustrophobic.

When you wrap the colour around, it brings everything to life, makes the space feel expansive, and adds instant character.

Look below: you’ll see how quickly painting only the “easy” bits leaves the ceiling feeling chopped up and unfinished, while full colour drenching ties everything together beautifully.

So here’s the thing: your ceiling isn’t just the surface above your head—it’s a vital part of the whole story your room tells. Ignoring it or leaving it stark white is such a missed opportunity. When you colour drench your ceiling along with your walls, you create flow, mood, and cohesion. You soften edges and invite the eye to move effortlessly around the room, making your space feel bigger, calmer, and beautifully considered.

This is how you create your dream home—by thinking about the whole room, not just the walls or the floor. When you consider every surface, including that often-forgotten fifth wall above you, you craft a space that truly feels like you. A home that’s not just styled, but lived in. A sanctuary that welcomes you every single day.

Dream homes aren’t just about the furniture or the paint colour, they’re about the whole environment you create—and that seriously starts at the ceiling.

Tash x