4 Trendy Ceiling Paint Colors That Aren't White (& 4 To Stay Away From)

Like vanilla ice cream, white ceilings will always be a safe choice. Classic and much-loved, they provide a neutral palette in a home's decor. Thanks to maximalism, homebodies are reaching for the paint can to bring more exotic flavors into interiors, using the fifth wall as the perfect sampler. There are shades of paint you'll want to use on your ceilings, and there are those you won't want to use. Need some help deciding? There are at least four trendy ceiling colors that aren't white — neutral black, sky blue, forest green, and warm gray — and four to stay away from — anything neon, pastel, red, and yellow. While there will always be exceptions to the rule, these colors can be a risky choice and are better avoided if you're looking for something that's sure to impress.

Painting a ceiling can be challenging. DIYers recommend choosing a flat paint to avoid the streakiness that can come with glossy varieties. Apply with a roller because it will provide good coverage over any grooves that might be in the ceiling. Although there are many techniques for the application, some suggest painting in the direction of the light that enters the room. If you're also painting the walls, doing the ceilings first will speed up the process and give you the chance to clean up your lines later.

Black ceilings are dramatic, sophisticated, and bold, and they can make walls look taller, drawing the eye upward and creating depth. Black can also bring out architectural details and make a large room appear cozy. Black ceilings are trending throughout the home, including kitchens, bedrooms, living rooms, and bathrooms. Interior designers recommend using the right black. With red, brown, or purple undertones, black will be warm. With blue or green, it will be cooler. You want a neutral black, which is one with no undertones, so that it harmonizes with any other color in the room.

In the zeal to make your home one of a kind, it might be tempting to do something truly outrageous. Painting the ceiling can enhance an interior, but think twice before painting it the color of a high-visibility safety vest. Whether it's paint that glows under black light or simply a orange, yellow, or lime green that's extremely bright, neon is a no-no on ceilings, according to professional decorators. The physical act of painting a ceiling is hard enough, so keep in mind that painting over a fluorescent color will require several coats of a color-blocking primer.

When it comes to ceilings, light shades of blue are in. They work with many palettes, open up a space while defining it, and refresh a room. Sky blue ceilings are also lauded in the interior design world for bringing a sense of calm to the home. In the South, it's common to paint the ceiling of a front porch in this color because it's said to extend the feeling of daylight, making sky blue a bright idea for rooms with lots of windows that usher in natural light.

Maybe you jumped on the Barbie pink bandwagon after seeing the movie and decided that your ceiling (or any other wall in the house) has to match. Or, maybe you just want to bring other happy colors like lavender or sage into the home. While it's certainly possible to use these colors in a space, pastels are best left for accents in rooms rooted in neutrals. Think candles, vases, small dishes, or even flowers. A pastel color on the ceiling can look child-like or cheap, making it a paint mistake, according to a real estate pro.

Forest green might harken back to the 1980s as a home color scheme, especially when paired with accents of reddish-purple. Break up that outdated combination, and this lush shade is fresh again, especially for the ceiling. It's a way to incorporate nature into a space, reminding the occupant of woodlands and foliage. Paint makers offer exciting selections of forest green, each shade subtly different from the other with the addition of undertones for warm or cool hues. Make sure to swatch before painting, however, as green ceilings can cast a slightly sickly glow in certain lighting.

TikTok's Red Theory trend can instantly elevate the boring picture frame on your wall — and, some believe, the wall itself. The idea is that adding any red element, big or small, will make the home look better. But red is a controversial color. It has been described as an aggressive color that can trigger anxiety, making it a choice you want to avoid if creating calm in a room is a priority. Decorators recommend using red that reads more like terracotta and to use on the ceiling only in small spaces.

If you gravitate to white ceilings but want to try the painted ceiling trend, a warm gray may be for you. That's because, like most whites, these shades of gray are quiet and soft. And what's nice is that you can find warm grays across the spectrum, from light to dark, all of them bringing a cozy feel to a room. Warm gray is one of the most popular shades used in the home. Because it's so common, you'll have plenty of opportunities to try out different colors until you find a swatch that's perfect for your space.

The problem with yellow ceilings is the same with other primary colors. It's considered jarring because primary colors are saturated, so much so that yellow is often hated on any wall of the house. Some describe yellow as energetic, even optimistic, and that might be true for many people. But how much vigor do you want in a room where you and your family are meant to relax? For yellow on ceilings, muted shades are considered better for a home's design. Leave the bright hues for trim and other accents to avoid overwhelming the space.