Vaulted Ceiling Painting Help (floor, color, ceilings, living room)

[riaelise]

Hi there. can't decide what to do with our family room that has the volume ceiling. We are going to paint the walls a medium toned gray. Should we also paint the slanted part where the skylight/window is or is it ok to leave it white? Trying to be cost efficient here, so it would save us some by not having that slanted part painted. From what I've read online it's a toss up - some say paint it, as long as the wall color isn't too dark, others say to leave it white if you aren't using light colors. This gray isn't dark but it isn't really light either. What do yall think?

here are some pictures (actually listing photos but the living room still has the original owner's color, which I hate):





Thanks!

[riaelise]

Here is another pic from the second floor, where you can see the sloped ceiling and skylight area:

[K'ledgeBldr]

Well, common sense says if you DO NOT paint it you're money ahead.

And since that was the basis of your question- you answered your own question.

[riaelise]

Originally Posted by K'ledgeBldr

Well, common sense says if you DO NOT paint it you're money ahead.

And since that was the basis of your question- you answered your own question.

Not particularly helpful and the 'common sense' quip was useless and unnecessary. While I said that we are trying to be cost efficient, cost was not the basis of the question. If one reads the post, the question was should we or should we not paint it. it really does depend on how it looks. The line about cost is just secondary, a factor, but not the overall deciding factor. If it looks ok unpainted then I'll go with leaving the ceiling white and saving a nominal amount of money. If it doesn't really look that great, then I'll bite the cost and paint it.

I await further helpful thoughts as to what prevails with vaulted ceilings - do you paint the sloped part or is it ok to leave it white, based on the pictures below.

Thanks.

[Hedgehog_Mom]

I'm planning to paint my living room soon, and the sloped part of my vaulted ceilings won't be getting painted. My sister painted her walls and ceilings the same color throughout the house and it turns an interesting space into a big blur. I like the contrast between white ceilings and painted walls, and the way it draws your attention up to notice the height of the ceilings. With white baseboards and door moldings, the white ceiling looks like it belongs.

[silibran]

If you use an intense color on the walls, then I think you should have the ceilings painted, preferable in paint several tones lighter than the walls. In other words, in the same color, but with more white to make the color lighter.

If you use a paler, neutral color, then I think you could skip the repainting of the ceiling, especially if you choose your color to relate to the ceiling color.

You could also choose to paint one of the more interesting walls an accent color, the rest of the wall a neutral, and possibly leave the ceilings the same color, especially if you choose your colors wisely. IMO, a stark contrast between the ceiling and walls is visually bothersome. You have an interesting interior. I think choosing colors should play that up, making it a feature.

[Electrician4you]

get a sample of colors you want. Paint a 3x3 square of each color you plan on using. Leave it to dry and take two weeks to make up your mind. It's easier to cover a few 3x3 squares than to repaint or live with that color. Those color samples are not how you make up your mind in a big house and a expensive paint job.

If you paint the walls IMO I would leave the sloped part white. My bedrooms have vaulted ceilings and I leave them white.

[KittySkyfish]

I would paint only the vertical walls gray, but choose a warmer gray than you think because your ceiling paint has some warmth/beige to it. It doesn't look pure or cool white. This warmth will really stand out if your walls are cooler or true gray. One color that comes to mind is Behr's "Eiffel for You" from the Marquee collection. I like it because it's a warm gray that can survive trim and ceiling paint that have red and orange undertones. And I think it'll go well with your floor tile.



It's the center color:

[riaelise]

Guys, thank you. Appreciate the feed back.

[johngolf]

I say if it is not vertical it is a ceiling, not a wall. My present and last home have had cathedral ceilings and I never considered painting them. I also have never heard the expression "volume ceiling".