Painting Vaulted Ceilings

This dilemma comes from reader, Donna, questioning just how do you paint a vaulted ceiling?

HI! I HAVE 3 ROOMS WITH VAULTED CEILINGS...ONE ROOM IS HUGE WITH A FIREPLACE,AND I WAS THINKING OF PAINTING IT AN OLIVE KHAKI COLOR AND THE VAULTED CEILING 1/4 SHADE LIGHTER..OR SHOULD I PAINT THE CEILING AND THE WALL ALL THE SAME COLOR?..I FEEL IT WILL MAKE THE ROOM TO DARK...THEN A SMALL DINING ROOM THAT IS CONNECTED TO THE FIREPLACE ROOM,I WAS GOING TO FLIP THE COLORS..AND PAINT THE WALLS THE SAME AS THE CEILING IN THE FIREPLACE ROOM(the 1/4 lighter color) and the vaulted ceiling- the darker olive khaki color..but i have not heard of painting a vaulted ceiling a darker color than the walls..what is your opinion?the fireplace room is in the middle and the last room i was considering painting it the same as the dining room..thanks in advance donna green

See my ideas and add your own in the comments.

Comments

[Julie]

Having a coordinating color in the vaulted ceiling is a fine idea. Particularly in the angled parts. I'd probably leave the flat parts white, but I have an admitted bias to white ceilings. For the dining room, the lighter color is a good idea, especially if the rooms are connected and open. I do not like a ceiling color darker than the wall color. It makes the room seem shorter and cave -like. The only exception is IF you use the darker color just as an accent - trim or between two trim pieces. Else leave the ceiling white - that's a decision that's never wrong. Good luck. Send me pictures if you can.