How Do I Paint a Tray Ceiling??

I have a few tray ceilings in my house and here's what I can tell you....white is BORING and COMMON. I am not the boring type so in one room I have a white ceiling and then the tray portion (or step-up part) is painted a lighter version of the sage green that is on the walls. It looks fabulous and everyone thinks so. In our dining room, which is more formal, I chose a candlelight white for the ceiling but then chose a light gold hue for the tray and the walls are cranberry. When the recessed lighting and rope lighting in the tray ceiling are on it gives the room the most incredible glow and ambience that you could have! So soft and warm....it's just ahhhhhhhh. LOL! The last tray ceiling is in one of my daughter's rooms and we got funky with that one. Her room is Caribbean Aqua Blue on the walls and the tray ceiling has a two-tone lime green paint in it and on the ceiling. It is the coolest teen girl room ever and all her friends tell her this. She wanted a surfer paradise so we made it that! Tray ceilings are architectural enhancements and white is what EVERYONE does. I say dare to be different and go with the lighter version of the Featherstone or even a complimentary color that will blend into the room and keep the ceiling white. You'll be glad you did. I hope this helps you out and let us know what you chose!

If you type "tray ceiling" into the google box it will come back with thousands of images of different tray ceilings. Click on "images", and you'll see what I mean. Nearly all were painted a color.

I'm not a fan of a bright white unless its moulding which gives total accent to everything else in the room. I would think a lighter version of what the rest of your room is painted will set it off and accent it nicely.

Also, I like a dark bedroom. It makes it feel warmer and more romantic. My bedroom isn't painted yet but I'm planning to do it as a country blue and medium brown (not sure yet whether I'm going to do stripes or an accent wall).

I agree w/ the decorator @ the paint store...the white will be a stark contrast & it may be too much. Of course that would be something that an interior designer or someone in the arts field would notice! Ifg you go on www.HGTV.com you can see what professional designers recommend in situations like this. In the end it has to be something you can live (sleep!) With. Good luck! HTH!

Here all builders build spec homes with white ceilings. The one builder who did the "1/8th shade lighter on the ceiling" lost money on a house. People repeatedly gave the realtor bad feedback on it. It looked good to me.

I wish I had not gone with boring builder white on the tray ceilings. our walls in the DR are very dark. I should have gone a few shades lighter. Then the white moulding would really stand out.

I am not a decorator but I thought the latest trend is to paint the ceiling a color...it is the fifth wall and should not be ignored by painting it white according to the designers I have seen on TV. I am not familiar with your wall color but I would consider painting the ceiling the same color and paint the moulding white or a warmer off white. Google "tray ceiling pictures" and you should get some ideas of what you like. Some of my neighbors have tray ceilings and the ones that have left it white always look unfinished to me but it is a personal preference. Also, I love to visit sample houses and the tray ceiling is always painted a color...not white.