We tackled some Children’s Hospital projects today, but several of you noticed a change to the foyer ceiling in the background of yesterday’s post and asked for details. We actually finished the ceiling before our big kitchen paint session, but that kitchen post jumped ahead because we couldn’t wait to share it. The foyer ceiling was an easy win — it’s a relatively small area, so I rolled the entire surface while Sherry did the cutting in along the edges.
We gave the ceiling two coats and then celebrated under the star chandelier. For months the foyer had felt like it was wearing a great outfit (freshly painted walls) with messy, yellowed hair (the old ceiling). The darker ceiling fixed that imbalance and now the whole entry reads more cohesive and intentional.
Sherry convinced me to go one shade darker on the ceiling after spotting an inspiring photo in Traditional Home. We had leftover Benjamin Moore Revere Pewter from painting our sink nook, and the foyer walls are Benjamin Moore Edgecomb Gray — a slightly lighter shade on the same swatch. Both are popular greige choices, so using Revere Pewter on the ceiling seemed like a logical, low-risk way to introduce subtle contrast.
Photographing this ceiling accurately has been a little tricky. Depending on the light and camera angle, the finish sometimes reads darker or grayer in photos than it does in person. In real life it’s definitely noticeably deeper than the walls, but not heavy or gloomy — it just gives the space a more layered, finished look.
We usually choose a flat finish for ceilings because it minimizes the appearance of imperfections, but we used leftover eggshell for this foyer ceiling. Surprisingly, we like the small bit of sheen: it catches the natural light and gives the ceiling a gentle glow, which helps keep the entry feeling airy despite the darker color. The light reflection is subtle, not glossy, so the effect is warm rather than shiny.
That said, adding sheen does increase the chance that any dings, seams, or texture variations will show up more than they would with a flat finish. We were lucky that the foyer ceiling was in good condition, so the eggshell worked well here. When we buy paint specifically for a ceiling — like in Clara’s room — we’ll probably still consider flat finishes first, unless the light or color makes the eggshell read more matte in that particular space.
One takeaway: non-white ceilings can be a lovely, unexpected design move. We’ve used color on ceilings before — a sunroom with a blue ceiling felt fresh and fun — and a darker ceiling in this foyer adds depth without closing the space in. For rooms with a lot going on, like our soon-to-be two-tone kitchen, we’ll probably choose a white ceiling to keep things visually calm. But for small or transitional spaces, a slightly darker ceiling can be a simple way to make the scheme feel deliberate.
Our Favorite Paint Colors
If you’re struggling to choose the right color, these are the paint colors we return to again and again:
- The 12 Best White Paint Colors (our roundup of go-to whites)
- Benjamin Moore Edgecomb Gray
- Benjamin Moore Simply White
- Sherwin-Williams Pure White
- Sherwin-Williams Extra White
Psst— Want to know where something in our house came from? Check our Shop Our House page for sources and details.
