To select the best black ceiling paint, make sure to check the undertone of the color. Some black paint can have a warmer brown feel while others call have a cooler navy undertone.
Selecting the Right Black Ceiling Paint
The great thing about painting a ceiling black is that it can make a space feeling larger while hiding imperfections of an exposed basement ceiling.
Painting an exposed ceiling black is an affordable way to dramatically update the area. Black has the ability to give the exposed ceiling a finished look while hiding wires, plumbing, and duct work.
When selecting black paint colors you should first decide on the feeling you want to create in the room.
Every paint color has an undertone that can create a warm or cool feeling in a space. You will see a slight undertone in the color black, but it is more subtle due to the depth of this color.
Behr Paint in the Color: Blackout
I chose color Blackout because it was a true shade of black that didn’t show any mysterious undertones.
The color was a deep black that went perfectly with my Agreeable Gray painted walls and Bunglehouse Blue accent wall.
Spraying the basement ceiling black wasn’t a hard DIY project but it was a tedious one with a bit of a learning curve.
If you are considering painting your basement ceiling black, you might find these tips helpful.
Warmer Black Paint
If you are looking to warm up a room then you should consider a shade of black with brown undertones.
The brown undertones will give the black color a slightly warmer look and feel while compliment other existing warm tones in the room.
Warmer shades of black include, Urbane Bronze or Green Black by Sherwin Williams. Urbane Bronze has a slight brown undertones give this black a bronze appearance.
While Green Black has a green undertone that compliments other shades of green and even warm up a room.
Cool Undertones in Black Paint
If you are going for cooler colors for your black ceiling then you should try Iron Ore, Cyberspace, or Inkwell by Sherwin Williams.
These colors all have cooler undertones while still remaining a true shade of black.
Both Iron Ore and Cyberspace have a slight charcoal undertone while Inkwell has a blue undertone.
All of these colors give off a cool black appearance once rolled onto the wall and they will blend nicely with blue, gray, white, and other colors with gray undertones.
Light Reflective Value (LRV)
The light reflective score has a rating system between 0 and 100. If a paint color has a score closer to 0, this means the color absorbs light and will make a room feel dark.
A paint color with a score closer to 100, would give off a bright and light feeling. This would help make a room feel larger and give off a light airy feeling.
Most black paint colors will have a reflection score of 10 or less making this a deep color that will absorb most of the light in a room.
This color is best used for a moody feel in a room or as an accent wall to compliment other tones or add a fun pop of drama.
The great thing about the paint color black, is that you can pair it with any wood stain color.
Warmer stains will really stand out against black while cooler gray stains will blend into the space.
Paint Colors to Avoid with Black
Almost any paint color will pair with black, but be mindful of bold shades of red, yellow, and orange.
These colors will look nice as decor items, but they may be too dramatic as a wall color against black paint.
Trim Colors that Pair with Black
I personally love the look of a monochromatic wall with matching trim and doors especially when painted a moody color.
A dark paint color looks great with doors and trim all painted the same color because you will only see the texture from these details show through.
Bright white will always look great against any paint color, but it can almost be too much contrast against a rich paint color.
Conclusion
Black paint colors can pair with almost any paint color. It just depends on the look you are going for in your space.
Typically colors with the similar undertone pair best with one another. If you are quite ready to commit to a bold paint color against a black ceiling, mix in color in throw pillows, wall art, and other home decor items.