Paint A Boring Ceiling With Realistic-Looking Clouds For A Unique Display

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Whimsical decor has been a major trend over recent years, and this playful approach to design is still totally relevant today. There are tons of beautiful ways to add trendy, whimsical accents to your home, and paint is one of the easiest and most rewarding methods. Whether you love celestial decor or you just want to set your space apart, don't underestimate the dreamy power of a sky-inspired mural. Turn your boring ceiling into a beautiful focal point by painting a sky filled with fluffy, heavenly clouds. This is one way to easily paint your ceiling with an ethereal design.

To get started, all you need is paint and brushes! Beyond your sky-like base, you will need one white shade and three pastel colors. For example, try Majestic Mauve, Peach Parfait, and Vanilla Ice Cream by Benjamin Moore. These Aura interior paints with a washable finish are recommended by professional mural artist Morgan Bricca in a YouTube tutorial. After you paint your sky, mix your white paint 50/50 with your sky color, creating a lighter version of your base. This will be used to paint the pattern of the clouds, acting as a kind of stencil.

Once you're happy with the general cloud shapes on your ceiling, take your lightest pastel shade with a dry brush and fill in the clouds. Next, go in with the darkest pastel shade and add shadows for a three-dimensional appearance. Finally, use the middle-toned pastel shade, Peach Parfait, to blend the shading and the highlights for a seamless transition. 

Picking the right base color for your sky is an essential foundation of the cloud painting process, and you can go in a variety of directions with this shade. Morning Sky Blue by Benjamin Moore was mixed to mimic the look of an early morning sky on a clear day, making it an ideal base color for a classic look. However, you can opt for a moodier approach and select something like Bon Nuit by Behr, and even add splattered "stars" to create an evening sky design. Take inspiration from this Laeacco cloudy night sky photo backdrop. Last but not least, consider a peachy approach with a sunrise or sunset-inspired backdrop, like August Sunrise by Benjamin Moore. Keep in mind that as your base shade changes, you will need to adjust your cloud colors accordingly. There are tons of reasons why you should be painting your ceilings, and there's nothing more valuable than designing a space that brings you joy.