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What To Consider Before Choosing A Paint Finish For Your Ceiling
By RITA KUEBER
Interior paint comes in a variety of finishes, and your ceiling should have a flat or matte finish, or if you want to reflect more light into the room, an eggshell or satin finish.
Low-luster paint finishes produce a soft glow that reflects natural light well. The ceiling sees very little wear and tear, so you don’t need high gloss, scuff-resistant paint.
Most importantly, ceilings should not be highly reflective as this draws the eye up and away from the rest of the room. Consequently, high and semi-gloss finishes are not ideal.
Regular wall paint has low viscosity, and applying it to a ceiling could lead to drips. It’s better to use paint made specifically for the kind of ceiling you have.
Use latex paint for smooth or textured drywall, most often in a flat finish. If you have a drop ceiling with acoustic tile, use specifically-formulated sound-absorbing latex paint.
Plaster, stucco, and masonry ceilings need paint that clings to the surface, so invest in paint that's specific to the material. Wood ceilings should be sanded and primed first.