Can Ceiling Paint Be Used On Walls? - Housekeepingbay

Can Ceiling Paint Be Used On Walls?

We will explain whether ceiling paint is suitable for walls

Any home renovation project that implies a paint job is rather bothersome: you need to decide on what color you will be using on your walls and your ceilings, also, you need to calculate how much paint you need at all. And of course, there are all sorts of additional factors like the tools the paint will be applied with, the paint drying time, etc.

And one of the most unwanted things that may happen is when you realize you need to use ceiling paint on your walls instead of actually using wall paint! this can happen due to different reasons, but the question remains: can you use ceiling paint on your home interior walls?

Today, we will try to give you the answer. In particular, you will learn what makes ceiling paint and wall paint different. Also, you will find out whether using ceiling paint on walls is possible.

We will also explain where it is best to use ceiling paint in your home except for the ceilings and a lot of other useful information.

Can I Use Ceiling Paint On the Walls?

First of all, we need to admit that using ceiling paint on walls is not a common scenario for the majority of households. See, people don’t use ceiling paint on their interior walls due to several factors:

  • This paint has quite a few colors to choose from
  • It has a flat appearance when applied to the surface
  • Ceiling paint is known for having high viscosity

However, ceiling paint is still sometimes used in areas where a refined finish is less important, for example, in such areas as stairwells, closets and playrooms, or finished basements.

CEILING PAINT GUIDE | What Makes It Different From Wall Paint? | How to Choose PaintCEILING PAINT GUIDE | What Makes It Different From Wall Paint? | How to Choose Paint

This is why in some cases, it can actually be great to use ceiling paint on a wall. However, you need to be aware of certain rules for using this kind of paint on other surfaces than ceilings before you begin your project.

Can I Use Ceiling Paint On Walls

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Difference Between Ceiling Paint And Wall Paint

To be able to use ceiling paint on walls, you need to learn about the major distinctions it has in comparison with wall paint. It will help you tell in advance how this kind of paint will work on your walls. So what are the “ceiling paint vs wall paint” distinct features?

The ceiling Paint Doesn’t Reflect Light

This is the major distinction between this kind of paint and wall paint. And this is exactly the feature that makes ceiling paint so great at hiding imperfections on the walls of a room! So if you need to somehow hide any blemishes, bumps, and marks on your interior walls, you should definitely opt for ceiling paint.

Ceiling Paint Doesn’t Reflect Light

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Ceiling Pain Has a Higher Viscosity Compared to Wall Paint

In simple words, ceiling paint is thicker than wall paint. And its thickness allows this kind of paint to stick to surfaces way better when you are rolling it on. To see the difference better, imagine you would try to apply wall paint to your ceiling.

It would start dripping simply because it is way too thin and watery! It would not be able to stay on your ceiling without those ugly splatters of color raining downs. This is why using wall paint on the ceiling is impossible.

But the paint’s viscosity is important not only during the application. Paints with higher viscosity are also more durable in terms of their ability to resist marks, bumps, and dings after the paint is dry.

Thanks to this feature, the big benefit of using ceiling paint on your walls is that you will not have to repaint your walls as often as you would have to do with the wall paint on them. With the ceiling paint on your walls, you will get a nice coating that protects your walls’ surface from any imperfections that may occur.

With Ceiling Paint, You Will Get a Bigger Area of Coverage

Another distinction between wall and ceiling paint is that one layer of ceiling paint can cover a bigger area of the wall than one layer of ceiling paint. This is actually a big benefit of this paint as well.

If you are using a can of ceiling paint on your walls, you can easily get away with one coat instead of applying a second or even a third coat to get a good finish. As you all probably know, you physically can’t get away with a single-coat paint job when you are using wall paint.

With all these benefits, ceiling paint may seem to be an ideal alternative to wall paint for your projects.

However, you also have to be aware of the downsides that come with this kind of paint. To some of you, they may not seem important, but others might want to change their mind and put aside the idea of using ceiling paint on their walls.

  • Ceiling paint has a flat finish that may look less appealing in some rooms
  • Ceiling paint also comes in quite a limited variety of colors unlike wall paint
  • Unlike wall paints, ceiling paint is not formulated to resist water, mildew, and mold in areas like kitchens, bathrooms, and mudrooms
  • Ceiling paint is designed to be “dusted” instead of scrubbed unlike wall paints that can be scrubbed gently with soap and water

Well, now you know what specific features ceiling paints have that make them different from wall paints.

As you can see, to a certain point, using ceiling paint on your walls might be a good idea, but you need to consider what kind of space you are going to use it in, and what conditions the paint will be exposed to. It will help you understand whether the paint you want to use will be able to last long enough there.

With Ceiling Paint, You Will Get a Bigger Area of Coverage

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Where Can I Use Ceiling Paint On Walls In My Home?

Now you know that ceiling paint can actually be used on walls although it will have certain distinctive features. Nevertheless, it could be a nice idea to use ceiling paint on your interior walls if you want to create a cozier aesthetic in a room.

HOW TO paint ceilings FAST and like a professional PAINTERHOW TO paint ceilings FAST and like a professional PAINTER

This trick can be especially handy if you need to unite high vaulted ceilings with walls in a large room for creating a neater, cozier look.

Where else can you use this paint in your home?

You may want to consider one of the following options:

  • Try painting your closets with ceiling paint
  • Stairwells will also win from being painted with ceiling paint because its durable formula can hide dirt, scuffs, and imperfections
  • Use this paint in any high-traffic area like corridors or hallways to prevent new markings on the walls
  • Ceiling paint can also work in a room where messes often happen, for instance, in a playroom or finished basement

In such areas, using ceiling paint on the walls is the wisest solution since you will be able to repaint the room over and over again without the need to apply several layers of primer and paint like when you use wall paint. Just apply a new coat of paint over the existing one, and your walls will look like new again!

Now that you know ceiling paint can actually be used on interior walls and some areas are even more preferable for using this kind of paint, let’s learn more details about the specifics of this paint use in our homes. It will help you find the answers to the most common questions.

Where Can I Use Ceiling Paint On Walls In My Home

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Can Ceiling Paint Be Mixed With Wall Paint?

This is one of the most common questions homeowners ask. See, one might want to know whether this can be done because sometimes, it’s an urge to get more paint and you don’t have enough of the one you are using.

So the best idea that comes to your mind is to mix the two paints to get more.

In fact, there’s no rule against mixing ceiling paint and wall paint. However, it is important to make sure the two paints being mixed are the same paint types. This means the following: if you have latex wall paint, then you need to mix it with latex ceiling paint. It can’t be mixed with oil paint instead.

Also, you need to take into account that mixing ceiling paint with wall paint will not give you any custom colors or textures! Because of the low viscosity of wall paint, such a mixture will most likely result in dripping. Also, the final product may not dry properly after you apply it to the wall.

However, there is still a way to combine the perks of both ceiling paint and wall paint!

See, you can boost their performance by combining them as an undercoat and topcoat. But in this case, you will have to use separate applications. This will give you the efficiency and durability of ceiling paint on the wall and a highlighted beauty of true wall paint.

Can Ceiling Paint Be Mixed With Wall Paint

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What Finishes Does Ceiling Paint Come With?

As you probably know, paint usually comes in different finishes. Speaking of ceiling paint, for the most part, it comes in a flat white finish, but it can also come in an eggshell finish. Why only these two, you may wonder?

Well, simply because these are the most basic sheens. Also, since we are talking about the ceiling paint, it means that the paint must have a sheen that allows little light to bounce off the surface. Let’s be honest, nobody wants to have a ceiling that’s shining like a disco ball!

What Finishes Does Ceiling Paint Come With

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Flat Finish

A flat finish (also known as matte) provides a smooth texture and a relatively uniform appearance when you apply this kind of paint to the surface. This type of paint finish can be the ideal option for the formal rooms in a home, such as the dining room and/or living room where no bright colors or sheens are needed.

Also, since matte finishes reflect the light minimally, they can help you hide wall and ceiling imperfections such as holes, dents, or patchwork areas. There is one more benefit this kind of sheen has.

See, when you use paint with a matte finish, it will not require as many coats as gloss or semi-gloss sheens. In addition, it is pretty easy to touch up when you need to refresh the appearance of the surface. That’s because of the little contrast between the new touched-up paint and the rest of the wall or ceiling surface.

Eggshell Finish

When you are not quite sure about which type of paint sheen to use, opt for an eggshell finish! It will anyway be a safe bet. Eggshell paint has a very soft appearance, which is why it works very well in areas such as family rooms, living rooms, and hallways.

You need to know that this finish is a low-gloss finish because it is a bit more reflective than a flat sheen. However, it is not as shiny as a semi-gloss or gloss sheen.

Well, now you know that ceiling paints can actually be used on walls although they don’t come in such a wide variety of colors. Nevertheless, due to this paint’s specifics and the benefits it has, ceiling paint can do a great job on your walls!

You know in what areas of your home it will work better and what features of this paint you should consider before you start using it. Also, we explained what finishes this paint comes in and whether you should mix it with the wall paint. All this information will help you use this paint wisely and successfully.

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Frequently Asked Questions

⭐How long does ceiling paint last on the walls?

It can last for several years, at least 5, until you need to fully repaint the surface.

⭐What are the most common ceiling paint colors?

White or off-white hues are the most popular colors for ceilings. But if the walls in the room are neutral, your ceiling paint should be approximately one-third of the color used on the walls.

⭐To apply ceiling paint to a wall, shall I use a roller or a brush?

You can use any of these tools, just ensure it’s comfortable for you.

 
CEILING PAINT GUIDE | What Makes It Different From Wall Paint? | How to Choose PaintCEILING PAINT GUIDE | What Makes It Different From Wall Paint? | How to Choose Paint

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