Colour capping is a paint trick that can be used to make a room feel bigger. The technique achieves this by turning the ceiling of a room into a focal point.
The method involves painting the ceiling and walls in complementary shades. By creating a subtle change in the tones, the viewer’s eye is drawn upwards – and, depending on the room, you can choose colours that grow lighter or darker.
Our professional decorators at Scott Anson Painters and Decorators Ltd have some top tips to help DIYers achieve this technique in their own home.
Which Colours Work Best?
To make the colour capping technique work to its best, you can choose one colour family and then three tones that are light, mid and dark.
Light, muted shades can be a great choice for making a space seem larger, as they can reflect natural light. Colours that lack harmony often don’t look cohesive once in situ.
Blues and Greens: Lighter shades can make walls look taller, which can then be paired with deeper tones for the ceiling.
Natural Hues: Using a palette of natural colours can create a subtle colour capping effect. On the walls a soft, slightly off-white tone can be used, with the ceiling painted in a slightly more saturated hue in the same tone.
Top Tips for Colour Capping
Before you get started, there are a few additional steps to consider:
Sampling: Creating small swatches on the wall can be a great way to check the success of the chosen gradient scheme for the room. To make sure the colour capping technique will work in that space, check the swatches at different times of the day: in the morning light, in the midday brightness and in the evening.
Where to Draw the Line: There isn’t a standard rule as to where the line should be drawn to implement the colour change. One recommendation is to create the transition where there is an architectural feature such as a picture rail, a dado or a cornice. This often allows the colour of the ceiling to wrap around some of the wall.
Incorporate Ceiling Features: For rooms that have beams, angled corners, sloped ceilings, or other special features, you can allow the gradient to flow seamlessly with the ceiling’s structure. According to Elle Decoration, colour capping works very well in period properties, as it can be used to highlight architectural features.
Don’t Forget the Furniture: Incorporating matching shades into soft furnishings and upholstery can really finish the look.
