For the best part of a century the only acceptable shade to paint your ceiling was Brilliant White, slapped on with decidedly little thought to how it sat alongside the walls below it. But that’s all about to change thanks to the latest paint trend to sweep the interior design world: cloud capping.
With so many colour and ceiling combinations doing the rounds, you’d be forgiven for getting 'cloud capping' confused with its sister trend 'colour capping' – or its twice-removed cousin 'colour drenching'. But while it sits broadly in the same family as these two techniques, cloud capping sets itself apart with the use of softer, tonal shades of white.
Here’s everything experts want you to know about this popular paint trend, including which shades work best, how to get it right, and the mistakes to avoid.
What is cloud capping and how do you use it?
"Cloud capping is the technique of painting all walls and woodwork in one strong colour, then painting the ceiling in a lighter, whiter shade," explains Jimmy Englezos, senior brand manager and paint expert at Ronseal.
"Painting all woodwork and the ceiling white has been the traditional option for decades, before greater variety in woodwork paint sparked the colour drenching revolution. However, unlike a traditional bright white ceiling, the cloud capping trend relies on a ceiling shade that shares the same undertones as the wall colour."
Jimmy is the Senior Brand Manager at Ronseal, the UK's number one woodcare brand. Jimmy regularly provides insights and guidance on how to properly prepare wood for treatment, as well as handy tips and hints for decorating and general woodcare projects.
What makes cloud capping different from other trends?
According to Jimmy Englezos, the major difference between cloud capping, colour capping and colour drenching boils down to a sense of contrast.
"The principle of cloud capping is not to be confused with colour capping, which has gained huge attention over the past 12 months and shares a similar name but differs in outcome and intention," Jimmy explains. "With colour capping, the ceiling colour is intended to stand out against the wall colour. Usually, it involves a tonal approach, where varying intensities of a colour are used on all paintable surfaces, with the ceiling shade often being the darkest to create a visual 'cap' overhead.
"While colour capping seeks to create the same cocooning, moody and cosy effect as colour drenching a room, just more subtly, cloud capping is designed to lift the height of the ceiling and make the space still feel comforting but lighter and more expansive," he adds.
Annie Sloan, creator of Chalk Paint™ also frames the distinction as one of tone rather than technique. "Colour capping is more graphic – you might deliberately stop a colour at a particular height on the wall or carry it across architectural features," she says. "Cloud capping is softer. The aim is to make the transition between wall and ceiling feel less abrupt."
Annie Sloan is an internationally renowned paint expert, colour theorist and creator of Chalk Paint™, celebrated for her transformative approach to decorative painting and accessible, creative approach to interior design.
Where to use cloud capping in your home
Because cloud capping is essentially a more considered version of white painted ceiling ideas, this technique is flexible enough to work in almost any room, and with almost any interior design style. And according to Annie Sloan, "It's particularly lovely where you have interesting architectural details, such as cornices, beams, alcoves or picture rails, because you can use paint to emphasise those features rather than disguise them."
Jimmy Englezos gives a solid case for using cloud capping in spaces that receive less natural light throughout the day. “Often, when natural light hits creams and lighter shades, they can appear white, however, when there's minimal natural light, colours often appear darker and bolder, so even a suitable variation to white on the ceiling can still be really striking and effective. It can also be helpful to lean into the richness and cosiness of these spaces rather than trying to correct them."
The dos and don'ts of cloud capping
While there are no hard and fast rules when it comes to painting a ceiling white, our experts have a few tips for getting cloud capping right:
- Do choose a ceiling shade with the same undertones as your wall colour. "When picking a ceiling colour make sure to choose one with an added element of interest," says Jimmy Englezos. "Opt for a shade in the same family as your wall colour or with the same undertones to create a cohesive feel."
- Do test your colour properly before committing. "Get a tester pot and paint an area and see what happens to it at different times of day," advises Annie Sloan. "Your colour needs to work in the morning, afternoon and evening."
- Don't default to a Brilliant White for the ceiling shade. "This can sometimes look rather harsh against a softer wall colour," says Annie. "I prefer choosing a white that relates to the colours in the room."
- Don't overlook how much natural light a room gets before introducing tonal contrast, especially in already-dark spaces.
Choosing the right shade for your cloud capping technique
When it comes to choosing a specific shade of white, Annie Sloan recommends thinking about undertone. For example, from her own paint collection, she says "Original is a warm, creamy white that can create a softer relationship with colour, while Old White is a sophisticated off-white that works beautifully as a gentle neutral. If you want something cleaner and brighter, Pure gives you a much fresher contrast."
"A white ceiling isn't really 'white' once it's in a room,” she adds, “It is affected by the wall colour, the floor, the furniture and the natural light."
All of which means it’s important to look at your chosen shade in situ, at different times of day, before you commit to painting it all over a ceiling.
If you're trying to match the right shade of white to your walls, COAT offers a sample pack of their most popular whites in easy peel & stick samples to try at home. These timeless whites each have their own subtle undertones, so there's something to suit every space.
Try a halfway approach
If a full tonal ceiling feels like a big commitment, Cathryn Sanders, head of creative at Earthborn, suggests a halfway approach that's easier to live with.
"Cloud capping is a lovely way to bring colour into a room without painting the entire space in one shade," she says. "By carrying the ceiling colour down onto the top section of the walls, often to picture rail height, you create a softer transition between the ceiling and walls. It can help make a room feel more finished, add architectural interest and draw the eye upward."
Cathryn Sanders is Head of Creative at Earthborn and has worked for the brand for over a decade, meaning she has a wealth of knowledge on paints, trends and the interiors industry as a whole. She is well-versed in trend forecasting, particularly with regard to colour, and subsequently gets the final say on all of Earthborn’s new colours.
FAQs
Is cloud capping just a passing fad?
It's a fair question to ask of any paint trend, but there's a strong case for the longevity of cloud capping. First, it isn't really reinventing the wheel; if anything, it's just refining it.
As Jimmy Englezos points out, "a brilliant white ceiling is traditional for a reason. It's bright, clean, and when paired with white woodwork, windows and radiators, creates a uniform look." Cloud capping isn't abandoning this logic; it's simply adding some tonal depth to it, which is why it feels less like a fad and more like a natural progression from what we've been doing for decades.
That said, it's worth going in with your eyes open about what you're trading for that depth. "If you want the ability to easily switch up the wall colour in a couple of years, then the traditional route of bright white on the woodwork and ceiling means you only need to do touch-ups of the white and choose one colour of emulsion next time," he adds. Cloud capping ties your ceiling to your current wall colour, so it's less of a "paint and forget" option than plain white.
When doesn't cloud capping work in a room?
While cloud capping is forgiving, it's not entirely foolproof, and Annie Sloan's main advice is to think about how much natural light a room gets before committing to this trend. "I would consider the architecture and the amount of natural light," she says. "If a room is already low and dark, think carefully about how much contrast you introduce between the walls and ceiling."
It's also worth being honest about what you want from a space. "The outcome of cloud capping depends on the room itself and the desired effect," says Jimmy Englezos. "A good starting point is to consider how you want the space to make you feel. If you want it to feel super moody and rich, then colour drenching or colour capping might be a better option than cloud capping."
If you're feeling brave there's no need to stick to a tried-and-tested paint technique. Why not experiment with something more attention grabbing, like the peek-a-boo paint trend or go all out with an eye-popping shade for a feature wall?
Whatever you decide, we've put together guides to the best colours for a home office, small bathroom colour ideas, and even the kitchen paint colours to avoid.
