When looking for the best white paint for ceilings, all of the notes above come into play and the shade will depend on the light in the room and surrounding colours. A general rule is to aim for a ceiling paint colour that is a tonal match for your walls - similar to matching your skirting boards to the wall colour. So a warm white paint colour for the ceiling if your walls are yellow or pink, or an off-white paint colour if you have grey or sage green walls.
"There are no hard or fast rules for finding the perfect white, it really depends on what atmosphere you want to create," says Justyna. "If the desire is to create a calm, serene space then use tone-on-tone colour; a cooler white with cooler-toned pastels or a warm white with warm pastels."
Justyna goes on to suggest, "using colours with opposing undertones; a cool white with a warm colour will create a stronger contrast which will result in a fresh, clean look. Juxtaposing cool Chalky White with warm Fairy Dust, a blush pink paint colour, will create an almost graphic look and provide an upbeat, energetic feel within a space."
"Often referred to as the ‘fifth wall’. You’ll want to go a little warmer for this or risk getting a very cold-looking room, Spanish White is my go-to ceiling white," says head colour consultant Emma Bulmer at Edward Bulmer Natural Paint. "Equally you could opt for Jonquil 20% with its subtle pink undercurrent."