If you’re up to adding a sassy look to your rooms, painting seems a perfect idea. Of course, most of the homeowners go for painting the walls. But what they forget is the paint on the ceiling.
That’s where you start overlooking the beauty of the entire room. Yes, painting the ceiling may appear challenging. Otherwise, you’ll find the paint finishing a bit off.

At the moment, queries tail you with worries. Can you use semi gloss paint on ceiling? Yes, for sure. Areas near shower stalls, bathrooms, and kitchen ask for the ability to resist max water.
And, for such ceilings, semi-gloss paint can be a great choice. But as you know, all the areas of your home don’t require the same time of paint. It’s because of the humidity that differs.
That’s why you need to reconsider a few more points before you conclude your call. For that, take your precious time to go through our article, which clarifies things such as:
- Should ceiling paint be flat?
- Can you use semi-gloss paint on ceiling?
- Is using the satin ceiling paint a suitable pick?
- What are the steps to paint a semi-gloss ceiling?
- What could be the ideal paint sheen for ceiling?
- Which features in the paint make it are ideal for interior ceilings?
- Tips for painting your ceiling with a semi-gloss sheen
So, let’s turn the humdrum a bit exciting with our paint selection ideas suitable for ceilings!
Table of Contents
Should Ceiling Paint be Flat?

It’s not a secret that painting your ceilings is tricky enough to budge off your decision. But, again, if your ceiling isn’t flawless, making a mistake with this paint is quite painful. Ugh, annoying!
That’s why it’s always better to choose a paint that is easy to deal with and appears smooth. So, if you take all the points into care, flat paint sounds like the ideal one for your ceiling.
It’s because such flat paint offers a smooth finish. With such a matte sheen, you’ll find the ceiling reflecting plus diffusing light around the room. Thus, your top gives a lively vibe.
A plus point is that it’s easier to hide all the wall’s imperfections with a flat one. Moreover, you’re sure to find that such paints are thicker enough to avoid dripping. Thus covering stains is no big deal.
If you aim to chase down an easy option to keep your plastered ceiling out from showing sharp edges, yes, matte or flat paint for ceiling one is the best. One layer seems enough!
Can you Use Semi Gloss Paint on Ceiling?
No matter which room you are talking about, each ceiling has unique needs. So yes, for those who prefer a shiny surface above the room, semi-gloss can be the one for your ceiling paint.
Again, bedrooms and rec rooms ask for more scrubbing. In that case, such paints allow you to scrub and clean in no time. We all know how water streams in areas like the kitchen and bathroom get.
In that case, you’re sure to look for ceiling paint that’s highly resistant to water. And the semigloss one can come in handy. But to your dismay, you’re surely not likely to find its look pleasing.
Are you re-thinking why? It’s because, unlike flat paint, semi-gloss paint doesn’t come with camouflaging art. Moreover, it gives off an uneven finish on your ceilings with more glare.
In an instant, you’ll start observing some flaws and uneven textures you never expected to see. So technically speaking, we suggest considering the other issues that come with the glossy effect for semi-gloss paints.
Is Using the Satin Ceiling Paint a Suitable Pick?

Shine is something many people admire. But it seems like a bonus when a sheen comes with an extra trait of standing up to humidity. Exciting, right!
Your prime choice should be satin paint for your ceilings to avail of that bonus. It’s not unfamiliar that areas like laundry, kitchen, cellar, and bathrooms get humid very often.
As a result, the moisture causes any usual paint to peel off, chip, and get stained. Thus, you seem to get upset as you see your ceiling paint not working up to a point and losing shine appears.
If that’s the case with you too, paint your ceiling in such areas with acrylic ceiling paints with a satin sheen. For its ability to resist humidity damage, your plafonds are true to survive long enough.
Moreover, you’ll find it easy to wipe and clean with zero effort. It comes with a gloss more petite than the semi-gloss one. The subtle sheen tends not to highlight any ceiling stains or nicks.
What are the Steps to Paint a Semi-gloss Ceiling?

Painting ceilings with semi-gloss paints isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. Even if you’re a professional ceiling painter, you may miss it. Challenging, right!
So, here’s how you can paint your ceiling with a semi-gloss sheen without goofing:
- First, take one gallon (4 liters nearly) of warm water and mix it with the TSP cleaner, taking no more than one cup.
- We suggest rubbing the semi-gloss paint with the fingertips taking enough care to smooth out the hue.
- Don’t skip sanding your ceilings prior to paint application.
- Wipe down the tops using a rack or cloth
- Before painting the ceilings, repair the previous damages and drywall cracks.
- Next, you can go on a superior blocking primer to make your plafond sealed.
- Allow the primer to dry and then move to the paint application section.
- We advise choosing brush and rollers for ease of ceiling paintings.
- Brush the ceiling with efficient paint patterns for one coat and if you want two coats, quickly roll the ceiling.
- Wait until your ceiling dries.
What Could be the Ideal Paint Sheen for Ceiling?
Well, different types of sheen come with any paint. And each one will grab your attention with a unique benefit. So, it’s your application needs that make the call for your sheen choice.
Satin Sheen
Suppose you’re painting ceilings of rooms that are often moist and humid. Take your kitchens and washrooms as an example. In that case, a sheen that stands up to humidity and wipes down easily is all you need. The satin ceiling sheen makes a suitable pick here.
Semi-gloss Sheen
Now let’s turn our sight to the ceilings of other rooms, such as bedrooms. Again, you’re sure to feel annoying if you find that it takes more than ever effort for simple cleaning or scrubbing.
That’s why for bedroom ceilings, we suggest a semi-gloss sheen. Such paints work like a water-resistive layer, adds extra gloss, and are easy to scrub and clean.
One more thing, if you’ve got a wooden ceiling, opt for none other than the semi-gloss paint. Most owners desire to paint the ceilings ivory or white.
Flat or Matte Sheen
We all know that none desires a ceiling that looks uneven or shows tracks of stains. That’s why the best sheen award for ceiling goes to flat sheen paint. You’re sure to love the smooth texture it brings.
Zero imperfection, yet a reflecting surface on the top of your head, makes the appearance of your room impressive. It’s thick enough to cover in a layer. You won’t even need any prior measure to hide your cracks or stains!
Which Features in the Paint Make it are Ideal for Interior Ceilings?
When it comes to painting an entire home, you’re sure to add to your painting list too. In that case, make sure to paint the ceilings first before you jump to the wall part.
You can go for any colored ceiling but say no to dark and extra shiny tops. By now, you’re sure to grasp the idea that paint type may change in terms of the rooms and ceilings requirements.
So, to save you time, we’re here with a few paint suggestions that can bring out the best result. Have a look!
Water-based latex paint: You can choose a latex paint for your ceiling that dribbles less and emits less volatile mixes.
Luster: It’s better to pick a sheen with low to no shine so that it doesn’t cause glares or highlights the flaws in your ceilings.
Matte Paint: A flat, matte acrylic paint is a number one choice because it’s hideous ad reflective.
Viscosity: Make sure the paint is highly viscous, which means thick enough so that it minimizes the chance of dripping and spatters.
Texture ceiling: You can opt for ceiling primers and texture paints to add a textured ceiling.
Finishing: Always try a smooth, even finishing to your ceiling to give it a unique look and make it stand out.
Dry-time: If your paint claims to dry slowly, it allows your wet edge to turn smooth with a lap-free finishing.
Tips for Painting your Ceiling with a Semi-gloss Sheen
A flawless ceiling will no longer be a dream. All you need to do is settle on the right paint and follow a few leads. Make sure to carry out the tips to end up with no mess:
- For that first coat, it’s better to dilute the paint up to 10%.
- You can use a primer that seals water leakage and blocks stains.
- Always paint the walls next to the ceilings.
- We suggest using a roller wing to paint your ceilings at a height.
- You’re free to turn creative by adding a bit of white color to your paint.
- Make sure you’re making even layers while painting, missing no section on your ceiling.
Final Say
So, what is your opinion now? Can you use semi-gloss paint on ceiling? Yes, you can, but you better put a question mark on your thoughts if you should.
A too glossy ceiling can lead to unwanted glares and nothing more. So for typical rooms, a semigloss ceiling is not much needed. But wait, there’s more to reconsider.
If you aim to paint ceilings of the rooms that lock more moisture, you direly need paint that blocks the humidity from ruining your ceilings’ paint. That’s where semi-gloss ceiling paint comes to the rescue!