Kelly Marshall, Prop Stylist: Sophia Pappas
We’ve emphasized this countless times before, but it’s worth repeating: A fresh coat of paint is one of the simplest and most budget-friendly methods for transforming a room. Yet, it’s astonishingly overlooked in many homes, either due to a conservative approach to color choices or the failure to recognize the myriad possibilities painting offers. One such possibility: Daring to paint the ceiling.
The ceiling presents a pristine canvas waiting to be adorned, so leaving it blank is a missed opportunity. “Don’t be afraid to have fun with that fifth wall,” advises Candace Griffin, founder of Candace Mary Interiors. “The ceiling is always a canvas for introducing more color, texture, and character. It truly can make a space feel complete.”
Griffin exemplified this with the room she designed for the 2025 REAL SIMPLE Home, utilizing ceiling paint to enhance the space, as did Mandy Cheng, principal and owner of Mandy Cheng Design. Take a look at their creations and observe how ceiling paint was a key element in unifying the rooms.
Kelly Marshall, Prop Stylist: Sophia Pappas
Griffin took on the challenge of designing the children’s room in this year’s REAL SIMPLE Home, aiming to create a space that is both playful and elegant, “like a small treasure chest that ignites curiosity and joy,” as she describes it.
“The colors are bold yet not overwhelming, with a harmonious blend of graphic forms and gentle textures,” Griffin elaborates. “It’s a layered, playful design with an unexpected twist, exuding a strong sense of individuality. I also wanted to ensure it was a space that would grow with the child.”
A delightful, unexpected feature in the room is the sky-blue circle painted on the ceiling. Paired with the sculptural white pendant light, this design element conjures the image of a clear sky with fluffy clouds overhead.
The ceiling’s lighter blue hue contrasts intentionally with the deeper shade Griffin used for the lower wall paneling. “This choice made the lower half of the room feel enveloping and cohesive, while allowing the textures and patterns above to stand out without vying for attention,” she notes.
Kelly Marshall, Prop Stylist: Sophia Pappas
Cheng was tasked with crafting the study/guest bedroom for the REAL SIMPLE Home, aiming for a space that would be both inviting and functional throughout the year, not just during visits. To achieve this, she transformed the room into a home library, with one wall featuring a checkerboard arrangement of mirrors and wallpaper and the opposite wall lined with bookshelves.
The plush rug, velvety sofa and chair, and the natural textures scattered throughout the room all contribute to the room’s welcoming ambiance. However, it’s the soft green paint (Valspar’s Sweet Clover) that envelops the space in a tranquil vibe, wrapping around the walls and extending onto the ceiling to create a cohesive look that ties the room together.
