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Can You Use Trim Paint on Ceiling? (Read This First!)

Trim paint emphasizes other colors or a particular part of the room. Trim painting is used to identify things that are not commonly identified. That is trim paint increases the focus on something. Trim paint is used inside of the room. See if you can use it on the ceiling.

Can you use trim paint on ceiling?

Unless you use trim paints as a primer or top coating, you should not use trim paints on the ceiling. Trim paint generally needs a higher glossy sheen, but the ceiling requires flat paints. Sometimes the quality of the trim color is better than the ceiling paints. Besides, trim paints are expensive.

Manufacturers make a niche class of painting called trim paint. It is an interior paint, and it comes with satin, semi-gloss, and full gloss. This paint can be applied to the doors, furniture, windows, and trim.

You have seen people match the color of your ceiling with the trim. Trim paint is generally used to amplify the beauty of the interior. You will not want to see your ceiling reflecting light. You choose flat paint over most other paints on the ceiling because the flat paint doesn’t reflect.

Also, you need to cope with the cost. 

If you paint your ceiling with trim paint, you will have to drain a lot of money. Because regular ceiling paint is the cheapest, costing around 15 to 20 percent of other paints. 

However, if you want to paint your trim or other areas of the room with ceiling paint, you should not use flat paint in that case. 

Because using the flat paint will be irritating after some time, as the color will catch more dirt and handprints, but you cannot wash or clean them. You can use other glossy paints or satin paints on trim rather than trim paints.

Trim paint requires more gloss finish, along with a higher cost. Also, you need the expertise to use trim paints. You do not need any extra expertise to paint your ceiling. In case you need a glossy, shiny ceiling, you can use trim paints and other glossy paints options.

Can you use ceiling paint on trim and doors?

You can paint the trim and door any color you want. You can use ceiling paint on the door and trim. Though you can use ceiling paint on the trim, it will be quite dull. If you use ceiling paint on the trim, the paint must not be as good as you want. 

People use flat paint and sometimes satin paints on the ceiling. But using it on the trim may not be the best choice. Also, you should never use ceiling paint on the door. Because ceiling paint is not cleanable, and you cannot scrub dust or dirt from the door. 

If you do, the paint finish will come out. Moreover, the ceiling paint will make your door look so dull, and your hands have to be clean before you touch your door, or the door will take a snap of your handprint.

Are trim and ceiling paint the same?

Trim paint and ceiling paint are not the same when defining the trim from the ceiling. But, in case your ceiling paint color and trim paint are the same, you can use both at once. Because you cannot rectify whether a particular portion is a trim or ceiling paint. 

Ceiling paint is made particularly for the ceiling, and they are long-lasting. Satin paint, semi-gloss paint, is highly used as a ceiling paint.

On the other hand, trim paint can be flat, matte, gloss, semi-gloss, etc. But generally, trim paint is not durable enough to be used as a ceiling paint. As trim, paint is used as a detailer.

What is the difference between ceiling paint and trim paint?

Few differences between ceiling paint and trim paint are given below –

Ceiling Paints:

Not Glossy as Trim Paints:

If you cover your ceiling with glossy paints, you will have a hard time looking up. As the ceiling will shine brighter than the regular one, you will have a hard time sleeping. Ceiling paints are required to be flatter. Flat-matte paint is good as a ceiling paint.

Cheap:

Flat-matte paint is not as durable as other paints. Because this paint stays away from human interactions. They don’t really fade like the paints on the wall or doors or railings. That’s why the price of these paints is quite less than the usual paints.

Ceiling Paints are for Ceilings Only:

You should not use ceiling paints for any other places. Because these paints are not durable, you cannot clean flat paints. If you use ceiling paints in other places, the finish will start to lose, and the finish will be so normal and will attract dirt.

Trim Paint:

Can Be glossy, satin, and semi-glossy:

Trim paint is matched with the ceiling paint most of the time. But the ceiling paint is good when it is not glossy. On the other hand, trim paints are glossy, semi-glossy and satin. Because trim paints emphasize the attractiveness of furniture and other things.

Costlier than Ceiling Paints:

As trim paint is for a niche class, the cost is somewhat higher than the regular ceiling paints. As the price is higher for these paints, the superiority and resilience are also higher.

You can use trim paints on Different things:

Ceiling paint is highly suitable for your ceiling only. But you can use your trim paints on furniture, trim, cabinets, and other wooden things.

What type of paint is the best for trim and ceiling?

Stick to this section to find out the best paint for trim and ceiling –

Paint for Trim:

Semi-gloss paint is the best option for you to paint for trim. Basically, semi-gloss is best for trim, but paints on cabinets and doors can also be used. Mainly, you will need a finish of something glossy for furniture and other wooden things.

Also, water-based or acrylic-alkyd-based semi-gloss paint is mostly recommended for trim. Different brands produce trim paints. Don’t use satin paint for the trim because the gloss is less than the usual gloss paints. 

Also, the glossier the paint finishing is, the better it is against wiping and cleaning. Satin finishing cannot have that much durability to stand against the high amount of scrubbing.

Paint for ceiling:

There are different types of ceiling paints. Flat or matte paint is among the most heavily used ceiling paints. Because the cost associated with flat paint is less than any other paints. 

You don’t need to have any extra knowledge of painting before you paint your ceiling. Along with flat or matte paint, you can use satin finishing to your ceiling. It will increase the longevity of the ceiling paint finishing. 

Generally, flat paint is more prone to get dirty, but satin paint has a little gloss and is good for your ceiling. And after giving a satin finish to your ceiling, you can clean the ceiling without any extra tension.

Can I use the same paint for the ceiling and trim?

You should not use the same paint for the ceiling and trim.

Trim paint generally can reflect some light, as various types of paint are used as trim paint. An ideal ceiling paint will avoid reflection and go for flat, matte or sometimes satin paints. But if you use trim paint as ceiling paint, there might be some issues. 

Moreover, trim paint is not as durable as regular ceiling paint. Trim paint is used to detail or increase the beauty of a certain part of the paint. The paint doesn’t need to be flat, but it needs to be vibrant.

Also, the color itself is used in a small portion so that it doesn’t have to be durable like ceiling paint. You can use ceiling paint in trim if they are glossy or semi-glossy. But you should not use trim paint on the ceiling.

Should ceiling paint match trim?

It depends on how you want your room or exterior to look like. You can match your trim with your ceiling. If you match the trim with the ceiling, it will look better. Because generally, we see that the ceiling is always painted with bright color. 

So, if your interior wall is dark-colored, you will love to see your trim with a bright color. You can emphasize the beauty and aesthetics by matching the ceiling with the trim. It is just a suggestion, you should paint your own house how you wish to paint it.

Final thoughts

Trim paint is made for trim, doors, cabinets, and furniture. Trim paints are not flat but shiny. Using trim paint on the ceiling is not a very good choice. There are ceiling paints that are quite cheap and not as glossy as trim paint. So, trim paint is not ideal as ceiling paint.