Painting timber ceiling - yay or nay

So, this is my living room in my PPOR. Its an old dairy that was converted into a house in the 80's, and has some 80's features such as mission brown and timber panelling.

It is by no means offensive, but I am contemplating either painting the trusses a light colour, or painting the trusses and ceiling timber a light colour.

The house externally does have timber and the windows/doors are similar, so am not adverse to the timber ceiling staying, but the darkness does make it a little oppressive sometimes.

So, what do I do?

 

I'd agree with white/off-white (not khaki in this instance and you've grown tired of mission brown).

 

Try painting the trusses a lighter colour - a shade of white, or the same colour as the walls.

Then, live with that for a while before deciding if you need to paint the ceiling.

 

Good looking property, myself i would just install 3 skylights and that would light the section up..

 

I'm the other way.....
I like the dark truss frame (still trying to work out the reason for the hanging beam, elec ?).

Once you paint the lining board's it's hard to go back (so big decision).

You could try painting the trusses a lighter color (less work to change back), but I think either white wash the lining boards, or plaster over and paint white !

I feel it makes for a cleaner look and makes the dark trusses pop

Skylights, also a great addition to feature add, in my opinion

 

Brace end to end against the gable ends

 

My vote is to paint the trusses white and see if that balances it out more.

If not, paint the floor red and you won't notice the ceiling.

 

What about mirrors on ceiling?

 

I think you've found the answer @DaveM not sure why you were worrying about painting it when you could put mirrors on it.

 

My friend just got a quote to paint her beams from mission brown to white. Apparently it needs three coats, very fiddly, hard work looking up all the time. I would paint them a blue grey like pic attached. Hopefully can get away with one coat and colour is much nicer with wood. I tried painting mission brown white in an old IP Never again!!! I’d paint your dark furniture white (there is a 3 in 1 product). Hang a huge mirror instead of pictures to reflect light. And change to lighter lounges, eg light -med grey, etc. I love your house!!!

 

I am on the other side and think that painting the ceiling white would add to the property. Make it feel much brighter and still have texture from the timber. I have sold plenty of places with both painted and unpainted and as a rule the painted ones feel bigger, brighter and modern (although with your home you may not want this being an ex dairy).

 

I'm of the same mind. I would actually go white on the ceiling and go something like monument on the trusses for the pop. Those trusses are an unusual feature and the dairy is the backstory - they deserve something better than mission brown to be sure. All gets down to personal tastes I guess.

 

Mission Brown is a color you should be able to claim compensation for

I used Zinzer coverstain to paint mine out.

Only have mid reno pic's, it was only the ridge beam, but what a difference

If you do paint the ceiling then go for an off white or grey witb the trusses, helps to hid cobwebs/dust and still makes them a feature

 

And since the ceiling boards are varnished, they will need to be undercoated with a product to ensure the paint coat will stick (e.g. from Flood) to avoid having to sand the varnish!

 

Ironclad guarantee is that the moment you paint them, timber panelled ceilings will be all the rage.
FWIW though, I'd paint it too (and install timber floors instead to contrast).

 

Paint it. Wood is definitely reminiscent of 80s shack attack!
And it makes it look bigger lighter more space. Egg shell white.
You could look at pics of beams left unpainted v painted. Either way it will look more updated than leaving the ceiling wood.

 

When in doubt scan , Photoshop white on it

 

Haha, yep! I love their uniqueness. A few houses around my area have recently added timber ceilings to their portico’s above front door.