Need Ceiling Stain or Finish Advice – New Red Oak Floors, T&G Ceiling,

last month

We’re in the middle of a major main floor renovation and could use some input! We’re installing site-finished red oak floors in a warm stain (similar to the LVP we’re replacing), redoing the kitchen, and planning to cover our existing stipple-textured ceiling with tongue and groove planks. We also have rough cedar features throughout the space - beams, a bannister railing, and window trim.
I’d love for the tongue and groove ceiling to contrast with the floors rather than match, but I’m worried that introducing a third wood tone could feel too busy or disjointed. We’ve considered painting or whitewashing the ceiling for a lighter look - but once we go that route, there’s no going back.
Has anyone dealt with a similar situation? Would love to hear how others balanced different wood tones - or if you chose to paint/whitewash your ceilings, do you love it or regret it?
Thanks in advance for your thoughts!

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Comments (5)

John Liu
last month
Lord no whitewashing.

I vote for not worrying about it. The T&G will likely be pine, have it finished to be a bit lighter than the (very cool) rough-hewn beams. People will look up at the ceiling, and go oooooo. They will look down at the floor, and go oooooo. No-one is going to be yo-yo'ing their head up-down-up and going anything.
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BeverlyFLADeziner
last month
Here are examples of white ceilings with wood finish on the beams. I don't like your textured ceiling. It feels heavy.

The result you don't want is one finish on the beams and a different finish on the planks. They should come close in color. This two tone near miss combo is not attractive IMO.
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Lyn Nielson
last month
if it were mine, and yes, I have a similar space. I did a dark stained tongue and groove ceiling and a White Birch floor. (I have a beautiful area rug on the floor)

I do not have the overhang you have, so I would take that into consideration, and probably try to match the color for the ceiling.

a darker ceiling in such a high ceiling will help to bring it down a bit. One good thing is that the ceiling fixtures dissapear into the ceiling rather than being highlighted.

a lighter floor will help bounce the natural light around the room and be a beautiful contrast and still be wood.

I painted my walls and ALL the trim the same, SW Virtual Taupe, YES, a very dark color, but I love the feel of the room with all the bright natural light.

In my space it appears more Drab army green with the trees outdoors.

I chose the color mainly because I have a sectional very close in color and wanted it to blend into the room... you might think about a color similar to your sectional (I like to limit any contrast and have a couple featured colors in the room)

Good Luck with your project!
jackowskib
last month
It’s a beautiful space! Striking the balance of woods can be tricky. I would either have the ceiling match the beams or go solid white (keeping beams). There’s a lot going on with the floor, trim, railings and patio pitched ceiling that need to subtly complement one another with the ceiling since they’re all in the same space.
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PRO
PPF.
last month
Are the 2 beams structural? If not, consider removing them and adding a new one at the ridge, and some exposed rafters as shown in the last image Beverly posted just above. Fill in between with your new T&G.
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