My home laundry room has a square 2x2 skylite in the ceiling. I keep thinking that a glossy paint in the "ceiling well" and on the whole ceiling would reflect more lite and, therefore, brighten the area up during the day, and maybe a little more at nite, as well.

I keep seeing statements to "avoid" the higher gloss paints on the ceilings and am wondering why, or more specificaly, why not? I would rather learn about this by reading than doing!

 

The glossy sheen doesn't acually reflect more light (or should I say, I don't know how much actual light, if any, would get reflected), but it will reflect more of the floor and wall colors if it's a gloss white
I mean if your floor is blue tiles, and your ceiling is gloss white, your ceiling will reflect a some of the blue and take on a blueish hue

The gloss sheens are harder to apply well and show more imperfections in the surface, which is often why, aside from personal preference, thay are generally avoided on ceilings
But they are much easier to clean and resist dust, dirt, mold and mildew better than flats

I could actually recommend at least an eggshell or satin for a bathroom, laundry room, or other high humidity, dusty (lint), room that needs to be relatively cleanable

P.S. I have a semi-gloss on my kitchen ceiling, makes it very cleanable (the range vent does not vent outside and I'm in an un-believably damp and moldy/mildewy environment)
It is an interesting effect

 

Much clarity in your response - thanks!

 

I went with the semi-gloss white on the ceiling and a semi-gloss "Baby Booties" blue for the walls. The white in the skylite well made a big difference. Feeling a lack of testosterone in the room, I've replaced the moldings and will be adding some ceiling trim in that Walnut LP material. The floor was white tiles and it all came out pretty good. Nice & bright and I don't get oppresively depressed going thru that room anymore!

The white washer/dryer nicely balances out the blue.

Now to figure out the other 8 rooms in this dark & dismally painted joint.

 

Sounds great, thanks for the update



Also good: Old licence plates ('60s and earlier) for the walls, and diamond plate floor tiles
Mucho macho
That'll add some testosterone
Or maybe some race car numbers on the washer and dryer

lol