Ways to Paint Ceiling Medallions

Black or White Medallion

• For an all-white ceiling in a room with white molding or trim, paint the medallion white, too. Or paint the entire ceiling in a complementary color to the wall color. For instance, a teal-painted wall with a bright blue ceiling will come to life with white trim, mouldings, medallions and panels. Experiment with painting the medallion black for an altogether different look with drama. For a black medallion to fit well within the decor of the room, match it with refinished chairs with a high gloss black finish, a piano and other black accents.

Bold Medallion

• Repeat an accent color found elsewhere in the room for a bold medallion. For instance, a primarily white room with pops of bright blue, red and navy will do well with a bright red-painted medallion and a drum shade with a retro pattern with vibrant hues to draw the palette down into the room. Consider designing your own drum pendant online to get a color match on the hues you wish to introduce into your decor. You can also paint the medallion according to seasonal or current trends.

Painted Medallion

• Arm yourself with some painters tape and your choice of stencils to create a one-of-a-kind medallion focal point. One idea is to add the medallion to the light fixture, leave it white and paint an expanding medallion outside the existing one. Or, forgo the actual molding and stencil your design around the light fixture. For a traditional space, paint flourishing floral patterns. For an eclectic look, paint a ring of stripes in alternating colors such as red, orange lime and cerulean. Or, for a modern look paint a silvery damask pattern around a chandelier.

Other Ideas

• Another idea is to step away from traditional circular medallions and opt for square or rectangular designs. Think of an island or bar seating area where a series of pendants are installed. Frame the length of lights with a rectangular molding. For a large foyer create a pattern of medallions around the light fixture using the smallest circular moldings you can find. Create a circle of them. This design works best if a circular motif is present elsewhere in the room -- for instance, a circular mirror or window or if the light fixture contains globes or circular charms.