Maroon bedroom searches rise every October, the same way people start craving dark colors when the light goes. And the most common question after "which maroon?" is "what about the ceiling?"
Here's my answer. Paint it maroon too.
Paint the walls maroon and leave the ceiling white, and the room looks like a box with a lid. The line where the dark wall meets the white ceiling is sharp and heavy, and it presses down. Paint the ceiling the same color and that line disappears. The room gets cozier, not darker.
Maroon vs burgundy: is there a difference?
People use the words interchangeably, and paint companies don't agree either. In practice:
- Maroon leans brown. Think of a dark brick or a well-aged leather.
- Burgundy leans purple. Think of red wine held up to the light.
For a fully drenched room, maroon is usually easier. The brown in it makes the whole space feel earthier and less intense than a purple-red would.
Maroon paint colors that drench well
- Benjamin Moore Cabernet: the one in these images. Deep wine-maroon.
- Sherwin-Williams Fine Wine: a bit more brown.
- Farrow & Ball Brinjal: darker, with a hint of aubergine.
- Benjamin Moore Bittersweet Chocolate: so deep it's nearly brown.
How to paint a ceiling the same dark color
The ceiling is the hard part of any drench. A few pointers:
- Use a flat or matte ceiling paint tinted to your color. Ceiling paint splatters less.
- Roll in one direction, parallel to the main window, so any lap marks are hidden by the light.
- Tint your primer darker so you're not fighting white.
- Get an extension pole. Your shoulders will thank you.
If you're hiring someone, a drenched room costs more than walls alone because of the ceiling and trim. Budget roughly 30 to 50 percent more.
Keep the bed light and soft
In a maroon room, the bed is the light spot. Cream or ivory linen, a rust wool blanket, and white or cream pillows. A cream upholstered headboard or bed frame helps even more; it stands out like a soft block against the dark walls.
A brass pendant from the painted ceiling
Once the ceiling is maroon, a small brass pendant hanging from it looks wonderful. The brass catches the light against the dark and gives the ceiling something to hold. A simple dome or a small globe is enough.
What to pair with maroon
- Cream and ivory for the bed and curtains.
- Rust and camel in blankets and cushions.
- Walnut or oak for furniture.
- Brass for lamps, sconces and hardware.
- Charcoal line drawings in simple frames for art.
Skip bright white, gray and black. They look harsh against maroon.
Floors and rugs
Jute or a pale wool rug. Maroon rooms can feel enclosed, so a light rug keeps some air at floor level. If the floor is dark wood, a larger rug is even more important.
Curtains and windows in a maroon room
Windows are the brightest part of a drenched room, so treat them with care. Cream or oatmeal linen curtains, hung from a rod painted the same maroon as the wall, soften the edges of the window without cutting the light. Mount the rod close to the ceiling and extend it 8 to 10 inches past each side of the frame, so the curtains stack on the wall instead of over the glass.
For blackout, add a separate liner behind the linen rather than buying dark blackout curtains. Dark curtains against maroon walls make the window look like a hole at night. Cream ones glow when a lamp is on and keep the room feeling soft.
When a maroon drench works best
- Rooms with only one window or low natural light.
- Bedrooms used mainly at night.
- Rooms with awkward angles or sloped ceilings, which disappear when everything's one color.
If your bedroom is bright and sunny all day, you might prefer maroon on the walls with a cream ceiling. Drenching shines in dim rooms.
Mistakes to avoid
- Bright white ceiling with maroon walls. The line is too strong.
- Glossy ceiling paint. It shows every bump.
- Dark bedding. The bed needs to be the light spot.
- Cool LED bulbs. They turn maroon purple.
Maroon bedroom FAQ
Should I paint my ceiling the same color as maroon walls?
In a small or dim bedroom, yes. It blurs the edges and makes the room feel cozy rather than closed in.
What color goes with maroon in a bedroom?
Cream, ivory, rust, camel, oak, walnut and brass.
Is maroon too dark for a bedroom?
Not if the bed and floor are light and you use warm lamps.
What's the difference between maroon and burgundy?
Maroon leans brown, burgundy leans purple. Both are deep reds.
