Ceiling suggestions

Let the sunshine in

To suggest sunlight in a room that doesn't have much, or to make the most of it in a bright room, paint the ceiling a light yellow. Other pale pastels can look gorgeous on the ceiling, including lavender, light green, pearl gray or robin's egg blue. Porch ceilings are often painted blue. Pink or peach on the ceiling flatters skin tones, and one of those hues might work especially well on the ceiling of your bathroom or bedroom. The color on the ceiling doesn't have to match anything else in the room.

Create illusion

In general, light colors make the ceiling recede by reflecting the light in the room; darker colors can visually bring the ceiling down a little bit. You can make the most of this illusion if you have a two-story home with a high ceiling in the foyer. Paint the ceiling darker than the walls, possibly in warm beige, to make the ceiling feel less remote and your home's entryway more welcoming.

A match made in heaven

Sometimes, the best color for the ceiling is the same color as the walls. This works nicely in a small half-bathroom or hallway. When you put the same color on the walls and ceiling, use the same sheen on both.

Add a touch of color

Even if you are truly comfortable with white on the ceiling, you don't have to have a stark, chalky white overhead. White flavored with a drop of any color can add subtle beauty and tie a room together. Just add a cup of your wall color to each can of white paint to unify the look. This way, you'll be sure to create a room where the walls and ceiling are in harmony.