Bedroom Design Don'ts

By Leah Hennen

Do you see a bland, blank surface as you lie in bed gazing up at the ceiling? If so, you're not alone. "Everyone ignores the ceiling," Shelly Riehl David laments. "Instead, make it a celebrated space" by adding eye-catching detail, subtle pattern or soft color. David's favorite trick is to paint the ceiling a slightly lighter version of the wall color. "Ask the paint store to knock down the color 20 percent for the ceiling," she suggests. Besides dressing it up, color visually lowers the ceiling and gives the space a feeling of comfort and intimacy.

You could also stencil or wallpaper the ceiling, add architectural elements in the form of beams or moldings or use a decorative paint treatment, David says. We've seen silver-leafed bedroom ceilings that are to die for. Other options for adding interest to the "fifth wall": Torchieres and uplights that wash the ceiling with warm pools of light; a canopy or tented bed that ensconces you in warmth and comfort as well as bringing color, pattern and texture to the surface above you; and an intricate medallion and sparkling chandelier that add to the room's ambiance and create a focal point.