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Q: I need a change and I am thinking about painting my living room. I have been doing my homework, as you recommend, and would like to paint the ceiling a contrast color. What are your thoughts?
Janelle P. — Kernersville

A: Change is good and paint offers an inexpensive way to rapidly transform a space. There is something about a fresh coat of paint that renews a space, regardless of what color you choose.

Using a different paint color for the ceiling, believe it or not, brings attention back to the ground level instead of the dizzying heights of your ceiling. Color can create special effects and have a big impact on the way you see your space. Dark or warm colors tend to provide a cozy and comfortable feel, while lighter palettes tend to open a space. Keep this in mind when you are selecting paint colors for your ceiling.

If you have really high ceilings and want to create a cozy feeling, paint your ceiling darker than the walls. In order to visually raise the ceiling, paint it lighter than the walls. That said, don’t get too caught up in the rules about darker and lighter effects because there are strategies that can be used to help you get the look you want. If you want a rich look on your ceiling but your ceilings are low, for example, you can use a glaze to enhance the color. A glaze will provide a slight shine, which will reflect light so that your rich color choice will not overwhelm the space.

Architectural elements like trim and timber beams make it easier to determine where to transition your paint colors. To create a crisp, clean look, accuracy counts. Be sure to tape off the ceiling in a sharply straight line. This step is crucial, because an uneven line can ruin the whole effect that you are attempting to achieve with a fresh coat of paint.

If your space has walls that are angled to the ceiling, continuing the wall color up to the flat area keeps the space open and airy. If you have an odd-shaped or a multi-leveled ceiling line, using the same color across the board will make the space more unified and less awkward.

Painting everything, ceiling and wall, the same color is definitely not for everyone. Some people feel that the same color on the ceiling and walls makes the area feel a bit closed in and small because there is no “opening” of lighter color at the top. If you like this look, it can be perfect in a bedroom or bathroom because the unified color provides a calming and relaxed effect. In a large room, the single color look will fade into the background, focusing attention to your furnishings.

Using the same paint color on the ceiling and walls is another trick that effectively “lowers” extremely high ceilings and achieves a cozy feel. This also makes painting a breeze as there is no prep time taping off the walls.

If you like a unified look, but do not want everything the same color, you can easily do this by adding a touch of white to the wall or ceiling color. According to Benjamin Moore Paints, the most popular formula is about 80-20, 80 percent white with 20 percent color.

Changing the color of your ceiling is a chance for you to be make a design statement and be creative. But don’t go overboard, particularly in your main living area. You could get tired of your colored ceiling more quickly than you would a standard white, but the best part about paint is that it is easily changeable, so have fun.

Jessica Dauray is owner of Elements of Style Interiors, a full-service interior design firm with offices in Greensboro and Wilmington, and The Studio, a trade-focused fabric and furniture resource. Visit her Web sites at www.elementsofstyleinteriors.com or www.thestudioofgreensboro.com. Have questions? E-mail Jessica at jessicaofeos@bellsouth.net.