I was at the doctor's office last week feeling especially crummy when I laid down and looked up — painted ceiling and instant mood shift! Although the pattern was not something I would choose for my own home, just the fact that it was cheerful and unexpected was enough to give me a boost.

Ceiling decoration is by no means a new trend — a visit to almost any ancient sacred space will tell you that — but it still reads as fresh and whimsical especially when used in just one or two rooms of the house. I'm especially smitten with the idea of incorporating the idea into lesser-used spaces like closets, hallways, and powder rooms, or rooms where you tend to be looking up like bedrooms and bathrooms (as in the shower).

Obviously the time factor is a major deterrent for pulling off a patterned ceiling. Anyone who has painted a ceiling, hung wallpaper, or applied a stencil will tell you that it's no fun, and combining any of the two may just be a recipe for perfect torture. However, having recently completed a successful stenciling project (not on the ceiling) using creme stencil paint, taking on this project is looking a bit more appealing. Creme stencil paint is super easy to apply, a little goes a long way, and it evades the problem of dripping/splattering paint (an obvious challenge in painting a ceiling). Most craft stores will carry it in their stencil section.

Any experienced ceiling decorators up for sharing their tips?

Images: 1: My Marrakesh , 2: Kirsten Grove via Design*Sponge, 3: HGTV, 4: House Beautiful, 5: Not Just A House Wife

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