How to Create a Faux Tray Ceiling

Measure and sketch out two borders, one against the other, in the width of your choice around the ceiling, using a pencil. Wider borders pair well with a larger room, while a smaller room looks proportional with thinner borders, according to the Inventive Home Improvement website.

Paint the borders and center of the ceiling different colors, depending on the effect you want. To create the illusion of higher ceilings, paint the outside border the same color as the wall and use a paint shade darker than the wall to complete the middle border, and then fill in the center with a shade lighter than the walls. To minimize the effect of high ceilings, paint the first border a shade or two darker than the wall, use the wall color for the second border and then fill in the center with a shade lighter than the wall.

Install a decorative molding around the center box of the ceiling, if desired, to add elegance and dimension to the room. Cut each molding corner at a 90-degree angle, using a miter saw, and secure it with nails. Paint the molding the same color as the center box to enhance the tray ceiling, not detract from it.