How to Create a Romantic Sky on Your Ceiling

Sultry Sunset

• A permanent sunset view on the ceiling sets the mood any day of the year. While it may seem complicated, the look begins with painting a deep blue near the center of the ceiling and in areas opposite of the faux sunset, such as the ceiling line along the opposite wall. Mix a bit more white into the paint, getting progressively lighter toward the sunset, then mix up shades of yellow, orange, lavender or pink, based on your ideal sunset. A few clouds help enhance the sunset's pastel tones; use an inspiration image to create a realistic sunset. Glaze mixed in with some of the sunset tones makes the paint more translucent for added effect.

Projected Peace

• The night sky on a clear night, far away from city lights, brings a sense of calm and awe when stars are visible by the millions. A planetarium-style projector recreates that look on the ceiling without the need to paint the ceiling a dark color -- just keep the room dark for maximum visibility. Star projectors are available from inexpensive toy models on up to more accurate reproductions of constellations and star fields, complete with slow rotation emulating the actual view outdoors.

Romantic Glow

• Professional-grade glow paints, available in a variety of colors, create a night sky effect only visible at night. During the day, the painted-on stars, comets, nebula or additional other-worldly features are invisible. Specialty ceiling mural companies can create the desired night sky effect, but you can also do it yourself with the right paints. Standard glow paints from a craft store do not glow as bright. Create the skyscape by flecking the paints on with a stiff-bristled brush such as a toothbrush, and mixing glaze and paint, using several colors, to create larger space objects such as a nebula or galaxies if you'd like a deep space look.

Let There Be Light

• Ambient lighting at ceiling level adds a romantic glow from above, setting the mood for "l'amour." Rope lighting or red or blue LED light bars, masked by a molding at the top of the walls so it's not noticed from below, create a mood-inducing ambiance after dark. For an over-the-top installation, a fiber optic star ceiling adds the look of the night sky without requiring paint or a projector. Many fiber optic strands emanate from a hidden light projector; the other end of each strand shines down through its own hole drilled in the ceiling.