Neutral Colors That Go With an Oak Beadboard Ceiling

White

• White is a neutral color, but it isn't appropriate for every situation. White walls are most appropriate in rooms that are a little too small; the bright tone helps to make the room seem bigger and reflects daylight and artificial light around the room, helping to brighten it. If the room and the ceiling are extremely large, however, the visual weight of the ceiling may overpower the white of the walls.

Off-White

• Cream, ivory and other off-white tints are more versatile than full-on white. While they retain the light color and reflective properties of white, they also blend in a bit more, particularly with the strong color and texture of an oak beadboard ceiling. The harmony of the ceiling and off-white walls can be accented by painting the room's trim in a color that falls between the two on the color spectrum. Door and window trim painted tan or light brown help to bring the dark ceiling and the light walls together.

Gray

• The right tone of gray paint can transform a room from run of the mill to elegant, without seeming overbearing. The differences between tints of gray are subtle, but they can add up to a big difference in the feel of a room. Look at your samples carefully before you decide which one harmonizes best with an oak ceiling. Balance the colors in the room by choosing a rug or floor covering that is a darker shade of gray than the walls and that contains a pattern that echoes the brown of the oak ceiling.

Natural Wood

• Natural wood walls can be finished with clear polyurethane or varnish to protect them. Their grain and texture will complement the appearance of the oak ceiling, resulting in a room that feels like the product of a forest. Instead of making the walls out of the same oak as the ceiling, create a variety of wood tones by paneling the walls with light colored pine or maple. Tie the colors of the room together by finishing windows and doorways with natural oak trim to match the ceiling.