• There's a reason why great artists of the past paid attention to ceilings.ceiling image by Dmitry Nikolaev from Fotolia.com
  
  Solid white ceilings don't give a room much personality, but designers are beginning to use them as a "fifth wall" to work into design schemes. An out-of-the-ordinary ceiling can give your room a period look, tease the eye or just elevate a room's feel. Enlist the help of friends and make it a weekend project.
  
  

Wood

• This natural element imbues a room with a rustic ranch feel. A homeowner can employ slick solid planks, mix wood types and colors to create eye-catching designs, or use untreated wooden beams for a more rustic look. Because a wood ceiling can darken a room, be sure to use it only in areas with a lot of natural light and keep wall and floor colors light.
  
  

Tin

• Look to the Victorian era for inspiration on this type of ceiling. Tin-tiled ceilings look especially stunning in libraries and kitchens. As a do-it-yourself project, remember to start tin tiles in the center of the ceiling for symmetrical measurements on all sides. Look for pressed-in ceiling tiles and cornice pieces. Homeowners who don't like the look of silver can try colored tin or brass or copper tin tiles.
  
  

Mural

• The Sistine Chapel is a popular tourist destination for good reason. A ceiling mural gives you something beautiful to look at before you go to bed and when you wake up. It also gives a room a Renaissance feel. Ceiling murals can include illusionist paintings, also called trompe l'oeil, to make a flat ceiling look like a dome, vaulted ceiling, coffer or a stained-glass window in the ceiling.