A simple coat of paint, including one applied to the ceiling, can dramatically alter the look of any living room. For instance, painting a ceiling black can give the appearance of bringing the ceiling closer to the floor, thus making the space seem more intimate. Before painting the rest of the living room, carefully consider how your choices will impact the room and try out a host of samples if necessary.
Colors
Almost any color you choose for the living room will dramatically offset the black ceiling. Light-colored walls in shades like cream, tan or honeydew will open up the room, giving it an airy look that's easy to keep sophisticated. Stark white walls contrasted against a black ceiling can provide the room with a modern or retro appearance, especially in living areas equipped with dark hardwood floors and shabby chic furnishings. Painting walls a dark color, like midnight blue, eggplant or battleship gray, gives the room a more enclosed or intimate look.
Sponge Painting
Use a sponge applicator to provide the living room walls with added depth. The textured pattern offers a focal point other than the typically dominant black ceiling. Sponge paint the walls with earth-tones like sienna, goldenrod or forest green to give the living room an old world feel. The blotchy texture of the sponged paint also creates a terra-cotta appearance, adding to the room's rustic look.
Borders
Tie the room's contrasting colors together by painting borders around the walls. For instance, on a stark white wall, stencil a border of black patterns like fleurs-de-lis, roses or decorative swirls. Use complementary shades as well for other colors, such as dark purple stencils on lavender walls, apricot stencils on champagne walls or teal stencils on mint green walls.
Accent Walls
Accent walls of complementary colors break up any potential monotony found in a living room outfitted with a black ceiling. For instance, in a room painted periwinkle, try an accent wall in royal blue. In rooms painted stark white, you can use almost any color on an accent wall. Depending on the room's furnishings, you can even try adding a black