The vault and the curved door do not look like they are square with each other. Is the open space symmetrical? I think your room is lovely as is, but if the space is symmetrical PERHAPS an old piece of architectural salvage would look appropriate.

There are exceptions, of course, but generally cathedral ceilings are not decorated. You decorate the lower 8 feet of the room.

I agree with graywings. If you are looking for some drama in the room you could always paint your ceilings a darker color or simply another color than white.

You have a lovely space.

I agree with the others...if I wanted to "decorate" the ceiling, I'd paint it a different color. The white is very stark.

Thanks all! Arcy, I think they're slightly misaligned. I was hoping for someone to give support to my idea of putting either a simple metal leaves (https://www.houzz.com/products/stratton-home-decor-brushed-gold-flowing-leaves-wall-decor-prvw-vr~46925038) across the wall above the curved doorway. Or maybe some faux beams on the ceiling. But I agree the white ceiling is too stark. Will have to figure out what color to paint it now. We are repainting the wall to be a cream suede.

What "darker" color should I paint the ceiling?

Do you want it to be a lighter color (your ceiling) or a darker color? What colors do you like?

Here is a google search list of various painted ceilings.

https://www.google.com/search?q=painted+ceilings&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjrt9_LntLYAhXSvVMKHcMuBOgQsAQIJw&biw=1440&bih=710

Party_music50 - great catch! I agree, lighting could do wonders for this room.

You have beautiful, ornate furnishings, but everything else I can see in the room is pulling your eye up, away from the furniture.

I would paint the walls and ceiling the exact same color. Something lighter than you currently have. I would replace the art above the couch with something that is the same width, but not as tall. Add end tables and lamps to lower focus. Remove the tall lamps. Add a chandelier.

We are thinking a cream color on the walls but not sure whether a darker or lighter color on the ceiling would be appropriate. The floor is a dark hardwood floor so I'm not sure if a dark color ceiling would be helpful - see below.

party_music50 - It is fairly lit up during the day. However, with the dark wood floor, the room tends to be dim, hence the corner floor lamps.

Jennifer, you're right about the lighting pulling your eyes up to the ceiling. I would have liked to put a chandelier or even recessed lighting but because it is a cathedral ceiling, it will cost significantly more to put new wiring. The floor lamps were a compromise. Table lamps didn't help with the illumination of the room in the evenings/nights. Good points about the artwork. I love the ideas you have provided and will look into them.

I would leave the ceiling white and repaint the room unless you like everything earth toned. However, I think a beautiful striated wall finish or horizontal cloud paper would make the room sing. I have special artisans. Are you in Chicago? Happy New Year!

Great looking space. Perhaps all you need is a bit of color in some artwork to help draw your eyes away from that part? Maybe try replacing the art over the couch?

What color are the walls now?

In my whole house, I only have one room that has a white ceiling. All the rest are painted either a shade of the wall color or an accent color.

You can go lighter, but I think going darker will help bring the ceiling height down and make it cozier. You can keep it in the same gold tones in the wall now, or you can pick an accent color. In any case, it will make your crown molding pop.

It is a darker beige shade.. Theres a lot of room to cover for artwork. Here's another view shortly after sunset.

Gray- not sure what horizontal sunset paper is but planning a faux paint or suede finish. Not in Chicago but the mountain west.

Annie that is an interesting way of previewing it! The house is all earthy tones so not sure if the bright pastel colors will work. But it seems the consensus is to paint the ceiling one way or the other!

Understand that the color on screen will be different than on the wall as on the screen it is back lit so light colors tend to look a lot brighter than in real life.

If you know the name of the paint color, you can look it up on line and find shades of that same color if you want to just go lighter or darker.

Unfortunately I don't have the name of the color. Will be painting it anyway so we'll try to select a shade for the ceiling. Thanks all!

I like the color of the walls and the color of the ceiling. I think the blank wall looks good. You have a lot of interesting things that are eye level. You do not need to draw the eye upwards.

I would also lower the art over the sofa.

It is great that you do not have overhead lighting. Your room is very lovely and warm. I would use end tables with lamps, too.

Thanks Kathy and grapefruit, that should be an easy fix.

Any thoughts on putting faux beams on the ceiling, one the long way and a few perpendicularly? Here's an example https://goo.gl/images/yGtLZj