The first flat I had after I left university was in a lovely decrepit old building above a dusty old bookshop. It was freezing cold in winter, but the hot water was included in the rent and the bath was amazingly deep. The draught came up between the lovely old floorboards, the view of the sunset from the kitchen door was beautiful, but best of all by far was the orange Anaglypta ceiling in the sitting room.

For so long a simple coat of white paint on the ceiling has been the accepted norm, the safe option, but there are amazingly beautiful decorated ceilings around the world, and also conveniently all over Instagram and Pinterest. From full-on frescoes to scattered constellations, it’s easy to be inspired.

The contrast between walls and ceiling needn’t be hugely dramatic. As with any decorating choice, go as bold as you feel comfortable with. Whilst Michelangelo’s Creation of Adam is probably a little OTT for most of us, there are plenty of ways that you can make the most of your fifth wall.

If you have a neutral decorating scheme, try using deep colour on your ceiling. By creating a striking contrast with the walls the ceiling will suddenly become an unexpected focal point.

In smaller spaces, with lower ceilings and in the eaves of attic rooms, using one colour on both the walls and the ceiling can be incredibly calming and will give a feeling of intimacy, wrapping the room in colour. Also, as there are no contrasts to draw the eye the space will seem larger.

If you’re lucky enough to have wonderful high ceilings and you can afford to use bold colour or pattern which will draw the eye. A fabulous way of introducing pattern, colour and texture to a room is by wallpapering the ceiling. Wallpaper doesn’t have to be restricted to walls!

You can also consider experimenting with finish as well as colour. Although this one may not be for the faint-hearted, a clever way to bounce light around a room is to use a shiny finish giving a super glamourous, lacquered effect. Lovely smooth plasterwork is a definite requirement for this to really work!

Metallic or mirror-effect finishes can also look absolutely beautiful, particularly in small unexpected spaces such as hallways or cloakrooms. The effect needn’t be spankingly shiny and new; there are lots of products available with a lovely subtly aged look.

Likewise, vinyl decals are perfect for those of us who are a little more cautious. We’ve all seen the inspirational quotes available on-line to stick on your wall, but had you considered a twinkly starry sky or floral motif strewn across your ceiling? They are a really simple way of adding interest and detail without committing to redecorating entirely.