For this technique choose a medium to dark tone of blue, green, brown or raspberry red and paint the walls in a matte sheen. Now tape off stripes and roll on a coat of high gloss varnish. The difference between the flat and gloss sheens makes the pattern, and candle light will play off the high gloss beautifully. You can divide the wall into upper and lower sections with a border that runs about three feet above the floor. The lower wall section, called a dado, can be decorated according to your style.
Wooden wainscoting denotes a less formal, country appearance.
For an opulent Italian or Victorian look, a painted faux marble dado looks magnificent. The upper walls should always be a few tones lighter to keep the room in balance. Although I generally prefer to keep ceilings white, there are occasions when a spectacular ceiling is magical. You could add simple detail with a central ceiling medallion, or paint the ceiling a rich colour that matches the upper walls. This is a good solution for stucco ceilings that aren't very attractive.