solid stain basically looks like paint. I would not want to cover up that lovely wood grain.

personally, I'd seal it in a clear coat and not add any color. that wood is beautiful.

FYI - We have not had good luck with Solid stain by SW. Peeling problems on a previous home.

For our new home, we recently had our porch T&G stained a Dark Walnut. This photo is before the porch surface was done. Our boards are also uneven in color. I love it!!!

Our porch surface is a grayish stamped concrete with a brown enhancer to pull the colors together.

Sky blue

Use the SW transparent toner. Cedar or Redwood.

Like Mark suggested, we painted our back screened in porch ceilings a very light blue.

I'm with Mark Bischak on this one especially if you live in the south. Sky blue is a color traditionally used for porch ceilings in the south. There are several proposed reasons for it but for me I like the color and also a sky blue ceiling feels cooler although that may be a psychological thing instead of actually lowering the temperature.

You can get semi transparent stain in all colors. I would go for the blue ceiling in a stain, and I like the idea of the wood grain showing, so would use semi transparent.

Haint Blue is a traditional porch ceiling color. Use Sherwin Williams 6470. It's a blue with green overtones. Will keep away all the evil spirits, plus birds, wasps, spiders and bill collectors.

Here in Michigan "sky blue" sometimes resembles a medium grey.