i agree with @debbi washburn and would remove the crown - honestly I’d be tempted to wallpaper the whole room (ceiling included) in an airy botanical wallpaper or if that is too much, I would paint the walls and ceiling the same color (I would go on a lot of trips before I spent $12k on that ceiling but that just a me thing)

https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/try-ceiling-wallpaper-open-up-a-cramped-room

https://www.elledecor.com/design-decorate/room-ideas/g22072367/bedrooms-statement-wallpaper/

Get rid of all the crown and paint the whole ceiling white. No need to highlight any of it.

And replace the ceiling fan. Since you lived there last summer you should have a good idea whether you will use a fan. If not, replace it with a chandelier. If you use the fan, get one that is white (so it is not as noticeable against the ceiling) and more modern looking. You also may not need one with a light, but if you get a light they are more streamlined now.

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Thank you all so so much!!! Yes for sure, replacing the ceiling fan is a MUST. Just haven’t wanted to make a lot of decisions outside of what’s necessary/broken. These are all giving me hope. Thank you!!

IMO the contrasting crown is drawing your eye to the wrong thing. Start by painting the entire thing white. If your ceiling is in good enough shape, go up one sheen level to eggshell on the ceiling and use satin on the trim.

Once the entire ceiling is white it will be better.

Depending on available funds removing the crown would be great, but it will probably cause damage to the Sheetrock texture (what an opportunity to skim all the walls smooth!). Painting everything from the crown up white will help tremendously though even if the crown has to stay.

I would remove all crown and wouldn’t keep any on the highest level either. If it were my room, I’d probably want to remove the round part of the window and i would bring that part of the ceiling down to the middle level.

Hang more art, so you have something better to stare at than the ceiling! :))

As an interim fix, I would paint all the crown molding ceiling/wall color.

Paint the entire ceiling the same color as the walls and do it all in a completely flat sheen. Light reflects off .of shiney paint and highlights more of the lines and differences in levels. The more flat and uniformly you paint the colors the more it will all disappear. If you can remove the molding too - all of it, that would be fantastic. Congrats on your forever home!

Remove all the crown molding and paint the ceiling & the soffits white.

Even if removing the crown molding is too much work (and may ruin the underneath sheetrock) painting the ceiling the same color as the walls helps them disappear.

OR - I love the idea of wallpapering it and just making it scream "Look at me" in a good way. If changing the flaws will be many, many dollars, then paint (or wallpaper) are good fixes.

Mural wall paper with LED around the perimeter to illuminate it?

@Paul…that is so cool

You may want to consider going moody in this room. A dark color may reduce the effect of all the shadows.

^^ ohhh love that!

If you have guts, do what @ffpalms just posted. That looks very "luxe". No one will think there's something weird about your ceiling with that color, believe me.

Thanks so much!!!! This is awesome to be able to visualize! Yall are the best :)

Oh dear! Please do not remove crown molding, it’s nearly magical! Paul’s suggestions will work wonders, and if not, simply paint the flats a blue-gray! Gorgeous ceiling indeed! Enjoy!

I wouldn’t recommend the single dark tone. I’d stick with white. I had my bedroom done entirely in a dark blue as a teenager, it got very tiresome to always have to turn the lighting way up for picking out clothing to wear etc. On overcast days it was depressing. Now when I visit my parents, (it’s hasn’t been re-decorated)I feel sorry that I did that to them….

Thanks to everyone for your advice!!!! Thought I'd share the pics of the finished project. We ended up going with Farrow & Ball Drop Cloth. It's light during the day but deep enough a color to not be just totally boring. Did flat paint on all the walls, crown & ceiling and oil based enamel on the trim. We are so so happy with the results. HUGE difference. Now we just need art, window treatments and a new ceiling fan.