The colors on the ceiling need to relate to each other in some way, and also to the furnishings, flooring, and walls in the room. Start with those things first and have a plan for one main hue, in various shades, and then one, or at the most two, accent colors.

gypsum false ceiling is a lot better nowdays . it is easy to install and uninstall . There are different types of gypsum boards available in the market like plain, water resistant / moisture resistant etc ... Make sure to buy good quality gypsum board for better durability .

Without false ceiling you can use a good quality Silent decorative fan with LED directly - either as 3 lamps below or a single lamp shade. Select fan size & light as per the room area. Also using one or more big colorful pendant lamps (suiting your interiors) can light up the mood!

Koel - I'm facing a similar problem. I don't want a false ceiling, even the most simple one, because of the following cons: 1. Decrease in natural ventilation: A false ceiling reduces the ceiling height. Taller ceilings allow more natural light and airflow. Even a 6-inch drop is a bummer. 2. No added aesthetics: The concrete ceiling we have is already super smooth and has a flawless finish. 3. No functional value if you don't need much AC time: I live in Bangalore, and there is hardly a summer. Even though I am on the top floor, the roof has white tiles, and even in summer, the house doesn't get warm. I hate the overuse of ACs because of the environmental concerns too. So, I don't see any functional value in a false ceiling for me. 4. Recessed can light casts terrible shadows: The small lights hidden inside the false ceilings are more like focussed lights because only the bottom is exposed. I hate the coarse light they create. 5. Groove for cove lights is an avenue for dust: A cove light with a groove will provide soft and even lighting, but, living in India, dust is everywhere, I and I prevent any hidden spots for dust collection. This is more of a health concern. However, my builder didn't provide many wire points in the ceiling, and with the fans in place, only one point is left for lights in the living room ceiling. I just need a few more points in the ceiling to add a few pendant lights and directed spotlights to create a calming light with a few highlights on some wall hangings. If you want some nice-looking lighting setup without a false ceiling, there are some fixtures that make the wires visible as a part of their design. These are some Nordic minimal style light fixtures, and they are available in Ikea. You can explore them. I have one more year to go, and I am keen on finding more lighting hacks to avoid a false ceiling.