Ceilings are often the unloved part of a room, way down the list of creative spaces when it comes to a refurb or decoration job. After all, who regularly looks above the 4KTV, the fancy wall lights or funky art hanging there?
To add a dash of style and impact to a living room, kitchen or other room, there are many options beyond the usual boring popcorn ceiling spray paint job, wallpapered ceilings screaming for attention or other effort.
Lighting up the Ceiling
Ceiling lighting has long been an art form, but many homes went with ornate gothic ceiling lights or bleak industrial designs. With the arrival of micro-lighting, downlighting, recessed lighting and strip-LED lighting, there are more options than ever to turn a plain ceiling into something of a room feature.
From a full disco effect to subtle mood lighting, the ceiling can become a more substantial part of the room design, and reflect that lighting across the space.
Using vintage bulb styles or Scandinavian looks, there are endless ways to bring the ceiling down a little. Or you can use flush lighting to make a low ceiling feel higher. All as part of an overall design to shift the dynamics of a room.
Ceiling Panels are Here To Save The Day
While some designers might suggest a wallpapered ceiling, they are a major commitment to a space that can rapidly fall out of favor. Instead ceiling panels are a newer trend that can add impact and style without overwhelming the upper spaces.
The likes of Tin Ceiling Panels are a popular choice, bringing texture, shade and depth to the room across an endless series of designs. They can reflect light, adding to the ambiance, and add a level of detail rarely seen on ceiling.
They are also durable, very easy to clean, and long-lasting. Used as an accent, they can perk up an old ceiling in the corners or as step patterns, or you can cover the ceiling for high-impact and the added bonus of additional fire resistance.
Many styles can carry on down the walls, to add more dramatic effects, adding a long-lasting sense of vintage charm, stretching to even grandeur, depending on the design.
Molding Ramps Up the Bridgerton Effect
Molding can look good in some spaces, but really should be left to those higher ceilings where the decor already genteely ushers visitors into that recency feeling. Shows like Bridgerton and Downton Abbey have encouraged many to explore the joys of molding, but it needs to be tightly controlled in any modern space to prevent going overboard.
The curvature of molding can help bring a room together across the edges, and the many styles create an opportunity for a personalised look or to add an architectural look to what may have been a boring space.
Aim High With a Vaulted Ceiling and Exposed Beams
Ideal for larger living rooms or communal spaces, vaulted ceilings slope upward to extend your space, creating a sense of openness and making a grand impression on visitors.
The vaulted ceiling approach is often paired with exposed beams, using the features of classically designed buildings. Whether structural or decorative, the exposed wooden or metal beams bring warmth and texture to a room.
They work beautifully in farmhouse, industrial, or coastal interiors, and can be stained or painted to match your aesthetic. And they are also great for attachment points for hanging other elements of the design off without ruining the look of the overall ceiling, while being great for hiding wires.
Taking A Natural Approach With Wood Paneling or Cladding
Wood-clad ceilings add richness and acoustic warmth to any space, especially in older homes, or modern buildings trying to escape a boxy industrial design. From sleek modern slats to reclaimed wood, a careful and sympathetic design can help make a ceiling feel welcoming and cozy, or dramatic depending on the style and finish.
With many options, cladding is a low-cost solution to improving a ceiling. It helps improve sound insulation, which is ideal in noisy multi-occupancy homes, and can also add to the warmth of a room, saving on heating costs.
Summary
Whatever your goal, budget and overall design inspiration, boosting the feel of a room by adding some clever design touches to the ceiling is a great way to improve the ambience. Or, you can go all-out and make the ceiling a central feature of your room with vaults, tin panels or high-end coatings.
The ceiling really is the limit for your ideas, and a great part of the room to add spectacle, grandeur or an industrial feeling that modernizes a traditional space. Just be aware of weight and height limits when it comes to your work, or you could be banging your head against the results for years to come.