There is one surface that is often overlooked in modern decor and that is the ceiling.
Thankfully, people long ago abandoned the “popcorn” ceiling that quickly became an unsightly dust trap and immediately dated a home’s decor as badly as stained pressboard wall paneling, sunken living rooms, avocado appliances and intercom systems.
The builders of grand houses in Europe, from the English Tudor period onward, used to employ artisans to create beautiful plaster relief moldings in their formal rooms. Some were very elaborate and even served as the focal point of the room. The old grand dining halls of Renaissance era manor homes even featured reliefs and other intricate paintings that evoked the artistic pride of the Vatican.
Such detailed ceilings are now cost prohibitive for most people, so many tend to paint their ceilings white and call it a day. However, with a little creative thinking, you can “maximize” your ceiling space and add a unique texture throughout the home.
Let me share a few ideas that will make a statement on your ceiling and can sometimes be an inexpensive DIY project!
Paint can add a nice effect on a ceiling and considering the many colors to choose from, you can be quite subtle or very bold. Many times I will recommend using a lighter shade of the wall color in the room or something near the color of the flooring to add a bit of subtle continuity.
However, I do like to add a pop of contrasting color!
If your ceiling has a layered or trey effect, painting a contrasting color can really make your architectural features have more dimension and character. Ceilings can have several levels and you have to consider the best way to accent the architectural detail.
If you have a coffered ceiling, as seen on the left and right photos, painting the flat part of the ceiling can really add a nice touch and make the trim pop!
Wallpaper used on the ceiling has also made a huge comeback. A word of warning though, I have personally installed wallpaper on ceilings many times and it can be a trying task, to say the least.
.
Sometimes a wallpaper can look architectural and other times it can be retro, evoking a time when the first thing people noticed when entering a room was what was above their heads as opposed to at eye level. Such a ceiling is perfect for people who like to minimize the amount of furniture in the room to highlight certain pieces without making the room look dense and empty.
Adding color or pattern to your ceiling can not only add a lot of character and an unexpected design element to your room, and it can help in continuing your theme in a room and pull together other color elements.
Remember that you must take into account the height of the ceiling or your design might make a room with a lower ceiling feel busy and cluttered.
