When it comes to home decor, we all have blind spots. One aspect of interior design that many people overlook when they’re styling their home is the ceiling. Even the most expertly designed room can look a little blah if the ceiling is just a wide-open, flat canvas. The good news is that it really doesn’t take a tremendous effort to make your ceiling look stunning. Check out the latest and greatest in this year’s ceiling trends.
1 – PATTERNED MOLDING – If you’re looking for an inexpensive way to create a very luxe, custom look, try installing molding in a pattern on your ceilings. Wall or floorboard molding is a lot cheaper than wood beams. Because it doesn’t require the extra depth of wood beams, applying molding in a pattern is also a great choice to give some personality to a room with a low ceiling. The picture below shows a diamond pattern but the sky is the limit on design ideas!
2 – BOX BEAMS – Wooden beamed ceilings are beautiful but they can be very expensive to install. That’s where the box beam comes in. Rather than a solid beam of wood, three long wooden boards are used to create a three-sided box to give that amazing beamed look without the exorbitant cost! Virtually any wood species can be used to create the beams. This makes boxed beams a perfect solution for any design style from rustic to formal and everything in between.
3 – COFFERED CEILINGS – You don’t have to break the bank to get the luxury look of a coffered ceiling. By creating a faux beam with a mix of plain and decorative moldings, you can give your space an informal or a more formal look that feels rich and adds depth and a ton of style. Coffered ceilings can be installed in a square or a diamond shape and you can tailor the depth of the coffers to balance the size of the space and your particular preference, of course!
SQUARE COFFERS
DIAMOND COFFERS
4 – TRAY OR PAN CEILINGS – The tray ceiling is a classic. It’s a look that works with many styles. It works with farmhouse, traditional, and transitional looks. You can even work a tray ceiling into a modern or industrial space — that’s how versatile it is. The tray can be an extended box from the edges of your ceiling or it can be brought further into the room. It can even be stair-stepped into more than one tray. Consider this look if you’re not sure what would work best for your room.
5 – TONGUE AND GROOVE – Tongue and groove is an old-school wood cladding technique that can take your room from meh to wow. Tongue and groove wood systems are widely available and relatively inexpensive, so they’re a great choice to consider when you are going for a great look that doesn’t break the bank. The picture below is a more rustic choice but again, any wood species can be used and a change in wood species will dramatically change the look of the space.
6 – RECLAIMED WOOD PANELING – Who wouldn’t love a wood paneled ceiling? If money were no object, you’d probably find them in every house on the block! One way to achieve a high impact look for a lower cost is to consider using reclaimed wood to panel your ceiling. Go for a weathered industrial look and wait for the compliments to pour in!
7 – BEAMS ON WOOD PANELING – Character is the name of the game with this ceiling look. You can use wood paneling or you can use wood beams but when you combine them, fabulous! This is a very high end look for sure.
The ceiling can be considered the fifth wall in a room. It is a big part of any room and needs to be as important as its vertical counterparts. If you forget about the ceiling or think it’s just not that important, you are missing out on an excellent opportunity to create a more exciting and visually interesting space.