14 Charming Kitchen Ceiling Ideas for the Heart of the Home

Your kitchen ceiling may not seem like a place that deserves much design consideration. But a well-considered kitchen ceiling can add extra style and character to your space. Whether you’re hoping to embark on a mini renovation or work with what you have, here are 14 great kitchen ceiling ideas to try in your own home.

Add a Dramatic Light Fixture

Use white kitchen walls as a blank canvas to display a statement lighting fixture on, like Cathie Hong Interiors did in the kitchen above. This look works best when the light fixture is centered above an island or table.

Expose Post-and-Beam Ceilings

Many mid-century homes feature exposed post-and-beam ceilings, a roofing style that uses a long beam with shorter posts extending from it. In the kitchen, this down-to-earth look adds plenty of character while showing off the craftsmanship of your home.

Add Oak

Consider adding some long slats of oak to your kitchen ceiling to give it the perfect touch of rustic and down-to-earth style. This project can be easily DIYed as well—just make sure to use the straightest pieces of wood you can find at the home improvement store.

Go Black

Make your kitchen moody with a black ceiling. This dramatic look may be unconventional, but it can really pack a punch. Your ceiling can be painted black or covered in wood slats with a nearly black stain.

Use Thick Trim

To give your white kitchen ceiling a little more visual interest, use thick trim to connect your cabinetry and your ceiling. We love how Becca Interiors did this in the kitchen above. It helps to give the kitchen a seamless (and stylish) look.

Bring in Some Light

Let a little sunshine in by installing some skylights in your kitchen ceiling. We love this look just about anywhere, but skylights work especially well over the kitchen sink or a heavily used prep area—there’s no need to do the dishes in bad lighting.

Stick With White

There’s no shame sticking with the classic white ceiling in the kitchen. It can be a great choice when you’re using lots of patterns or texture elsewhere, like Emily Henderson Design did with the glassy tile, wood slat siding, and Persian runner rug in the kitchen above.

Vault Your Ceilings

Vaulted ceilings can make any space feel larger than it really is, including the kitchen. We love the bright and airy look it gives this space, and it helps prevent a kitchen from feeling too closed-in or cramped.

Add Wood

Wood—in all its forms—can add tons of character to an otherwise ordinary kitchen ceiling. You can add some painted white wood to your ceiling to give your kitchen an exposed-beam look, or tear down a drop ceiling to reveal the beams underneath.

Mimic Your Flooring

Let your kitchen flooring serve as the inspiration for your ceiling choice. Take a page out of Kendall Wilkinson’s book and mimic the look of the flooring on the ceiling, as they did in the kitchen above. It doesn’t need to be a perfect match—a repetition of the colors or stains used on the floor will do just fine.

Match Your Cabinetry

Painted kitchen cabinetry is certainly a great option, but try taking the power of color a step further in your kitchen and paint your ceiling in the same color as well. You’ll be left with a stunning, color-rich look.

Go Glam

Get a little glam with your kitchen ceiling. Consider adding ornate trim and a glitzy light fixture to it—who says kitchens need to be all work and no play? Take this stunning ceiling look a step further and give your ceiling a fresh coat of paint in a luxe pastel, and add a ceiling medallion.

Let Historical Elements Show

If your kitchen has some beautiful period beams sitting in its ceiling, show them off. Exposed wood beams can make quite the statement all on their own.

Make Your Kitchen Look Bigger

If your kitchen is tight on space, use your ceiling to make it look bigger. Add well-spaced horizontal beams across the ceiling to make the kitchen seem wider, or add them horizontally to make the space feel longer.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best ceiling type for a kitchen?

Any type of ceiling that is durable and moisture-resistant will do well in the kitchen. Whether you stick with drywall, use some exposed beams, or add some tiles, you can find a ceiling type that matches your style. Just stay away from wallpaper on the ceiling—the steam and heat that rises upward in the kitchen can wreak havoc on the durability of wallpaper.

How can I decorate my ceiling cheaply?

The cheapest way to give your kitchen a new look is with a fresh coat of paint. Try painting in a complementary neutral, or go bold with a darker, color-rich shade. You can also mix up the look of your ceiling by installing a statement light fixture on it.

Is it OK to have a false ceiling in a kitchen?

False ceilings are definitely okay in the kitchen. They can be a helpful way to keep extra-drafty kitchens warm in the colder months, or they can cover up others’ unsightly kitchen ceiling choices.

Read Next: 20 Stunning Kitchen Accent Wall Ideas to Bring Life to Your Kitchen

Read the original article on The Spruce.