Give Your Room an Entirely New Look With a Statement Ceiling
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It might be easy to overlook the ceiling — what designers call the "fifth wall" — when revamping a room, but giving it some attention can pay off in a major way. From coffered looks and rustic wood beams to patterned wallpaper and painted motifs, giving your ceiling a brand new look can transform your space in an instant. Plus, there are tons of budget-friendly design tricks to consider. You can take your pick of ornate medallions, decorative paneling, painted borders, you name it. Whether you want to refresh your living room, bedroom, kitchen or dining room, look no further than these ceiling design ideas for inspiration.
To help you out, we also checked in with design experts to share their favorite ceiling looks and trends. Some options are clearly classic — think herringbone wallpaper in a kid's bedroom or painted wood beams for a rustic flair. Other designs in our roundup, like the floral plaster medallions and 3D leaf installation, are meant for those who want to add a little drama to their space.
The right colors can also make your ceiling stand out. According to paint and color expert Annie Sloan, "contrasting colors on the walls, doors, mantels and ceilings will create a home that is truly you." The choice is yours!
Hunter Green
A graphic motif by London-based designer Beata Heuman draws the eye up in this sophisticated butler's pantry. To pull the space together, designer Alexandra Kaehler paired the colorful pattern with green cabinetry (Benjamin Moore’s Essex Green) and a reflective mosaic backsplash from Tile Bar.
Floral Plaster Medallion
Alexandra Kaehler collaborated with Chicago Ornamental Plastering to design this handmade plaster medallion for the ceiling. "The inspiration was to mimic what happens when you blow on a dandelion puff," she says. Julie Neill's custom Martini 2-Tier Chandelier completes the look.
Herringbone Wallpaper
If you love a particular wallpaper, use it all over. Here, a herringbone print covers the ceiling and surrounding walls in a kid's room, bringing attention to its quirky angles.
Warm Wood
Rustic and modern unite in this airy living room designed by Cortney Bishop. The white painted ceiling keeps the eye on the natural wood beams, which add charm to the space.
Scalloped Borders
"Painted borders are a cost-effective way of adding flair to rooms lacking period features, especially ceilings," Sloan says. The mantel and the ceiling's skirting boards are kept white, while the walls and door are in contrasting colors for eccentricity. "If you're decorating on a budget, paint is the very best way to put the personality back," she says.
All-Wood Ceiling
If a room is lacking texture, an all-wood ceiling is a good idea. It automatically gives a space depth and warmth, and offers an inviting contrast to neutral seating.
Disco Room
"A wood veneer treatment on the ceiling adds texture and a dose of bling to this groovy space," says Cindy Rinfret, principal designer of Rinfret, Ltd. With its chevron-patterned flooring, glossy blue walls and the ceiling's soft green hue, it's only fitting her clients deem the space their "disco room."
Champagne Glaze
The ceiling in the dining room of this Tudor home in Westchester, NY, gets a luxurious refresh with champagne glaze and ornamental plaster work. Meanwhile, the crystal chandelier introduces drama and the promise of a soft glow when the lights are dimmed.
Elegant High Arch
A high, arched ceiling defines this pre-war Manhattan pied-à-terre designed by Rinfret, Ltd. Plus, the space's charm is only "heightened by the long window drapes and grounded by the pattern in the rug, which ties the room's color scheme together," says Rinfret.
Graceful Wall Paneling
"In this Southampton home, simple yet elegant wall paneling is continued onto the ceiling and kept in a soft white color," says designer Young Huh. "Rich dark woods and a light color palette make the space feel breezy but with soul." Plus, the-all white palette provides an airy feel despite the sloped ceiling.
Hand-Painted Beams
Drawing on inspiration from architecture in Portugal, designer Nina Farmer chose to enhance this dining room with reclaimed beams. "Given the age of the home, we wanted the beams to feel like they had always been there," she says. To do so, they painted the ceiling warm black and hand-stenciled designs onto the beams.
Daring Red
This primary bedroom features soft pink walls and a deep crimson red ceiling, inspired by a shade designer Nina Farmer spotted during a trip to Morocco. The mix of light and dark brown wood featured throughout only adds to the room's cozy vibe. "It might seem like a bold move to paint the ceiling in a saturated color, but the effect is warm and enveloping," Farmer notes.
Deep Blue Retreat
The intimate and luxurious feel of this alcove in Amagansett, NY, is amplified by the rich blue furniture and walls. "The dramatic wallpapered ceiling really helps deliver the sophisticated room we intended," says designer Alicia Murphy. The wallpaper is from Zak + Fox, with Murphy describing the pattern as "intricate and cool — perfectly paired with the saturated blue paint and sofa."
Custom Borders
Rather than crown molding, sometimes all it takes is intricate borders to bring a room to life. "Inspiration for the look was drawn from the beautifully upholstered white walls to create the custom design adorning the perimeter of the room," says designer Evan Millárd of the design firm Millárd, who worked with Fuller Architectural Panels to create the fretwork.
3D Leaf Art
This dreamy 3D leaf installation was a collaboration between designer Maryline Damour of Damour Drake and fiber artist Sienna Martz. Martz's design was inspired by Shinrin-yoku, a Japanese practice known as "forest bathing," where you spend time in a forest or other natural environment to relax and connect with nature.
Ornate White-Painted Walls
A gray open-plan living room gets a festive upgrade with a white decorative ceiling and complementary millwork on the walls. A striped black-and-white rug and tabletop Christmas tree heighten the cheer.
Pop of Emerald
The emerald painted wood ceiling is a stunning addition to this sunroom, boasting floor-to-ceiling windows. It offers a bold contrast to the multiple textures and tones in the room, from the wicker chairs and wood paneling to the candelabra-style chandelier and white walls.
Sweet Heart-Shaped Prints
Don't forget the fifth wall in a nursery! This design scheme proves that simply covering the ceiling with graphic wallpaper can make it stand out. Create a cohesive look by using similar hues for the walls, bedding and decor.
Classic Stripes
Stripes are classic patterns that can help rooms feel large and spacious. Choose your preferred color palette, then find a wallpaper to match your desired striped design. Or, opt to paint the stripes instead.
Checkerboard Pattern
Blogger of Laura Gummerman of A Beautiful Mess installed Weldtex plywood panels (a popular mid-century design) on her ceiling. Despite appearing as being painted in two different colors, it's just an illusion — the direction of the combing determines how dark or light each panel looks based on where you're standing.
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