Ceiling Design Ideas That Take a Room to the Next Level
Marbled wallpaper on the ceiling of our clients entertainment lounge. Design by Libarikian Interiors, Photo by Tim Williams.
You already know that interior design is all about the details, and I’m here to show you how you can transform your space by focusing on design details for your ceiling, also known as your fifth wall. Not every room needs a ceiling that is a focal point, but when we want to bring in the drama, we always think about the role a ceiling plays.
Coffered Ceilings
Coffered ceilings are classic architectural elements that bring visual drama and make rooms feel more grand and elevated. They work well in rooms with ceiling heights that are 9’ or higher, and help absorb sounds and reduce echos. Here are some ideas on how to make coffered ceilings look and feel contemporary.
A coffered ceiling in a limed white oak with a shallow profile gives contemporary vibes in this beautiful kitchen designed by Britt Design Studio.
A wood coffered ceiling a pattern, other than a square, is even more decorative and striking. We love how Britt Design Studio transformed this utilitarian space with a beautiful ceiling detail.
Add Architectural Moulding
Applied moulding on the ceiling makes the room feel classic and elegant. Design by John B. Murray.
We love the allover pattern created by applied moulding in this dining room by Barta Interiors.
Dining room by Carrier and Company.
Paint Your Ceiling in a High Gloss
An instant way to bounce light around the room is to use high gloss paint. We love seeing glossy ceilings, the shine brings the eye up and makes the ceiling appear higher.
An all neutral room feels more alive with a reflective ceiling. Photo © Stephen Kent Johnson; design by Alyssa Kapito.
Tori Rubinson designed a high-gloss ceiling in this dining room, which bounces light beautifully all over the room.
This dining room features a high-gloss ceiling in the same color as the walls, which makes it feel cozy and inviting like a little jewel box. Design by Rivers Spencer.
This room features a warm high-gloss ceiling design that acts as a neutral backdrop to the stunning wallpaper, designed by Laura Lee Clark.
Paint a free-form pattern on your ceiling
A beautiful ceiling pattern in this dressing room by Julie Dodson.
Hand-painted floral accents that extend from the wall to the ceiling in this dining nook make the space feel so playful. Via Architectural Digest.
Wallpaper your ceiling to give your room that “finished” look
It’s funny how white ceilings sometimes leave a space feeling unfinished…yet most of the time people may be too worried about putting “too much” on the ceiling. These next examples show just how beautifully wallpapered ceilings complete the design intent.
An all blue room gets a subtle pink wallpaper on the ceiling to complement the high-gloss paint on the walls. With a white ceiling this room would have felt very different. Design by Josh Greene.
Even when walls are wallpapered, a complementary pattern on the ceiling really helps pull the whole space together. Design by Elizabeth Hay.
Out of all the design ideas, the simplest to implement would be installing wallpaper, and my personal favorite is applied moulding on the ceiling because it feels so elegant and understated. What is your favorite ceiling design idea so far? We’d love to know!
