The ceiling, also known as the sixth wall in a room, is a dramatic component in home decor. A palette for architects and decorators, ceiling design is a primary decision when planning a house, but it can also be enhanced after construction. Irrespective of a ceiling’s height, it is open to creative design just like the rest of the room.
Tin Ceilings
Originating from the late 1800s, metal panels have been added to ceilings as a decorative component. Fabricated to imitate hand-sculpted plaster, these less-expensive options were covered in tin, thus the name. A variety of finishes are available which are easily attached to your ceiling, regardless of ceiling height.
Exposed Ceiling
Beams, trusses or system piping are revealed within an exposed ceiling. Wooden beams and trusses found in original construction of old homes give a sense of history to your room. Fabricated beams designed to look like wood can also be attached to your ceiling. Exposed system components, like duct work and piping, give a modernist, loft ambiance to your room, creating an open and industrial sense.
Tray Ceiling
A tray ceiling starts as a normal ceiling. The drama starts when it rises, most often in the center of this room, creating a recess of 6 inches. Tray ceilings can also be dropped, becoming a floating false ceiling.
Coffered Ceiling
Very similar to a tray ceiling, a coffered ceiling has a lot of recesses covering the whole ceiling surface. Often lined with decorative molding, coffered ceilings add strength to the room’s construction. Coffers add height and depth to the texture of a room.
Vaulted Ceilings
An architectural design component, a vaulted ceiling excels in the center of a room, or follows the roof line. An off-side vault, or a simple angle running up to the roof also adds drama to your room. Skylights and paint enhance the vault.
Barrel Vault
Originating in Roman structure, a barrel vault appears like a barrel that’s cut in half and tacked to the ceiling. Located in major rooms of a house or down a long hallway, barrel vaults in natural stone or brick are dramatic. A stark, modernist style to get a barrel vault is created with gently white or toned paint.
Domed Ceiling
Unlike a barrel vault, a domed ceiling opens up a particular area of a room. Frequently found in tight hallways or over a sweeping stairs, the dome is a blank canvas for a mural. Creative inset lighting or a cascading chandelier adds to the cachet of this dome.
Cove Ceilings
A coved ceiling curves up from the four main walls of a room and contributes to the actual ceiling. Coving is implemented as a molding attached between the ceiling and wall or is integrated into the design of this room. Usually painted white to match the floor molding, a dramatic impact is achieved with paint or texture. Coves can also be found as arches separating one living room from the other.