Decorating ideas for a ceiling
Decorating a ceiling has become just as much a part of interior design as decorating walls, whether it is installing a seamless plastered ceiling, or a more decorative technique.
In previous centuries the ceiling was considered just as much a part of a space as were the accessories used to decorate the space. Vaulted ceilings, ceiling beams and ceiling tiles were considered essential elements. It is only towards the end of the twentieth century that ceilings lost favour with the introduction of cost effective ceiling systems and gypsum ceiling boards.
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Today, interior designers are highlighting ceilings and making use of this space to accentuate or define a room. Low ceilings can be painted to visually heighten a room, while various decorative trim and accessories can be used to add detail or visually lower a high-ceilinged room.
There are various ways to decorate a ceiling, whether you opt for a seamless plastered ceiling as opposed to brandering strips and gypsum ceiling board, or look at painting the ceiling in light or dark hues to visually affect the feel of a room. Obviously the finish you decide upon will be determined by the style of your home - or room - and how much you want to spend.
Metallic finishes on a ceiling date back to the 18th and 19th century, when gilding with foils was done on ceilings to create dramatic effect. Today, metallic paints, wallpapers and steel floating techniques allow a home decorator to take on these projects on a do-it-yourself basis. Most of the materials and supplies can be bought at your local Builders, or craft supplier.
Decorative moulding is available to the general public either via Builders or specialist moulding supplier. These mouldings are easy to apply using today's construction adhesives and you just have to be willing to either spend some time doing it yourself, or hire a contractor to do it for you.
After deciding on the type of ceiling you want installed, or already have, painting is probably the first option you will want to consider if you are looking at affordable options for adding an extra element to a room. The method of using a colour that complements the wall colour - either a shade or two light or darker - can add warmth and atmosphere to a room. Lighter colours will obviously lift and cool a room, while darker shades will lower a ceiling and make a room feel warmer.
Wallpaper and stencil designs might take more time and effort, but the results can be dramatic.
A mirrored ceiling can make a striking impact in a plain room, adding drama to an otherwise plain room. And you don't have to go to the expensive of having large mirrors installed, but rather apply smaller mirrors to the ceiling and frame these with strips.
If you want an even more affordable way to add mirror tiles to the ceiling, Rust-Oleum Mirror Effect spray transforms standard glass into mirror glass - you can make your own mirror tiles. You will find Rust-Oleum Mirror Effect on the shelf at your local Builders.
Ceiling tiles (plastic, tin or polystyrene) and pressed ceilings are an alternative and inexpensive solution to adding a decorative ceiling with tin ceiling tiles being the most expensive. All three options are reasonably simple to install and are useful for disguising a popcorn or textured ceiling. Click here to see a problem where a popcorn ceiling is covered with polystyrene ceiling tiles as seen below.
Other more expensive, but definitely upmarket, options for a decorative ceiling involve having a professional contractor install beams, mouldings, coffered ceilings or soffits. High ceilings can be designed to accommodate soffits to house LED or strips lights or to purely add architectural detailing.
For a rustic home you could consider a wood plank ceiling, of faux plank ceiling. In a space with high ceilings plank or tongue and groove (knotty pine) are an option, but these do require regular maintenance to keep them looking good, so keep this is mind if you have this option in mind.
