What is spacious, flat and takes up a large portion of any room, yet is often overlooked? The answer is your ceiling. A conventional ceiling is eight feet high and covered in drywall or plaster, then painted white. When planning a home decorating or design project, the ceiling is rarely taken into consideration, your ceiling can go from boring to beautiful!
Here are some suggestions:
Add Color - If you have white walls, a soft hue on your ceiling can add a touch of color to your room. On the other hand, a deep shade on the ceiling can make the room seem richer and more vibrant. If you have colored walls, a simple way to add color to your ceiling is to mix one part wall color with two or three parts white. This will give you a subtle, soothing look. For a dramatic effect, paint your ceiling in a contrasting color to your walls. Just be sure that the colors do not overwhelm the room.
Add Interest - Paint is one way to add interest to your ceiling; another way is by covering it or adding embellishments. Tin ceilings can add interest, they hide any flaws and are available in a verity of colors and finishes. Tin ceilings can be expensive, but faux tin ceilings are made more lightweight and are reasonably priced. Embossed wallpaper can be applied to a ceiling to infuse a room with old world charm. Crown moldings and ceiling medallions can also be installed to add interest to your ceiling. These can be stained to reveal the beauty of natural wood, painted classic white, or painted in a complementary color to create the effect that you would like to achieve.
The Right Height - A room with walls that are lower than eight feet can be made to feel more spacious by painting the ceiling a shade or two lighter than the walls. A room with high ceilings may be made more welcoming by painting the ceiling a shade or two darker than the walls. In a room that is dark or small, the ceiling should be painted with a high-gloss finish to amplify any available light and add the appearance of height. If you have vaulted ceilings and would like your room to seem cozier, you can have a suspended, or drop, ceiling installed. Suspended ceilings can also hide wiring or plumbing that can be found in some older homes.