Every time we repeat the phrase about "our 4 walls", we forget the fact that there are actually 5 of them in every (standard) room, if we do not count the floor as the sixth. We cover the floors with different floor coverings, ceramics, fancy carpets. As for the walls, in 90% of cases, when arranging our space, we deal with the appearance of only 4 of them, i.e. vertical walls, which we beautify with paint, wallpapers, decorative moldings. But, what about the ceiling? Well, apart from the hanging of lighting and regular maintenance in terms of whitewashing, it is more or less completely neglected aesthetically. In order to break this pattern a little, we bring you suggestions on how to style the ceiling mostly in a very easy and very affordable way, and thus bring dynamism/glamour/personal touch to your space.
Idea N°1 – Rosettes
An extremely simple, effective and affordable way to break the monotony. Should you go for a simpler or completely baroque design, what will be the size of the rosette itself, should you leave it white, paint it in an accent color, repaint it together with the ceiling in the appropriate shade? The possibilities are countless, and which option you will choose depends on the interior and your imagination.
Idea N°2 – Color!
One of the simplest and most convenient solutions for accentuating our "fifth dimension" is color. This simple intervention can make a complete turnaround. In relation to the rest of the interior and the intensity of the color we chose, this kind of ceiling can "support" the design of the entire space or actually be the very focus around which the rest of the interior is built. So, put your brushes in your hands and let your imagination guide you!
Idea N°3 – Wooden beams
If you're, for start, lucky enough to have the appropriate height of the space, the most effective way to highlight it, as well as to make the interior more sculptural/monumental, is to use wood for the decoration of your ceiling. Your fifth wall instantly acquires a third dimension, and investing in this kind of venture does not have to be as expensive as we often fear. Namely, in addition to real wood, there are also various imitations in circulation, which, besides their great appearance, also have a great price. Whether you'll use options made of polyurethane, MDF, chipboard, Styrodur, Styrofoam or the real thing for the decoration, certainly depends to a large extent on your budget, but also on your wishes in terms of design.
Wooden beams in natural color and their imitations made of polyurethane and Styrodur certainly look the most rustic, but this does not exclude them for use in a reduced, more minimalistic interior, or in a space arranged according to the principles of still ultra-popular Scandinavian design - precisely in such spaces they will come to the fore the best way possible and add the necessary dose of warmth. If you lean more towards classical look, or a chic combination of classics, modern and, for example, designs characteristic of the mid-twentieth century, then wooden panels (as well as imitations thereof) are a great idea. The instant impression of opulence and distinctive style is inevitable.
Idea N°4 – Wallpapers
The next time you browse through some of the many wallpaper designs on offer, think out of the box and try to actually imagine some of them right on your ceiling. Wallpaper can quickly achieve a significant change in the interior, and the overall look is certainly influenced by many factors: whether the design is subtle or totally bombastic, whether the pattern is small or large, how strong the colors are on the wallpaper itself, whether the contrast is intense or not, whether it is a concrete motif or an abstraction...
Always take into account how much area you are covering, how "busy" the rest of the room is, and of course how drastic is the change you prefer. The possibilities are countless. For rooms such as the kitchen and the bathroom, for example, in most cases you can go with a bolder design, because the vertical walls are usually almost completely occupied by various furniture elements + openings, so the ceiling is the ideal surface for your personal design stamp. Also, darker colors can seemingly reduce the height of the space, and lighter colors can increase it, but this is not necessarily a rule - the equation includes also the texture and final appearance of the paper, whether the wallpaper is glossy or matte, which shade of color it is and how it fits in with the rest of the interior in the specific space.
In addition to standard wallpaper with a repeating pattern, you can also consider photo wallpaper options, which give the effect of a mural on the ceiling. There is no repeat of the motifs, so the impression is very different. And in this case, there are again a couple of options: those in ready-made dimensions (a more favorable variant, but you often have to make compromises regarding the fit with the dimensions of the surface you want to cover) and more expensive option where you choose both motif and the dimensions. The most beautiful and extravagant option would certainly be to have an original hand-painted mural on your ceiling, but that subject requires a separate post on its own.
Idea N°5 – Decorative mouldings
Decorative mouldings are somewhere halfway between rosettes and wooden beams, yet they tell their own story. They are made of different materials: wood, plaster, polyurethane, styrofoam, and depending on that, their quality and price vary. As for the design, it's all up to you. Even the most ordinary, flat moldings can be arranged in an interesting pattern on the ceiling to create something completely unusual. The effect is less "pompous" than with wooden beams due to the fact that their height/thickness is smaller, but this does not mean that your space will be less beautiful. On the contrary! Due to their subtlety compared to the beams, the impression is more filigree, and precisely because of this, they won't look out of order if you place them on a normal height ceiling - ceiling height higher than standard is not mandatory, not to mention the superiority in terms of physical ease of installation compared to wooden beams.
Idea N°6 – Wooden coverings
We have already talked above about the wooden beams as a very powerful, almost theatrical way to decorate your ceiling. Somewhat more subtle option of decoration with wood are for sure wooden coverings: wood paneling/wainscoting, wooden planks, laminate coverings made of natural materials and all kinds of MDF, ALU and PVC options of the same. Let's not forget the option of wallpapers with this pattern, which can very successfully replace the real thing.
The overall impression depends on whether the covering will be stained or painted, which shade it will be, and how much of the ceiling you will cover with it. This way of decoration will in any case significantly warm up your space, and will fit fantastically into minimalist interiors in combination with various types of concrete and metal, as well as into all possible variants of modern mountain/country style houses. And, when lighter shades are in question, it almost instantly associates us with the Hamptons.
Idea N°7 – Stripes
We are ending our small series on ceiling decoration with the queens of irresistibility - stripes. We love them on clothing items, decorative details, they are a common choice for vertical walls in children's rooms. They awaken a good feeling in us, which can, depending on our affinities, take us from steampunk to pastel playfulness. Depending on the color combination, they are associated with different things, and all of them share the common impression of energizing the space. How intense or how calming will the impression be, depends on the shades, the strength of the contrast and the width of the space between very stripes.
This method of decoration is one of the simplest (you can paint them yourself or simply stick striped wallpaper instead), but it is certainly not for everyone. If your personal style is bolder and leans towards for example pop art, you are an excellent candidate for The Irresistible ones. But, think wisely about the use of colors and the size of the covered area in relation to the rest of the interior and what you want to achieve - the goal is to make the whole space look well thought out and with style, not as if the whole apartment is one big aforementioned kid's room.
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