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Appealing
CEILINGS
By Melissa Erickson More Content Now
Statement ceilings are grabbing attention with bold colors , patterns and textures .
“ Ceilings are certainly that fifth wall that you can play with when designing a space ,” said interior designer Marina V . Umali of Marina V Design Studio , Paramus , New Jersey . “ Painting the ceiling in something other than white is a great way to make it stand out . Wallcovering the ceiling could add great patterns , colors and interest to the space . Have fun with it and be brave .”
Like any other design element , the ceiling ’ s style should be taken into consideration as how it affects the room as a whole , Umali said .
Residential homes usually use the ceiling as “ a supporting feature , quietly crowning the room without drawing attention to itself ,” said Seattle interior designer Rebecca West at Seriously Happy Homes . “ We only use the ceiling as a feature if it has unique or architectural interest , like box , tray or cathedral ceilings , or an attic space where there is more ceiling than wall .”
The same rules apply to using the fifth wall as an accent as with any other accent or feature wall .
“ You need to think about the proportions of the room and whether drawing attention to the ceiling will add anything to the room ,” she said .
Adding wallcovering to a ceiling creates interest and texture , said interior designer Carla Aston of Aston Design Studio in The Woodlands , Texas . Trellis paneling , beams or even a paint color can make a ceiling more interesting .
Coffered ceilings and ceilings with plank paneling are real eye-catchers .
“ It depends on the lighting and vent locations as far as what you can add into a space if it is already built out , but an overall treatment like planking can go just about anywhere ,” said Aston , who blogs at carlaaston . com / designed /.
“ A beautiful and classic way to show off your ceiling is to add architectural details like crown molding and classic box beams or rustic wood beams ,” West said . “ If you have sloped ceilings ( like in an attic bedroom ) it can also be wonderful to add a bold patterned wallpaper to that surface .”
For a simple and inexpensive ceiling treatment , go for a new hue , which offers the most impact for the least cost , West said .
“ Consider a deep navy blue ceiling in dining room , a romantic peach ceiling in a bedroom , or a bold emerald green ceiling in your Jungalow-style bathroom ,” she said . “ Whatever you choose , remember that it will cover a very large , unbroken surface , so keep the other surfaces and walls simple , like white walls and bedding with the peach ceiling , white wainscoting in the dining with the navy ceiling , or white subway tile in the bathroom with an emerald ceiling . If your ceiling will be the star , make sure the other elements are
“ A beautiful and classic way to show off your ceiling is to add architectural details like crown molding and classic box beams or rustic wood beams . If you have sloped ceilings ( like in an attic bedroom ) it can also be wonderful to add a bold patterned wallpaper to that surface .”
Rebecca West
supporting players — assuming you don ’ t want to end up with a circus in your home .”
Before you start , take into account the cost of getting the surface smooth , Aston said .
“ Most times there is heavier texture on ceilings to hide sheetrock inconsistencies , so getting a smooth surface is more expensive and labor-intensive than you would expect — plus it is really hard to work overhead like that for a contractor ,” she said . Use height to your advantage . “ Ceiling heights greatly influence whether an accent ceiling is a good feature in your room ,” West said . “ Generally speaking it works best in a room that feels taller than it is wide . Often that means ceiling heights of 9 feet or more , but it ’ s all about proportion . You might find that a tiny bathroom with standard 8-foot ceilings can handle a feature ceiling better than a grand ballroom with only 9-foot ceilings .”
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