Decorating
Decorating: How to Make Your Ceiling Count
Why do walls and floors get all the attention? It’s time to raise your game and instil some style overhead
Is your ceiling feeling neglected? We spend hours choosing (and installing) the perfect floor and peppering every wall with the contents of various tester pots, but anything above eye level often gets short shrift. Redress the balance and invest some energy into that blank canvas above your head. Colour, texture and the restoration of any original features all add up to a captivating finish that you’ll happily gaze at for hours.
Age gracefully
Don’t be afraid to let some imperfections show. Industrial features often gain more appeal as the years go on, as the passing of time helps them develop a patina, along with a few harmless cracks. Resist the urge to cover these with a false ceiling and simply embrace the flaws.
Explore more industrial features
Don’t be afraid to let some imperfections show. Industrial features often gain more appeal as the years go on, as the passing of time helps them develop a patina, along with a few harmless cracks. Resist the urge to cover these with a false ceiling and simply embrace the flaws.
Explore more industrial features
Enjoy an ever-changing scene
What could be better than the chance to admire your garden from a whole new angle? Take in the trees and a huge expanse of ever-changing sky from a glass extension. Just be prepared to don your sunglasses while you prep for dinner.
Get the lowdown on orangeries
What could be better than the chance to admire your garden from a whole new angle? Take in the trees and a huge expanse of ever-changing sky from a glass extension. Just be prepared to don your sunglasses while you prep for dinner.
Get the lowdown on orangeries
Wrap it in wood
For a crisp, contemporary look, strips of wood are a gorgeous choice. Teamed with a smooth timber floor, this design stylishly frames the white scheme, adding warmth and texture in an understated way.
For a crisp, contemporary look, strips of wood are a gorgeous choice. Teamed with a smooth timber floor, this design stylishly frames the white scheme, adding warmth and texture in an understated way.
Paste up a pattern
Why restrict wallpaper to walls? A strip of your favourite design on the ceiling will lift a room in an instant. Use it in a space with mirrors (such as a cloakroom) so it can be enjoyed from a variety of angles.
Why restrict wallpaper to walls? A strip of your favourite design on the ceiling will lift a room in an instant. Use it in a space with mirrors (such as a cloakroom) so it can be enjoyed from a variety of angles.
See red
Pick out a feature colour from a room and reflect it on the ceiling. The bathroom is the ideal spot for this, as you’ll get a good view of the space above your head as you indulge in a long soak. Use white accents to prevent things getting too intense.
Pick out a feature colour from a room and reflect it on the ceiling. The bathroom is the ideal spot for this, as you’ll get a good view of the space above your head as you indulge in a long soak. Use white accents to prevent things getting too intense.
Put on a light show
If you’re investing in a home cinema, don’t miss the chance to create a spectacular array of stars. This suspended ceiling twinkles at the touch of a button, creating a dramatic display that might make that blockbuster seem like unnecessary entertainment.
If you’re investing in a home cinema, don’t miss the chance to create a spectacular array of stars. This suspended ceiling twinkles at the touch of a button, creating a dramatic display that might make that blockbuster seem like unnecessary entertainment.
Reinvent original features
There are plenty of home owners who dream of a living room edged in ornate cornicing, but if you’re not blessed with original decorative extras, add something even better. This false ceiling features an enviably ornate plasterwork effect lit by concealed lighting, which shows off the lacy design beautifully.
There are plenty of home owners who dream of a living room edged in ornate cornicing, but if you’re not blessed with original decorative extras, add something even better. This false ceiling features an enviably ornate plasterwork effect lit by concealed lighting, which shows off the lacy design beautifully.
Divide and define
A distinctive ceiling is a smart and subtle way to distinguish between different zones in an open-plan area. The tin-tile effect that tops this dining zone provides texture, reflects light and adds oodles of vintage appeal.
Do you have a feature ceiling? Share your thoughts and photos in the Comments below.
A distinctive ceiling is a smart and subtle way to distinguish between different zones in an open-plan area. The tin-tile effect that tops this dining zone provides texture, reflects light and adds oodles of vintage appeal.
Do you have a feature ceiling? Share your thoughts and photos in the Comments below.
It can seem like a lot of hard work (and expense) to embark on a full-on restoration of your ceiling, but you won’t regret transforming a shabby specimen into something special. Do call in the professionals, though, as an amateurish job could leave you with something that resembles fondant icing.