Interior Design Ideas - 5 ideas for making the most of your ceiling

We all seem to have a default setting when it comes to interior décor. We get so excited choosing wall colours and papers, patterns and accessories, but we completely ignore the ceiling! It hangs there all white and forlorn, enviously watching us paint its neighbours an array of exciting and wonderful colours… desperately longing to get a piece of the action. So in this post I propose 5 ways to give your interiors a lift. Pimp that ceiling.

1. PLAIN and SIMPLE

The easiest way to completely transform a room is to paint the ceiling. As a general rule, lighter colours will open the space up, and darker colours will close a space in and make the room feel cosier. That said, don’t be afraid of darker colours.

This idea is great – the majority of the room is neutral but the whole space is both lifted and warmed by a deep purple ceiling. It also a great way to incorporate a secondary colour, to balance out a colour scheme or simply “finish off” a room. Pale greys and neutrals can look great on the ceiling, as they just take the edge off a stark white which can sometimes feel slightly harsh.























Don’t be scared of black! Look how sophisticated this space looks with a black ceiling, and it doesn’t close the room in at all. This has been enhanced by a feature plaster mold – easily picked up on ebay.

2. STRIPES

I love stripes – they can be sophisticated or playful (or both!) depending on the colour, width and how you apply them. Plus, they are a great way of introducing pattern without having to commit to anything too jazzy.

Keep the walls plain so things don’t get too busy, you will be amazed at how a few stripes will totally transform the space. Don’t forget, deciding which way your stripes go can make a big difference –stripes across the width of the room will make it seem wider, while stripes following the length of the room will make the space seem longer/narrower.

If you are feeling really brave, following the stripes down the walls will create an amazing effect, and can create the illusion of a larger space. Just ensure your stripes are of a good width in proportion to the size of the room.

3. TEXTURES

I can sense you cringing. But stay with me! I know the word “Anaglypta” immediately conjures up ideas of hideous, dated, spongy, woodchippy textures best left in the 70s. These are not the kind of textures I mean. There are some great paintable wallpapers available at the moment, in a variety of patterns that are contemporary and graphic or vintage, stately and Victorian depending on your style. Have a look at www.wallpaperdirect.com (the best place to buy wallpaper from) or Graham and Brown who have some great ones.  

As a guide, the larger the scale of the pattern, the more dramatic and contemporary it will look. Painting over it in a silver or gold metallic finish wall paint will really highlight the embossed design and is a great way of attaining that elusive “boutique hotel” feel to your home (something I am always aspiring to create). 

I think this silver textured ceiling is amazing and makes an otherwise pretty plain dining area look fit for a king!

4. PATTERNS

Patterned wallpaper on the ceiling can really elevate your home décor from “pretty average" to “designer” instantly. (Well not instantly… the amount of time it takes you to wallpaper the ceiling – you know what I mean.) When incorporating different patterns, try to have at least one consistent colour in the room that features throughout, to tie everything in together.

This kitchen above looks so quirky with the wallpaper extending onto the ceiling. The bright colours mean the space doesn’t feel closed in, and the hint of turquoise in the pattern is accentuated by the cupboard doors.

Of course it doesn’t need to be as obvious as this. The darker colour scheme of this dining room is subtly enhanced by the tonal wallpaper on the ceiling.

5. PANELLING

Panelling is increasingly popular at the moment, and something that is easily created with the good old dado rail. Why not try something like this below? 

Fix the dado rails to the ceiling, and paint them in a contrasting colour to create a panel effect.

You could also use dado rails to create a central ceiling panel with a textured or patterned wallpaper inside as a feature. 

If you paint the outside of the panel in the same colour as the walls it will make the ceiling appear higher. Bringing the ceiling colour down onto the walls with a dado rail as a divider is also an interesting way to play with the illusion of space.

So those were my 5 ways to pimp your ceiling. Time for you to raise your eyes towards the sky with paintbrush in hand, ready to transform your world. What do you think? Are you tempted to try any? 

If you liked this post please feel free to share and subscribe - spread the ceiling love!