While every homeowner will always pay attention to what goes on the walls and floors, not many people pay as much attention to the ceiling! Your ceiling is the fifth wall of your home, and with the right care and consideration it can add unexpected dimensions to your home décor. In fact, ceiling design can (quite literally!) elevate your space to new heights! 
While a plain white ceiling is always crisp and elegant, you might want to consider these lovely types of ceilings as well. Take a look.
1. Exposed Concrete: The Industrial Look
The rustic industrial look is perhaps one of the most popular home styles these days. We love the mix of earthy elements mixed together with a seemingly careless, yet undoubtedly experienced eye. Exposed brick walls, unpolished stone floors, distressed wood and concrete ceilings are all trending right now.
This cleverly put-together loft-style living room embraces the textures of rough concrete on the walls, ceiling and floor and gives off a lovely grunge vibe. Stripping down the ceiling and leaving wires and beams exposed adds to the warehouse aesthetic. This is all about style on a budget, and it works!
2. Cathedral Ceiling: Sloped Style
A cathedral ceiling gets its name from (no surprises there!) old cathedrals. With symmetrical steep slopes on either side of the central beam, this ceiling creates a very spacious space with old-world charm. Cathedral ceilings can be constructed using wood and tile, bamboo and thatch, beams and shingles or even in poured concrete.
A point to note: the steeper the slope, the more difficult it becomes to access electrical points and clear cobwebs!
3. Coffered Ceiling: Strength and Beauty Combined!
Coffered ceilings offer sturdy intermediate support in rooms with a large span which do not have a column and beam structure. This striking look is accentuated by adding ornamental POP cornices and moulding around the grid beams. To get the full visual effect of this highly decorative ceiling, the minimum height of the room should be 10 feet or more.
Coffered ceilings are far more expensive than conventional ceilings, but the end result is so worth it!
4. Barrel Vaulted Ceiling: Lofty Aspirations
More commonly found in commercial buildings, barrel vaulted ceilings add a sense of grandeur to any space. Unlike other types of ceilings, a barrel vault is in the form of a semi-circular arch that runs the length of the room, or covers just a part of it.
The barrel can be built out of just bricks; brick arches don’t require any concrete support, and this makes the ceiling environmentally friendly. Vaults can also be made of glass on a metal frame, offering up enchanting sky views.
5. Suspended Ceiling or Dropped Ceiling: Functionality at its Best
A dropped ceiling is one that is suspended from the actual ceiling on aluminium channels or a metal framework. The ceiling itself can be of wood, Plaster of Paris (POP) or Gypsum board, and has concealed lights and AC grills. The space between the dropped ceiling and the true ceiling is used to hold air conditioning ducts, sprinkler systems and other service cables and electric wires.
In this stylish loft, the dropped ceiling serves to define the space above the kitchen, and holds exhaust ducting, concealed ceiling lights and electrical wires. Note how the ceiling demarcates spaces in the large open plan volume.
6. Glass Ceiling: Spectacular Views
Glass skylights are always a great idea for homes that seek to open up the indoors to the outdoors. This imaginatively designed space has the lean-to metal ceiling continuing into a spectacular glass ceiling that fold back against itself, and continues as a slanting wall. Horizontally pivoted glass windows let in the breeze.
Who’s up for some stunning style?
7. Grid Ceilings: Quick to Install, Easy to Maintain
A grid ceiling is one in which the false ceiling panels are supported on T-bars that hold the square ceiling tiles in place. The suspension systems and ceiling are super-quick to install, making this a popular option for commercial buildings that are working to very tight time-bound interior decoration schedules. Grid ceilings also offer acoustic soundproofing and are a convenient way to conceal service cables and wiring. Maintenance is also very easy; the tiles can simply be lifted off the grid, the wiring repaired or replaced, and the tile placed back on the support.
Ceiling tiles are available in low-cost Gypboard, vinyl, drywall, wood or fiberglass.
8. Rustic Ceilings: Sustainable Elegance
Rustic ceilings are those that are done up in sustainable materials, and are completely au naturel with no added finishing. This lovely ceiling has wooden beams, shingles outside (which aren’t visible from this angle) and an under-cover of bamboo chattai. Not only will this make the room cooler than the outside, but it is very cost-effective and looks great!
9. Tray Ceilings: Traditional Elegance
One of the most popular among all the types of ceilings, a tray ceiling is in the shape of an inverted tray, with the central part higher than the sides. Tray ceilings can be moulded or recessed, with hidden strip lights in the recess that cast a lovely glow on the ceiling. Tray ceilings are most commonly crafted out of Plaster of Paris (POP) although they can be made of wood or gypsum board as well. They can be designed to suit contemporary décor as well, without the mouldings and cornices.
10. Beamed Ceilings: Old World Charm, Redefined
Beamed ceilings evoke the look of old-world farmhouses and cabins, and feature criss-cross wooden beams that are mostly decorative rather than structural. If the cost of real wood feels prohibitive but you love the look, this ceiling style can be recreated using plywood and veneer that mimics the look of real wood but at a fraction of the cost. You can also consider using reclaimed wood from old buildings, which adds character and depth to any space.
A ceiling with beams must be at least 10 feet tall, or it can end up feeling claustrophobic.
11. Accent Ceilings: Decorating the Fifth Wall
Who ever said that the ceiling always has to be white and nothing but white? Try treating the ceiling as a fifth wall and transform it into the focal accent by painting it or wallpapering it, just as you would the wall itself!
Having said that, if your ceiling height is low, then a dark finish or anything that’s very busy will only make it appear lower. Using a darker shade on the ceiling than on the walls, on the other hand, makes the ceiling appear lower than it really is—a visual hack that you can put to good use if the ceiling seems too high!
Conclusion
Give extra attention to your ceiling design, and you can easily add impact and character to your home décor. Whether you’re looking for classical ornamental mouldings, or a more contemporary look with beams and wooden trim, the designers at HomeLane have your back! We can help to design a statement ceiling that adds excitement and chic elegance to your space.
Whatever may be the types of ceiling that you are looking at, HomeLane’s team of experts can give you unique ideas for living room false ceiling designs, bedroom false ceiling designs, kitchen false ceiling designs and more. Connect with us, we’re just a call away!
FAQs
1. Which type of ceiling material is best?
Each ceiling material has its own pros and cons, and you must do a careful study of all your options before you decide on which you’d like to go with. For instance, Plaster of Paris (POP) is cost-effective and well suited to cornices and ornamental mouldings, but it requires expert craftsmanship. If the ceiling conceals wiring, it will need to be broken in part in order to repair the electricals.
Grid ceilings are made of materials like vinyl which are not considered to be environmentally friendly. They are, however, very quick to install and easy to maintain; also repairs of the services above becomes very easy.
Wooden ceilings look beautiful and last long, but real wood is very expensive and not environmentally viable, as it involves cutting down trees. You can use Medium Density Fibreboard (MDF), a derivative of wood, to create carved mouldings that look just like wood, especially from a distance.
2. What are the different types of ceilings?
There are many different types of ceilings. These include wooden ceilings, POP ceilings, barrel vaulted ceilings, glass ceilings, dropped ceilings, grid ceilings and many more. You can choose to leave the ceiling in its natural finish, or paint it to match or contrast with the walls. Again, you can opt to have a lot of ornamentation on the ceiling, or leave it clean and minimalistic, with simple lines.
Never leave the ceiling as an afterthought! Whatever may be your style of décor, the design of the ceiling will enhance the aesthetics and functionality of your spaces, and will tie the whole look together.
3. What ceiling will look good for a contemporary style of home décor?
An industrial ceiling with exposed concrete, a dropped ceiling with straight edges, glass skylights or a simple flat wooden ceiling with beams will look good with contemporary décor.
4. Can you name some alternatives to false ceilings?
If your house has sloped roofs, then a false ceiling becomes redundant as you can simply clad the slopes with under-tiles for a lovely Cottagecore aesthetic. Rather than lowering the height of a flat ceiling slab, consider leaving it exposed in a chic industrial-style. Ceilings that are supported on beams can also be left as is, for a lovely warm effect.
You can also consider cladding the ceiling with shiplap, or painting or wallpapering it to add visual interest to your décor.
5. What types of ceiling will go well with a farmhouse cottage-style of home décor?
For a farmhouse theme, consider a sloped wooden ceiling with exposed beams, terracotta under-tiles or bamboo cladding. The architecture of your home will inform the style of the ceiling. For instance, a home with a flat roof cannot possibly have a ceiling that is sloped!
Bamboo and thatch roofs are also a lovely look for rustic farm cottages. The thatch will need to be replaced every couple of years, however, which makes it a very low-cost option that is regrettably high on maintenance.
