The majority of homeowners rarely spend any time thinking about their ceilings unless they are crying out to be repainted. But a nice ceiling can really dress up a room, says Dan Darvey, senior anaging partner of Trade Mark Design & Build, based in Hawthorne, New Jersey. Here he discusses the types of ceiling treatments available.
Crown molding is the most common type of ceiling, and can turn a drab, everyday ceiling into one that looks special and different. A small room that has a nice crown molding can look a lot larger and more inviting, and special paint effects on ceilings (see below) can completely transform the feeling of a room.
If you are looking to change a ceiling in your home, here are a handful of ideas to get you started:
- Coffered ceilings: Involve a series of square boxes with crown inside and other trim moldings. The whole ceiling is divided into sections and trimmed, and the result is lovely and unique.
- Crown with applied molding: A small trim follows the crown around the ceiling about a foot from the crown. This adds nice detail, especially in a dining room.
- Paint effect: Install molding below the crown and paint the same color as the crown to give the look of a larger molding. This painting effect can also be used with molding on the ceiling.
- Tin or copper panels with tin crown: Used in period-style homes.
- Drop-ceiling panels: Not what you might think! These have come a long way and can look quite good with raised panel details – excellent choice for a basement.
Floor are rarely neglected in a living space, yet ceiling are often left untouched for years – and in some cases, even decades. Changing a ceiling in your home can add a new dimension to a room, yet can be as elaborate or as simple as you want. If you want to transform the look of a room, starting from the top down might be the way to go.
