Interior designers have historically regarded the ceiling as the ‘fifth wall’ of a room, a blank space brimming with potential that goes beyond a simple coat of white paint.
Sandy Lucas of Lucas/Eilers Design Associates believes that ceilings deserve much more attention than they typically receive.
“The ceiling is just so important,” Lucas remarks, recalling a time when traditional design incorporated ceilings into decor more prominently.
However, as design trends shifted during the midcentury contemporary era, ceilings and walls became more simplistic and often just white.
Now, there is a resurgence in creativity regarding ceiling design. Architects, interior designers, and even home DIY enthusiasts are no longer limited to plain treatments; the options are nearly limitless.
According to many designers, painting a ceiling is the most budget-friendly way to transform it.
For instance, Lucas champions soft blue shades such as Farrow & Ball Skylight, Benjamin Moore Yarmouth Blue, and Sherwin-Williams Ellie Gray.
These colors have traditionally been favored in the South for outdoor porches, mimicking the sky’s hue and even acting as a deterrent for wasps.
For homeowners looking to heighten visual interest, alternatives like coffered ceilings, exposed beams, trusses, plaster finishes, and wallpaper can create a unique aesthetic.
Linda Eyles, from Linda Eyles Design, took the concept of wallpaper ceilings to the next level during the 2019 ASID Gulf Coast Chapter Show House.
As visitors entered the room, they initially offered simple compliments, but once they looked up, their amazement was evident.
“Using wallpaper on a ceiling was a game changer for me,” Eyles states.
The dining room she decorated was an unremarkable box that needed more than attractive furnishings and draperies. Thus, she chose to push the boundaries of ceiling design.
Since that project, Eyles has incorporated wallpapered ceilings into her work frequently, like a floral wallpaper design in a client’s guest bedroom, framed by crown molding painted to match the wallpaper.
Adding complementary purple draperies and a velvet plum-upholstered bed created a cohesive and visually appealing look.
“The fifth wall presents a fantastic opportunity,” Eyles observes.
“No longer do we just hang a chandelier and call it done.”
Additionally, in powder bathrooms featuring wallpaper, she suggests incorporating lacquered ceilings to add a hint of sparkle.
In another project, Eyles utilized hand-painted Porter Teleo wallpaper to develop a unique retreat for a client she describes as a “Renaissance man.”
The combination of patterned wallpaper and elegant decor created visual balance, featuring a striking eggplant background with gold streaks reminiscent of kintsugi, the Japanese technique of mending pottery with gold.
Both Lucas and her design partner, Sarah Eilers, view the ceiling as integral to the room’s overall decor.
With thoughtful treatments, small spaces can appear larger, while large rooms can be made more intimate and inviting.
For example, adding beams to a vaulted ceiling draws the eye upward, enhancing the room’s perceived height, whereas lighter paint colors in smaller rooms can make them feel airier and more spacious.
If there is spare attic space, homeowners can consider elevating the ceiling or implementing vaulted or groin-vaulted structures, finishing them in paint, natural stone, or brick.
In her design work in Park City, Utah, Eilers experienced the dramatic effects of wood treatments firsthand.
By using handcrafted beams throughout a newly constructed home, she was able to create an older, more graceful appearance—larger beams in the grand living room and slightly smaller ones in the kitchen, adorned with reclaimed tongue-and-groove planks.
This thoughtful approach added considerable warmth and an authentic Old World charm to the house.
For new construction projects, designers stress the myriad possibilities available.
Lucas points out that when a house is under construction, there is access to a millwork team and painters, allowing for more design choices.
Considering ceiling treatments early in the design process is essential for a cohesive result.
“It’s far better to make those decisions at the project’s onset than to return to them after the home is complete,” she advises.
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