Stylish Ceiling Designs That Can Change The Look Of Your Home

By Simona Ganea | Published on Feb 21, 2014

When redecorating our homes, we often tend to ignore the ceiling design. We usually just paint it white and don’t think twice about any other options. We focus more of the walls and on the floor. But the ceiling is very important and can radically change the whole design in a room. Let’s explore some of the options.

Coffered ceilings.

Black painted coffered ceiling — To emphasize the design of the ceiling, the beams can match the doors and windows

by Brett Mountain Photography

White coffered kitchen ceiling — A plain white design is also an elegant option

by David Duncan Livingston

Coffered living room ceiling brown — Some people prefer to stain the beams for a more rustic look

by Mueller Nicholls

Kitchen with coffered ceiling — But even if the beams are white, they still stand out

by Christopher Peacock

Traditional elegant living room coffered ceiling — You can use the geometry on the ceiling when choosing the lighting fixtures

by Sara Hopkins

Coffered brown ceiling play room — You can also opt for an all-wood coffered ceiling for a traditional look

by RJ Gurley

Wood paneling office coffered office — A very cohesive interior design wrapped in wood

by Phillip Mueller

Luxury office elegant ceiling — Play with different shades and use the light in your favor

by Gabriel Builders

Coffered ceiling kitchen white brown — Try to create strong contrasts for an eye-catching look

by Teri Fotheringham Photography

Dining room mirror above fireplace — Coffered ceilings are a nice choice for formal spaces

by Mike Mroz

Coffered ceilings provide you with a way to hide the beams and to integrate them into a more complex design. They have been around for ages. In fact, there is evidence that wooden coffered ceilings were constructed in the Roman times. Nowadays all sorts of shapes and designs are possible and it ahs become a more versatile style.

Striped ceilings.

Striped black white ceiling — If you prefer a simple and more neutral color palette, try black

by Mihomes

Pale pink striped white ceiling — For a brighter look, use more cheerful colors such as this coral shade

by Tobi Fairley

Turqupise chandelier pink white striped ceiling — A girl’s bedroom could use some pink stripes on the ceiling

by Allison Potter

Yellow room black white striped ceiling — You can also play with colors and contrasts and choose a bold shade for the walls

by Aaron Leitz Fine

Beautiful green ceiling striped — Usually, the color of the stripes on the ceiling matches that of the walls

by Adam Zollinger

Orange white striped ceiling decor — If you want the ceiling to be the focal point then use a bold color

by ArttHaus

Desk under bed kids room — For cohesion, the ceiling can match the floor or the carpet

by Mike Martin

Grey wall nursery room striped ceiling — Soft, pastel shades are a good choice for nursery rooms

by Jessica Turf

Green accents nursery room — White doesn’t necessarily has to be one of the colors on the stripes

by Double W Design

Electic kitchen design yellow striped ceiling — The yellow stripes make this space cheerful and bright

by California Home Design

Stripes look great on walls and they’re very popular in general. But have you ever thought of painting stripes on your ceiling? It could be an interesting choice. Leave the walls plain and simple and focus on the ceiling, making it the focal point of the room.

Salvaged wood.

Salvaged ceiling beams — The aged ceiling beams give this open dining room a rustic look

Living room fireplace alternative candles — This look is also popular in contemporary designs and decors

by Dungan Nequette

Open space ceiling beams round shaped chandeliers — Pair the wood ceiling beams with rustic or antique chandeliers

by Jack Gardner

Beam x positionate ceiling — The aged wood on the beams can match some of the furniture for cohesion

by Benvenuti and Stein

Traditional open space mountain kitchen — Salvaged wood features are often seen in country-style homes

by Devon Perkins

Books storage beams ceiling — You can mix and match different styles and choose your favorite features

by Meghan Beierle

8 8 beams size ceiling — A Mediterranean living room with dark-stained ceiling beams

by Yucca

White ceiling with black beams — Even if the beams have a dark stain, they still look charming with that aged finish

by Ken Hayden

Low ceiling living room design — Salvaged wood ceiling beams often look wonderful in traditional interior decors

by Eric Piasecki

French design beams canopy bed — A traditional bedroom with white walls and contrasting ceiling beams

Luxury living room beams — The aged finish on the beams matches some of the accent details in the décor

Exposed ceiling beams are often highlighted in interior décor. Salvaged and old wood in particular are very appreciated and people try to get this look by aging the wood using an instant technique. This replicates the effect on naturally aged wood and gives it that charm and uniqueness we seek.

Arched ceilings.

Classic arched ceiling — The arched ceiling gives this living room a very classical look

by Richard Mandelkorn

Rustic living room arched ceiling — The rustic-traditional décor is elevated by the ceiling and windows

by Stone Wood llc

Wood paneling ceiling — The beams on the arched ceiling give it a traditional feel

by Pat Sudmeier

Master bedroom arched ceiling — More complex design with geometric forms suit modern and contemporary decors

by Pure Design Environments

Ceiling color contrast — Simple and smooth designs allow the architecture to become the focal point

by Vernon Wentz

Arched ceilings are quite popular in Mediterranean interior design. They are often paired with arched windows and they have a very elegant and stylish look. The designs can differ from ceilings with exposed beams to minimalist ceilings and ceilings with intricate designs.

Warm wood.

Wood cabin bedroom ceiling — A wooden ceiling is a wonderful feature for the bedroom

by CJ Berg Photography

Narrow living room wood ceiling large window — It can also look charming in the living room, especially with exposed beams

by J. Grant Design Studio

Reclaimed wood ceiling living room — Allow the ceiling to stand out by choosing contrasting colors for the rest of the décor

by Refined llc

Large cowhide carpet wood ceiling — Create some symmetry with wooden furniture and matching colors

by AWH Photo & Design.

Stone wall facade bedroom — Try combining wood with stone for an organic interior design

by Jenkins Custom Homes

It’s no secret that wood makes a room feel warm and welcoming. But there are many ways in which you can integrate this material in your home’s interior design. Wooden floors are the most common but they’re not the only option. Wooden ceilings can be even more charming and eye-catching.

Modern ceilings.

Modern ceiling lights — Sculptural ceiling designs are wuite popular in modern homes

by Pepe Calderin Design

Oversized wall art dining room — Usually, the designs are inspired from the classics but with a minimalist twist

by Markeng Lish Architects

Modern kitchen ceiling to define kitchen — Simplicity is the key in most cases and you can see that clearly here

Modern kitchen modern ceiling — This drop down ceiling design is popular because it’s both simple and intriguing

by The design mill

Ceilingdesign lights over kitchen island — The lighting fixtures are often the detail that makes the ceiling stand out

by Scott Pease Photography

Ceiling decorative lamps — As we’ve mentioned before, wooden ceilings are perfect for the bedroom

by Bosworth Hoedemaker and Garret Cord Werner

Cove light for ceiling — Cove lighting can really make the ceiling pop, especially with such a sculptural design

by Barry Grossman

Modern pergola ceiling design light — This contemporary kitchen takes the idea of exposed ceiling beams to a whole new level

by Alexandre Parent

Living room cove ceiling light — The simple, geometric lines of the ceiling are recurrent throughout the décor

Ceiling design modern furniture — An ornate ceiling can beautifully complement a minimalist décor

by Sabaxter Builders

The styles and designs we’ve described so far don’t exactly fit in most modern homes. Here, the designers try to come up with all sorts of unusual and interesting designs and ways to give character to the ceiling and to make an important part of the whole interior décor.

Black and white ceilings.

Black painted ceiling — The dark ceiling complements the wallpaper and color palette perfectly

by Susan Gilmore

Metalic painted ceiling — A black ceiling is quite unusual but it can be a nice choice in an industrial décor

by Brunelleschi

Narrow black ceiling bathroom — Pick black and white as the main color palette for a room and create eye-catching contrasts

by Hans Fonk

Basement black ceiling — Black ceilings seem to suit well basement spaces like this one

Industrial black ceiling — This industrial open space features a dark gray ceiling, still very interesting

by Angela Todd Designs

White painted ceiling — Of course, white is the most common color for ceiling regardless of the style

by Andrew Snow

White painted ceiling beams — White ceilings are especially charming when they also have exposed wooden beams

by Jan Skacelik(etsy)

White kitchen ceiling — A white ceiling can also be a nice way to emphasize the design and the architecture

Bathroom piramid shaped ceiling white — Paint a wooden ceiling white for a more modern look while preserving the warmth

by Adrian Gregorutti

Stone fireplace mantel — It’s often the shape of the ceiling that makes it stand out and not the color

by Becki Peckham

Both white and black are very complex colors, despite their simplicity. When combined, they gain a timeless and classical beauty, so versatile that it can be seen in all styles and all domains and fields. In interior design, white is the go-to color for the ceiling but it’s not always the case.

Bold ceilings.

Pink ceiling painted — The color of the ceiling often matches the accent color chosen for the entire room

by Tineke Triggs

Pink pale ceiling design — In this case, the ceiling matches the bedding and a very nice balance is created

by Greg Riegler

Teenage twin bedroom design pink ceiling — If the ceiling is painted a bold color, then the walls should remain white

Washed ceiling — For the bedroom ceiling, pick a color that you really like

by Fuller Interiors

Modern sun room orange ceiling — Orange is a very cheerful and dynamic color, suitable for entertainment areas

by by Julie Soefer

It’s quite unusual to encounter ceilings that feature bold colors. Usually, we choose neutral colors or pastel shades. But vibrant colors can really make the ceiling stand out and this can be an interesting option to explore. Let’s take a look at some examples and see how this would work out.

Concrete ceilings

Concrete loft ceiling — Modern living room featuring a concrete ceiling and large columns

by Rad Design Inc

Large windows and curtains concrete ceiling — An industrial living room with concrete ceiling and matching walls

by Chipper Hatter

Concrete kitchen ceiling contemporary touch — Concrete ceilings can also look sleek and chic in modern kitchens for example

by Ivan Hunter

Living room view wood storage — The gray tiled floor has a mate finish to match the ceiling

by Leicht

Concrete ceilings and concrete floors in general are used mostly in industrial interior designs and decors. But they can also be an interesting choice for modern and contemporary as well as for Mediterranean designs. They usually have a rough, unfinished look which makes them stand out.