IN THIS POST
– Conventional Ceiling
– Suspended Ceiling
– Tray Ceiling
– Coffered Ceiling
– Shed Ceiling
– Beam Ceiling
– Dome Ceiling
– Coved Ceiling
When it comes to remodelling or renovating a house, redesigning the ceiling is usually the last thing on people’s mind. Along with being an integral part of the interior structure, ceilings are also a crucial part of the interior design of your home. In fact, all elements of ceiling designs, such as shape, height, style and colour of the structure, can have a substantial impact on the overall aesthetics of your place.
Ceiling designs for homes have evolved significantly over the past few decades. While conventional flat ceilings were once the norm, a number of other styles have since begun to gain popularity among interior designers and architects, owing to their distinctive looks as well their impact on the overall look of the place.
If you’re planning to give your home a complete makeover, we’ve put together a list of popular ceiling design ideas that you can consider for the project.
Modern Ceiling Designs for Homes
These are some of the most popular ceiling styles and designs for homes
- Conventional Ceiling
- Suspended Ceiling
- Tray Ceiling
- Coffered Ceiling
- Shed Ceiling
- Beam Ceiling
- Dome Ceiling
- Coved Ceiling
Let’s discuss these different types of ceilings in detail.
Conventional Ceilings
Let’s start with the basics.
A conventional or flat ceiling is the most common type of ceiling you will find in homes across Pakistan. The standard height of this ceiling is between 8 and 10 feet. It has a flat surface, which makes it easy to decorate and paint.
To put it simply, there is nothing unique about this ceiling design. However, it’s extremely common owing to its use of standard construction material. It is also easier to build and maintain. Rooms with conventional ceilings higher than 10 feet can look spacious and bigger than they actually are, whereas rooms with ceilings lower than 8 feet can feel a little claustrophobic. Flat ceilings that are taller than 13 feet are called high or tall ceilings.
Homeowners usually add decorative moulding and attractive lighting fixtures to enhance these flat ceilings.
Suspended Ceilings
Although suspended ceilings (also known as dropped or false ceilings) have been popular in offices and commercial structures for a long time, they have just started gaining popularity in the residential sector as well.
This type of ceiling is installed below the actual ceiling, usually to conceal things such as exposed pipework, wiring, ductwork or a damaged surface. A suspended ceiling comprises a metal grid that is hung from the actual ceiling with the help of metal wires. The frame is also attached to the wall for sturdiness and support. Fibreglass, plastic or cork tiles are then suspended from this frame, concealing everything else from the view. Usually, recessed lights are added to this ceiling to brighten up a room.
Moreover, installing and repairing a false ceiling in your home is cheaper and easier than fixing a damaged concrete ceiling.
However, this design is only suitable for homes with tall ceilings, as installing a dropped ceiling in a room that’s originally 8 feet tall would shrink its size by at least 2 to 3 feet, making it essentially uninhabitable.
Tray Ceilings
This is one of the best ceiling designs for living rooms, as it makes your ceilings look taller and add depth to your space.
A tray ceiling is somewhat similar to a conventional ceiling. But instead of featuring a flat surface, it boasts a recessed section in the middle that looks like the top of a serving tray. Usually, the recessed part of a tray ceiling is about six inches deep, which makes the surrounding section look like a frame.
Sometimes, the rectangular centre of a tray ceiling is popped out instead of being inverted to give a unique effect to the room. Often, a series of steps is also added to the bridge the gap between the recessed section and the surrounding frame for a more refined look.
Most interior designers and architects prefer to add decorative mouldings and different light fixtures to make tray ceilings the focal point of a room. Not to mention, tray ceilings can also make a ceiling look taller.
Apart from living rooms, it is also considered one of the most popular ceiling designs for bedrooms and kitchens.
You can find out more about creative bedroom ceiling design ideas in our detailed guide on the topic.
Coffered Ceilings
In architecture, the word ‘coffer’ stands for ‘indentation.’ Unlike tray ceilings, which only have a single recessed section in the centre, coffered ceilings have multiple sunken panels that form a waffle-like grid, covering the entire area of a room. Usually, faux wood beams are used to create this effect, though one can also use decorative moulding for this purpose.
This type of ceiling design can be observed in historical Italian buildings as well as in early Middle Eastern architecture as well.
Over the last couple of decades, this ceiling style has become a popular choice for homes in Pakistan. One of the main reasons behind its growing popularity is its element of sophistication and elegance. In addition to that, this ceiling design tends to draw the eye upwards, thus adding an interesting depth to a room and making it look taller than it actually is.
It is also one of the most ideal ceiling designs for drawing rooms.
However, installing a coffered ceiling is not exactly cheap. It also requires additional manual labour and is not suitable for rooms with relatively low ceilings.
Shed Ceilings
This ceiling design is typically used in attics and storerooms, though it can be used in any room depending on its size and other architectural specifications.
A shed ceiling has a slanted surface that angles upward or downwards to one side. The slope extending from the low to high end can be either subtle or steep. Usually, rooms with this type of ceiling have windows on the elevated end for natural light and better ventilation.
Most interior designers prefer using hardwood or faux wood boards to cover shed ceilings, as wood tends to make the room appear cosy and rustic at the same time, giving it a unique appeal.
Nevertheless, it is important to point out that shed ceilings are more suitable for smaller rooms, as they can add a certain charm to their overall look. Moreover, the presence of high windows also creates an optical illusion of a larger space.
Beam Ceilings
If you are looking for rustic ceiling designs for the dining room or any other part of your home, this might be it.
As the name suggests, beam ceilings comprise light-weight faux wood beams usually arranged in a vertical, horizontal or grid-like pattern. The exposed joists stand in contrast with the true ceiling, add depth and warmth to a room. Also, the use of wood can give your home a touch of elegance and luxury. Usually, beamed ceilings are artfully designed to serve as a focal point of a room, allowing homeowners to further enhance their look by adding recessive lighting as well as statement pendant lights.
The beams are usually stained or painted to mimic real timber. However, some homeowners prefer installing polyurethane beams instead of hollow faux wood beams, as they are lighter in weight and easy to replace.
Here are two of the most common types of beamed ceiling styles and designs.
Hammer beams: They are short beams that are attached to the walls in a horizontal or vertical pattern.
Boxed beams: This is quite similar to coffered ceilings, as short beams are arranged in a waffle-like grid in a square or rectangular pattern.
It is perhaps the best type of ceiling for your home if you want your home decor to look warm and cosy.
Dome Ceilings
Dome ceilings tend to look particularly sophisticated, aesthetically pleasing, and relatively lavish compared to most other types of ceilings discussed in this list.
These ceilings have a sphere-shaped centre that rises to the top like a dome, making a room appear taller and your décor look much more dramatic. The size of the dome largely depends on the size of the room, though the higher it is, the more it will expand the feeling of an area. You can even add mosaic, painted embellishments, geometric shapes or unique light fixtures to your dome ceiling to enhance it even further.
If you are looking for ceiling designs for living rooms, incorporating these into your home can be a good idea. However, you must bear in mind that the construction of a dome ceiling can be slightly expensive. Although there are prefabricated options available in the market, they can also be a little costly than most other types of ceiling materials.
Coved Ceilings
Last but not least, coved ceilings can be a really valuable addition to your home as they can completely transform your entire space all on their own. This ceiling design features elements of both traditional and modern architecture. It usually boasts curved edges instead of the conventional sharp ones that join the walls to the ceiling at a 90-degree angle. A standard coved ceiling can be described as a shallow dome-like design usually paired with a tray ceiling to enhance its appearance.
Coved ceiling designs in Pakistan have become somewhat of a staple in high-end houses and villas, with its soft and smooth lines adding an elegant touch to their entire décor.
In addition to that, combined with right paint colours and decorative moulding, these ceilings can appear higher than they are.
Needless to say, the type of ceiling design you choose for your home depends highly on your budget, the size of your property and the overall theme of your place.
You can let us know which of these ceiling styles and designs you found most interesting by sending us an email on blog@zameen.com.
Meanwhile, you can also check out our comprehensive guide detailing the best type of lighting for each room in your house to figure out which light fixtures would best suit your choice of ceiling design.
For more home decor inspiration and tips, stay connected to Zameen Blog – the top construction and property blog in Pakistan. You can also subscribe to our newsletter to the right and receive the latest updates about the real estate sector right in your inbox.
