Our Favorite Ceiling Ideas to Elevate a Room
The fifth wall deserves attention, too.
Every designer knows that the fifth wall is a key element in a design scheme. Here, we share some of our favorite spaces featuring statement ceilings, from unexpected blue lacquer to rustic beams.
Hand-Painted Silver Gilt
The walls and ceiling in a Chinese salon in the Old Town of Seville, Spain, are covered in a custom hand-painted silver-gilt paper. The space, designed by Spanish architect and interior decorator Amaro Sánchez de Moya, is outfitted with a Regency-style chandelier that was purchased at a Paris flea market along with custom sofas in a Nobilis velvet and a Gastón y Daniela damask.
Elegant Linen
The ceiling of a sunroom in a Beverly Hills home is draped in a Rogers & Goffigon linen. The custom sofa features an ikat stripe by Slightly East, a vintage Flemming Lassen armchair purchased at Sotheby’s, and a Louis XV chair upholstered in an Old World Weavers silk-linen. The vintage cocktail table is by Philip and Kelvin LaVerne. The collage (top right) is by Edoardo Menini.
High-Gloss Coffered Ceiling
A study in a northern New Jersey mansion has a deep grayish-blue high-gloss coffered ceiling that complements the walls, which are paneled with custom-made brass grilles.
Uniform Beams
For an inviting, rustic home in the Hamptons, James Huniford opted for uniform ceiling beams for architectural interest. All white adds a modern touch to the 1910 property, which includes this multifunctional loft-like area.
Silver Leaf
A silver-leafed barrel-vault ceiling makes a statement in an Orem, Utah, home designed by Alice Lane Home Collection. The burnished silver leaf pendants are by Aerin Lauder, and the custom zebrawood table seats 14.
Gold and Blue Lacquer
A pop of gold adds drama to a blue lacquer ceiling in a Manhattan home designed by Kelly Behun.
Carnival Aesthetic
In the entrance hall of Alex Papachristidis' New York City apartment, both the walls and the ceiling are sheathed in a Lee Jofa linen. The print is by Walton Ford, the tole light fixture is vintage, the bookcase is antique and the mirror is Italian.
Custom-Made Fixture
In a sunny Capri villa, the dining room features a custom-made ceiling fixture by Art et Floritude. The chairs are by Boca do Lobo, the dining table is by Patricia Urquiola for Glas Italia and the floor lamps are by Casamilano.
Rounding Out The Room
An ornate, circular molding rounds out the room in this New York Hudson Valley home, decorated by Richard McGeehan. The 18th-century English Chippendale sofa and George II-style antique library chairs are covered in a Brunschwig & Fils damask.
Hand-Painted Florals
The ceiling is intricately hand-painted by Florentine artisans and the walls are lined with framed dried flowers in this nature-inspired Swiss villa. The stool is wrought iron, the cocktail table was made in Florence and the birdcages suspended from the ceiling are 19th-century.
Stripes Saga
In a Paris apartment belonging to a Middle Eastern princess, the media room's striped ceiling echoes the striped wallpaper by Arte and the curtains of a fabric by Brochier. The cocktail table, armchairs and rug are all custom designs, and the sofa is by Jean-Louis Deniot for George Smith.
Neutral Accent
With the help of designer Kelly Behun, Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner covered the ceiling of their Upper East Side apartment nursery with a Sandberg wallpaper. The armchair and dresser are by Restoration Hardware Baby & Child, the mohair throw is by Susan Chalom and the mirror is by Marc Bankowsky.
Pink And Orange Symphony
In the nursery of a Southampton beach house, the ceiling is painted in Benjamin Moore Aura in Rhododendron and Peachy Keen. The wood blinds are painted in Benjamin Moore Satin Impervo in Onyx; the 1980s table is by Milo Baughman, the 1960s fiberglass chairs are Italian and the carpet is by Missoni.
Muraled Sophistication
In a landmarked San Francisco home, the stunning dining room walls and ceiling showcase a hand-painted mural. The limestone dining table is by Michael Taylor, and the chairs—also by Michael Taylor—are upholstered in a cowhide by Rose Tarlow Melrose House. The French chandelier is from Stéphane Olivier.
Plaster Tracery
This San Francisco home designed by Ken Fulk features a master bedroom with ceiling plaster tracery that's custom-made. The canopy is made with 18th-century velvet panels and the bed is dressed with Pratesi linens.
Gold Leaf Ceiling
An opulent Park Avenue apartment's dining room boasts a ceiling finished in gold leaf and a Baroque-style chandelier from Bernd Goeckler Antiques. The English dining table is circa 1910, the 1940s console is by Jacques Adnet and the curtains are of a silk by Kravet.
Polka Dots
The dotted ceiling of this Houston home's dining room adds even more playfulness to the already-colorful space. The dining room tables, chairs and sideboard are George III, the walls are covered in a Rogers & Goffigon glazed linen and the trim is painted in a mix of Benjamin Moore Linen White and Decorator's White.
Yellow And Blue
This dreamy home inspired by Grey Gardens enchants with a living room ceiling inset with a felt paper by Stark and accented with the same high gloss blue as the walls. The sofas are by Celerie Kemble for Henredon and are upholstered in a Brunschwig & Fils printed linen.
Shock Factor
In an East Hampton home, the boys' bedroom gives a playful shock with a ceiling painted in Benjamin Moore's American Cheese. The bunk beds by Pottery Barn Kids are dressed in bedding Sferra and the wallpaper is by Ralph Lauren Home.
Grass Cloth
In this East Hampton family room, the ceiling is covered in a grass cloth by Jeffrey Michaels. The curtains are of a Bennison fabric, the abaca rug is by Rosenfeld Carpet and the walls are painted in Benjamin Moore's Pleasant Valley.
15 Easy, Breezy Coastal Bedrooms Ideas
12 Ways to Work Wood into Your Bathroom
65 Modern Bathroom Ideas That Are Awash in Luxury
30 Fresh Spring Decorating Ideas