Look Up: The Ultimate Guide to Ceiling Decoration

Do you feel like ceilings tend to be the last area in a room to be considered? Let’s face it: not many people look up! But the latest trends love drawing attention to the fifth wall and treating it as a statement focal point. Here are the favorite ceiling decoration ideas from the Decorilla design team.

1. Moldings, Roses, and Ceiling Paneling

A blank ceiling blends away and goes unnoticed. On the other hand, it presents an opportunity to create a statement ceiling in your preferred style. Even a plain trim detail or paneling (as simple as it may be) will immediately draw the eye upward. So, celebrate the old-school architecture in your interor design ideas with modern plaster moldings or reclaimed ceiling paneling.

Designer Tip: Try mixing styles in your ceiling design ideas! For example, adding a touch of antique ceiling decoration with a more contemporary design is a great combination.

Pro Tip: Choose ceiling decoration that aligns with your favorite interior design style. Not sure what that is? Take our Free Interior Design Style Quiz to find out today!

2. Fabric Ceilings

A traditional way to cover ceilings and add sophistication in homes, fabric paneling on the ceiling can determine how casual or formal an interior will be. Go all-in, or create a fabric accent that also works wonderfully in contemporary high ceilings. Choose a silky fabric to create luxuriously smooth ceilings, or go for burlap or grasscloth for a more down-to-earth look.

Designer Tip: When installing fabric decoration on the ceiling, ensure it’s tightly stretched and evenly secured to avoid sagging over time.

3. Wood Paneling on Top

Add linear rhythm to your ceilings with wood paneling. Decorative ceiling panels with a natural wood finish can echo a solid wood floor for visual symmetry, while whitewashed paneling beautifully complements colder floor finishes like cement and tile. Another great earth- and budget-friendly alternative is bamboo—sustainable and suited for an earthy, bohemian, or Japanese-style interior.

Designer Tip: Use contrasting tones between the ceiling and walls to draw the eye upward, or keep the palette uniform for a serene look.

4. Matchy Matchy Ceiling Decoration

Match the ceiling decoration or finish with other elements in the room: window treatments, floor finishes, or upholstery. You can mirror floor finishes by creating the same pattern or color on the ceiling. In addition, mimicking a motif that is in the rug, curtain, or sofa can create quite a dramatic touch.

Designer Tip: For a more subdued approach, match your ceiling decoration to finer touches, like metallic handles.

5. Lacquer & Glossy Ceilings 

A traditional lacquer finish will create a super glossy ceiling, perfect for an audacious, daring interior. Lacquer is best applied on an impeccably smooth surface, and in solid colors for maximum effect. If you aim for drama, incorporate statement lighting fixtures that reflect off the lacquer, amplifying its shine.

Designer Tip: Pair the high-gloss finish with understated matte walls or soft textures to let the ceiling take center stage.

6. Paint It!

Choose deep or dark colors for depth, metallics for opulence and drama, or pastels and patterns for fun and frivolity. It doesn’t have to end at one color, either. If your style permits, use several colors, geometric patterns, or special paint techniques. The sky is the limit!

Designer Tip: Keep the final finish in mind before you start: matte finishes for a more subtle effect or high gloss for emphasized impact.

7. Metal Leaf Accent Ceilings

Paint is not your only option! Go a step further with metallic finishes, or apply gold leaf to your ceilings for the ultimate in baroque luxury. In addition to feeling like royalty, your interior will benefit from the light reflected from the shimmering ceiling, basking it in a warm glow.

Designer Tip: Check out our post on hallway decorating ideas for even more ideas for some not-always-thought-of areas that need attention!

8. Wallpaper or Ceiling Paper?

Did you know that you can install wallpaper on your ceilings exactly as you would install it on your walls? Wallpaper designs available are endless, so there is no limit to your creativity here. Create contrast by covering only the ceiling with wallpaper, or create a seamless pod by having your print wrap the entire room.

Designer Tip: For a striking look, pair a patterned ceiling with solid-colored walls, or go all-in with a wraparound design for an immersive effect.

9. Mirror Ceilings

It used to be considered very 80’s and some may even say tacky, but ceiling mirrors are making a comeback in a big way. Adding mirrors to your ceiling also has functional benefits, as it can create the illusion of depth and visually double the space. Whether you’re going for a more traditional look, or you love contemporary interior design, the mirrored option can bring in magic.

Designer Tip: Opt for distressed mirrors to add vintage charm and to prevent the interior from looking like a nightclub, or match mirrored surfaces with ornate frames for extra drama.

10. Paint a Fresco

If it was good enough for Michelangelo, it’s good enough for us! Get an artist to create a beautiful fresco on your ceiling, or if you’re up to the task and have the time, try it yourself. Channel 16th-century Renaissance with a Michelangelo-inspired decorative ceiling, or create your own masterpiece with a modern and minimalist theme, like a simple flower or mandala motif.

Designer Tip: For a modern take on ceiling frescoes, opt for bold, abstract designs that play with geometry, color blocks, or fluid shapes.

11. Tented Ceiling

Bring Lawrence of Arabia home with a tented ceiling to rival any desert palace! A Bedouin tent-like composition of fabric can add lightness to an interior by softening the hard edges of a room. Tenting a ceiling can also be a budget-friendly way to decorate a ceiling, depending on the size of the room and type of material of course.

Designer Tip: Use lightweight, breathable fabrics like cotton voile or linen for an airy feel, or opt for rich, jewel-toned silks to evoke opulence.

Ready for your new ceiling decoration?

Set the roof on (visual) fire with frescoes, lacquer, mirrors, or even a dash of gold. The choice is yours, but if you need a bit of extra help, Schedule a Free Consultation today!