Look Up!
When it comes to ceilings I am definitely a white girl, I just love the crisp clean look a white ceiling gives a home. And as the majority of houses on which I consult, are period homes and therefore light challenged, a white ceiling will help to brighten a room
However, there are always exceptions! I love when the ceiling has been considered as another plane to decorate and this can be especially important in hairdressers’, dentists’ and beauticians’ rooms. We are seeing the line between commercial and residential decor blurring. Who doesn’t want to transport that spa bathroom in Phuket and plant it into their suburban bathroom in Sydney?
Sometimes a room needs to feel like an outdoor room and a pale blue ceiling will do it as the blue emulates the colour of the sky. I recommended this colour for a nursing home in the therapy room where most of the residents were confined to wheelchairs or beds and spent the majority of the time looking up.
A dark ceiling will make the room feel cosy. Or if it’s a small room or one with a raked ceiling, wrap the wall colour right around the walls and ceiling.
Remember, dark colours will make the ceiling feel lower than it really is. This is fine for rooms with very high ceilings or rooms where the height really doesn’t matter and a bit of drama would be preferred.
In my own home, I chose to paint the ceiling of the laundry a sea green. There are full height cabinets in white and a bright yellow tiled splashback. The height of the ceiling is the lowest in the house but it’s not really important to have a high ceiling in the laundry, particularly as I don’t plan to spend too much time there!
Another treatment overlooked for the ceiling is wallpaper. It can give the room interest and a luxurious feel. The same colour rules apply, light colours give the feeling of height while dark colours bring the ceiling down.
I selected a simple lattice pattern for the ceiling in my walk in wardrobe. The paper has a metallic sheen too which helps with light reflection. The dark cabinetry and wallpapered ceiling give a luxe boutique feel to the room.
The photos in this post have been collected on my Pinterest board, “Look Up” where you’ll find more examples of interesting ceiling treatments. So what are you waiting for? Start planning a makeover of the ceiling in one of your rooms.
If you would like assistance choosing paint colours for your home, contact us for an online or in-person consultation.