12 Design-Inspired Ceiling Treatments to Elevate Your Space
There’s a good reason why designers often refer to ceilings as the fifth wall. The often-overlooked surface is a blank canvas for design possibilities that can add dimension and visual interest to your space. With the right ceiling designs, you can fake the look of more height, add a bold pop of color, or even transport your room to an entirely different setting with a lifelike mural.
Ceiling Design Considerations
As with any impactful design addition, there are a few important factors to consider when deciding whether to install a ceiling treatment—and what style to opt for. Below, we’re detailing a few things to mull over before committing to a ceiling design.
- Room Specs: The size and height of your room are some of the biggest considerations when you’re deciding on a ceiling treatment. Because ceiling designs can have such an impact on the perceived size of a space, it’s essential to weigh the dimensions—and your desired effect—when making a design decision.
- Budget: Depending on the materials and labor needed to execute a design, ceiling treatments can range from budget-friendly to big investment. Before committing to an idea, consider how much of your design budget you want to allocate to the task.
- Design Style: Good design doesn’t exist in a vacuum, so you’ll want to make sure there’s synergy between your chosen ceiling treatment, the surrounding room, and the rest of your home. You should also consider what overall design style your ceiling treatment evokes.
12 Ceiling Design Ideas to Inspire Your Next Project
Whether you’re undergoing a down-to-the-studs renovation or looking for an impactful weekend DIY project, there’s a ceiling design idea for you. Below, we’ve rounded up 12 designer-approved ceiling treatments that range in scope, style, and price point.
- Tongue and Groove: For subtle texture and an innately casual feel, consider installing tongue-and-groove paneling on your ceiling. Because the feature can be painted any hue, it will seamlessly blend into your existing design scheme, allowing you to add a layer of depth to your space without a complete overhaul.
- Wallpaper: Any room can benefit from a pop of pattern—but textiles and your walls aren’t your only options for incorporating it in. Instead, turn heads up, that is, by papering the ceiling in an eye-catching pattern that ties the scheme together.
- High-Gloss Paint: Drenched in a single paint color, a room makes a stunning statement. To ensure the effect isn’t too heavy, opt for a high-gloss finish on the ceiling—it’ll reflect all the natural and artificial light back down and lift the mood.
- Wood Beams: In some homes, wood beams are a structural necessity; in others, they’re an intentional addition meant to lend character, patina, and architectural detail.
- Treillage: If your heart flutters when you see the work of Bunny Williams or Dorothy Draper, this ceiling design is right up your alley. Treillage—also known as trellis or latticework—is a unique treatment that takes what many assume is an outdoor garden structure and places it on the walls or ceiling.
- Limewash Paint: You can never go wrong with adding texture, and that includes bringing a touch of grit to the ceiling. If molding or wallpaper seem too formal, try coating the surface in a unique finish like limewash paint instead.
- Coffered Ceiling: Beloved for its classic appeal, a coffered ceiling treatment refers to a rectangular, square, or octagonal grid made using molding or recessed panels. It’s a means of adding visual interest while still keeping your design tailored and timeless.
- Custom Mural: If your design personality has an adventurous side, why not commission a custom mural for your ceiling? Though a mural is a unique—and often costly—choice, it can bring a huge dose of personality to your space.
- Wood Planking: For people who have a soft spot for organic or rustic design, nothing brings the outdoors in quite like a touch of exposed wood. While many aim to work it in via their flooring or furniture, there’s one more opportunity to get back to basics—your ceiling.
- High-Contrast Paint: We’ve covered painted ceilings a few times already, but this iteration is for people who aren’t afraid to go bold. Instead of matching your ceiling paint to the rest of the room, bring the drama with a totally contrasting color.
- Box Molding: Just like on your walls, there are near-endless iterations of molding applications you can do to your ceilings. For a space that reads as timeless but still very now, take a page out of Jeremiah Brent’s book and apply box molding to your ceiling.
- Tray Ceiling: A cousin of the coffered ceiling, tray ceilings are another structural design that can bring dimension and drama to a room. Popularized in the late ’90s and early 2000s and commonly seen in open floor plan homes, tray ceilings typically have a single-level inset meant to call attention to a certain portion of a room.
More Design Inspiration
Looking for more design ideas to elevate your space? Check out our latest articles for the latest trends and must-haves.
- What Is the Life Expectancy of Your Furniture?
- Designer Rules for Picking a Perfect Lampshade
- Tasteful Horse Decor Is Our New Design Obsession
- Creative Ways Designers Are Using Tile in 2025
- Bedscaping Is Pinterest’s Top Bedroom Trend
- 5 States Where Selling Your Home Is a Long Process
- Where Are Your Favorite HGTV Stars Now?
- 58 Tiny House Ideas You’ll Fall in Love With
- Why Slow Decorating Is the Best Decorating Method
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the fifth wall in interior design?
The fifth wall refers to the ceiling, a often-overlooked surface that can be used as a design element to add dimension and visual interest to a space.
What factors should be considered when choosing a ceiling treatment?
The size and height of the room, budget, and design style are some of the key factors to consider when deciding on a ceiling treatment.
What are some popular ceiling design ideas?
Some popular ceiling design ideas include tongue and groove paneling, wallpaper, high-gloss paint, wood beams, treillage, limewash paint, coffered ceiling, custom mural, wood planking, high-contrast paint, box molding, and tray ceiling.
How can I add texture to my ceiling?
You can add texture to your ceiling by using materials like tongue and groove paneling, wood planking, or limewash paint.
What is a coffered ceiling?
A coffered ceiling is a rectangular, square, or octagonal grid made using molding or recessed panels, used to add visual interest to a room.
Can I use wallpaper on my ceiling?
Yes, you can use wallpaper on your ceiling to add a pop of pattern and tie the room’s scheme together.
What is a tray ceiling?
A tray ceiling is a structural design that has a single-level inset meant to call attention to a certain portion of a room.
