People spend so much time and energy trying to make sure everything to do with their interior decor is perfect they sometimes forget that the decor encompasses not just the things at eye level, but what’s overhead as well. The ceiling is one of the most underappreciated aspects of home interior design but one which wields significant influence over how a space is experienced. In this post we’re going to look at painting your ceiling something other than the standard white.
Bringing the Ceiling into the Home Interior Design Fold
If you’ve ever spent time wandering through the many renaissance and baroque palaces that dot the European landscape you’ve no doubt spent a lot of time looking up. That’s because those 16th and 17th century aristocrats (or more precisely the artisans in their employ) knew a thing or two about the value of the ceiling when it came to creating a complete home interior design. While you don’t need to invest in the full Versailles treatment for your Burlington or Hamilton home there are ways you can integrate the ceiling into the overall decor using some simple painting techniques.
- Separation: Try painting the ceiling the same colour as the wall and then separating the two planes with a white trim. Crown moulding is a great way to achieve this effect that will bring its own qualities to the home interior design which you can also build on.
- Colour stepping: Paint the ceiling the same colour as the walls but use a slightly lighter value of the colour on the ceiling. This will create visual logic as the values step back as the eye goes up. It will also produce the effect of the ceiling being slightly higher than it is.
- Make it pop: For a room with white walls consider painting the ceiling a bold colour that will add some visual excitement (if for no other reason that no one will be expecting it). You can then introduce accessories with the same colour that will work to tie everything together.
- Liven it up: Use stencils to create designs on the ceiling that will liven up the space. They can be as subtle or bold as you wish although they shouldn’t overwhelm what’s underneath them. Painting in this fashion can be tedious and labour intensive but you can’t beat the end result.
- Patterning: If the idea of working overhead with stencils doesn’t appeal to you, you can create your own simple patterns on the ceiling just using a straightedge and pencil. Repeating geometric shapes, stripes and the like when deployed smartly can really bring the ceiling to life.
- Embrace the cosy: A simple way to make a study or bedroom feel a bit cosier is to paint the ceiling a shade or two darker than the walls. This will create the sense that the ceiling is lower than it is which will add to the cosiness and sense of being enveloped by the space.
- Tromp l’oeil: Okay so we said we weren’t going to go full Versailles but if you have the time and inclination and you can find a talented artist in the area why not introduce some tromp l’oeil features to the ceiling like a skylight or oculus. Your home interior design will take several quick steps up the ‘noteworthy’ ladder.
Home interior design encompasses the entire space not just the floor and walls. Isabelle Tremblay can help you find myriad ways of integrating your once neglected ceilings into the overall decor of your Hamilton or Burlington home. Call Decor Isabelle today on (416) 573-2301 to set up an appointment.
