Designing the fifth wall
Not incorporating a ceiling design is a missed opportunity to create visual interest and another design layer. When planning the design of a home, tend to focus on the type of flooring and how to treat the walls. The ceilings are often an afterthought – a drop ceiling to hide ugly conduits and place lights where needed in the space. And with most of us living in modern apartments, we don’t have age-old gems that we can restore, so naturally often the ceiling is left a blank white space void from character.
Debunking the myths about ceilings
A good ceiling design which keeps in mind the size, shape and décor of the room, can transform the plainest rooms. And while many people want to avoid decreasing the height of the ceiling, but with lights and conduits being quite slim, we don’t have to drop the ceiling too far down. A ceiling design can help make the room look larger, or wider. Or create an intimate space where needed.
There is a wide range of treatments we can introduce, from contemporary designs to more intricate details. We use materials like plaster board, plaster of Paris, solid wood and updated materials like PVC and other light weight materials. With the maximalist movement becoming more prominent, we are also playing with wallpapers to add texture and sheen to a space.
When planning a ceiling, scale is key. Not only the height it creates in the room, but the volume it brings to a space. Playing with the ceiling shape and finish can be a cost-effective way to achieve something special and unique. When introducing texture and shapes, the ceiling can create an interesting shadow play. A perimeter border can lead the eye to make a room look larger or accentuate the height. Which ever design we propose, ceilings don’t have to be (and probably shouldn’t be), all flat horizontal plains of white painted drywall.
