4 Interesting Ceiling Design Solutions + Designers' Comments

The living room of designer Oliver Furtwängler in his Los Angeles apartment is designed in the style of Spanish colonial Revival. The original wall and furniture decoration brilliantly illustrates how ceiling finishing can enhance space. "I wanted the ceiling surface to shimmer and have ethereal, watery qualities," admits the project creator. He used extraglaze, oil-based paint which he applied in several layers and then subjected to sandblasting.

The choice of color was a very important task for Oliver: rich blue and gray tones were mixed with Benjamin Moore paints and shimmering mother-of-pearl hues. This palette visually stretches the ceiling. The shifting colors not only reflect natural light from the window well but also accentuate metallic accents in the interior. Such a ceiling visually expands the living room: the gaze does not linger on the ceiling cornice – the room space becomes boundless.

Idea #2: Tent dome

New York designer Alessandra Branca came up with an original solution for the foyer leading to the main staircase and large open living room. She created a tent-like ceiling – a recurring motif in her projects. "I wanted to give the viewer a pause, so they find themselves in a small cocoon before entering a large, luxurious space." This approach adds structure to the ceiling without complex construction of walls.

The designer preferred simple fabrics such as Belgian linen or "Pierre Frey" fabric decorated with a vibrant stripe. Materials can look modern or traditional depending on the finish and silhouette of the dome. According to Alessandra, what is most important is that although the tent ceiling "evokes a feeling of escape from a Bedouin tent, it is also a tent of one's own fantasies, whims, and spiritual sanctuary."

Idea #3: Infinite wallpaper

Wallpaper on ceilings is often seen as a forgotten "Soviet-era" trend. However, New York designer Fawn Galli suggests looking at this ceiling finishing method in a fresh way. She believes "ceiling wallpaper can function as a visual blanket, especially if you want to fill the space with warmth and coziness." Fawn realized this idea in a client's home in Connecticut, decorating a small and dark guest room for winter use.

For the space base, she chose red-pink wallpaper with a pattern. According to the designer, it creates an atmosphere of "a beautiful little sanctuary." At the same time, one had to consider the limited space and poor natural lighting. Ceiling wallpaper visually opens horizons and enlarges the room just as effectively as classic white finishing. Fawn believes "if the wallpaper traditionally ended at the ceiling boundary, your gaze would focus only on what is at eye level."

Idea #4: Wooden panels

Wooden paneling that has been around since the 1970s should look in the dining room of this beach house like an invitation to transition from familiar retro to something stylish and modern. However, American designer Kelly Whister, known for her Art Deco-style ceiling finishes in old Hollywood, decided to revive the original cedar patina and keep it on the ceiling.

"Using wood in finishing adds warmth and natural appeal to the ceiling," says the designer. In her view, wooden panels on walls are predictable, but above your head they surprise the imagination. "The strongest feeling in perceiving a wood-finished ceiling is the element of surprise," she added.