For and Against: Suspended Ceilings

If funds for renovation are limited, consider suspended ceilings—they are affordable and stylish. However, few people talk about their drawbacks. Let's explore this together with experts to determine whether suspended ceilings are worth choosing or if another option might be better.

Pros of Suspended Ceilings

Low Cost

For those with a limited budget for renovation, suspended ceilings are an ideal choice. They cost significantly less than other materials. For example, the price for 1.5 sq. m can be as low as 600 rubles.

Suspended Ceilings Are Water-Resistant

High-quality suspended ceilings can withstand more than one liter of water—so you don’t have to worry about neighbors flooding your apartment.

Visual Appearance

A beautiful and even surface is guaranteed.

Design: Valeria Makarevich

Cons of Suspended Ceilings

Chemical Odor

After installation, suspended ceilings may emit an unpleasant chemical odor. This is not surprising—the film contains various anti-fungal and fire-retardant additives.

Suspended Ceilings Take Up Space

If your apartment has high ceilings, there’s no need to worry. However, if ceiling height is limited, keep in mind that suspended ceilings will lower the ceiling even further.

Lamp Power Limitations

When planning lighting in rooms with suspended ceilings, don’t forget that not all fixtures are suitable. For example, halogen lamp power should not exceed 35–40 W, and fluorescent lamps—50 W.

Design: Valeria Makarevich

Expert Opinion

We asked experts for advice on whether to install suspended ceilings and in which cases it might be better to avoid them.

Valeria Makarevich: “Suspended ceilings offer fast installation, practicality, and low cost.”

Valeria Makarevich, Interior Designer. Graduated from the Belarusian State Academy of Arts.

Suspended ceilings are a very popular type of finishing due to the wide variety of textures and colors, as well as a large number of options for manufacturing and installation. There are many benefits—fast installation, practicality, relatively low cost, and a wide choice of colors, patterns, and surface types.

When it comes to drawbacks, the issue of eco-friendliness arises. PVC film is not the safest material, but there is an alternative—fabric ceilings.

Design: Valeria Makarevich

When choosing a material for suspended ceilings, it’s important to understand in which room they will be installed. For humid rooms (e.g., bathrooms), PVC ceilings with higher moisture resistance are better. For bedrooms, fabric ceilings are preferable (to create a healthier atmosphere since people spend about one-third of their lives sleeping).

It’s better to choose a verified manufacturer (with compliance certificates) and professional installers to ensure the result meets your expectations.

Design: Valeria Makarevich

Katerina Yaroslavtseva: “They work perfectly for modern-style interiors.”

Katerina Yaroslavtseva, Interior Designer for Residential and Public Spaces, Studio Founder Yaroslavtseva Interior

The need to use suspended ceilings is usually driven by budget and time constraints, and less so by design concepts. Especially if you need to complete ceiling work as quickly as possible—the choice is obvious.

Certainly, suspended ceilings have undeniable advantages for me: fast and dust-free installation. In new buildings, they won’t crack—unlike Gypsum Board (GKЛ), which I’ve experienced in my work. Visually, they look much better and some types of suspended ceilings can be painted with a spray gun.

Suspended ceilings are perfect for modern-style interiors. They can easily and without problems be replaced with a new fabric in case of damage.

Design: Katerina Yaroslavtseva

As for the drawbacks:

• Inappropriate for classical interiors (simplifies the look and makes it appear cheap);
• Time-consuming construction process;
• Joints will be visible on large areas due to limited ceiling width;
• Movement of the fabric will be visible in drafts.

Design: Katerina Yaroslavtseva

Marina Matykhina: “Suspended ceilings are one of the most budget-friendly options.”

Marina Matykhina, Interior Designer for Residential and Public Spaces, Founder of MMInteriors Design Studio

I rarely use suspended ceilings in my practice. I only do it in bathrooms and storage rooms.

And that’s always a white matte ceiling, as close to paint as possible. In terms of cost, it’s one of the most budget-friendly options.