When you enter a room, don’t forget to look up. The days of giving a ceiling a quick coat of white paint and calling it a day are long over—and that’s something to be excited about.
“Over the last 10 years, ceilings have become so much more important in design,” Linda Granert of Granert Interior Planning & Design in Midland Park says. An attractive ceiling, she adds, can do much to enhance a space that doesn’t have room for much more visual interest.
Marina V. Umali of Marina V. Design Studio in Ridgewood agrees. “Often overlooked, the ceiling is considered ‘the fifth wall’ and can play a significant role in the overall aesthetic of a room.”
How do you make the best of that “fifth wall”? Some of New Jersey’s design experts weigh in below to help guide you.
Go Bold
If you want to paint your ceiling, Umali says go all in. “[A painted ceiling] can be a great way to make a bold design statement,” she says. “By using a bold color, you can make the ceiling a focal point, drawing attention and adding depth to the space. In rooms with tall ceilings, darker shades can create a cozier, more intimate atmosphere by visually lowering the height of the space.”
This direction, however, can have its disadvantages. “If the room is small, it might not be ideal, as it can make the space feel even smaller,” Umali says. “Similarly, in a room with insufficient lighting, it can also create a sense of reduced space.”
Go Subtle
You don’t need to reach for a saturated blue or eye-catching red; more subtle colors also can do wonders to the perceived size of a room. Says Teresa Tumminia of At Home Custom Interiors in Cream Ridge: “Painting a ceiling a subtle, light color will make a ceiling appear higher and give the room a more open feel. Make sure you pick a shade lighter than the walls if that’s your goal.”
For a specific, subtle suggestions, Katja van der Loo of Papyrus Home Design in Boonton adds, “Using a pale blue or a pale greige color will soften a ceiling and add a bit of interest.”
Go Dramatic
Why stop at paint? A world of design options opens up to you once you start considering the ceiling as a true fifth wall. Tara Rotelli of Rotelli Interiors in Hasbrouck Heights suggests a twist on a classic: “If you want something even more enchanting, apply decorative molding to the ceiling, install some crown, and then paint.”
Something more eye catching? For Christina Melendez of Home Sweet Home Designs in Manalapan, the secret is texture. “What I love for a ceiling is adding a texture with shiplap for a dramatic touch,” she says.
Want even more expert tips and advice? Check out the newest issue of NJ HOME.