When you look around any room, your eyes tend to float near the focal point. For some, it’s a piece of statement furniture. For others, it’s a gorgeous assortment of wall decor — or maybe it’s the wall color itself. While it may be a less common spot to draw attention to, the ceiling is another place where you can make a bold statement with design and accessories that can raise your eyes upward and keep them there.

Whether you’re in the process of redesigning your home or you’re still on the fence about certain adjustments, making changes to ceiling and wall decor can completely transform the room. Here are our tips for getting started:

Why Make Your Ceiling the Focal Point

A focal point is any item or part of a room that captures people’s attention and demands another look. You may find yourself entering a home and always staring at the same colorful vase or bright painting — decorations that are that area’s main event. So, what would your room look like if, instead of a hunter-green sofa or fascinating lantern light, you dressed up your ceiling as the star of the show?

As you consider your home’s design and how you’d like it to look, think of your ceiling as an extension of your walls. By using architectural elements like moldings, paint, fabric, wallpaper and tile, a ceiling can become an integral part of any room rather than just a blank space over your head.

By choosing to ignore the white canvas that’s set above you, you’re missing the opportunity to create interest and completely refresh your space.

Unique Ceiling Treatments and Designs To Try

Popcorn, drop and other textured ceilings are dated. Even a smooth surface can be bland. If you’re looking for a more modern or decorative ceiling type, consider the following:

• Faux beams: If your home wasn’t built with thick wooden beams originally, you can easily add them with realistic wood planks that add rustic flair to any space.
• Tin tiles: This style of ceiling has been popular for centuries, but the classic charm hasn’t decreased with age. Either get real tin, metal or similar material to bring a vintage touch to your home.
• Surface mount tiles: You may only think of cover tiles found in doctor’s offices when you hear “surface mount tiles,” but there are so many more design options than you may realize.
• Paint: You could choose any hue to adorn your ceiling with, depending on the style and design of your home. Choose a bold tint for a drastic change, or go lighter for a slight twist on the classic white ceiling.
• Crown molding: A lot of older homes came with crown molding along the edges of the ceiling or door frames. If you were not lucky enough to have this design element built into your home, it can easily be added, making stylish, classic ceilings more attainable than ever.
• Fabric: For people wanting to take the road less traveled, drape fabric for an extra dramatic and luxurious look. Just trust us on this one — it’s beautiful!

A more unique choice can take a room that seems like it’s impossible to transform and do just that; spend some time navigating your choices based on your personal style and personality. Your ceiling can be the focal point, but it shouldn’t clash with the other themes and design elements in your space. Here are some tips for updating the blank canvas right above your head.

How To Level Up Your Ceiling

Your personal style isn’t the only factor that should come into play when choosing a new ceiling treatment option — the room’s vibe plays a major part in whether the treatment will fit or look out of place. You wouldn’t want your room to be muddled and cluttered because of a change to your overhead view.

Wooden ceiling beam planks are an excellent option because they can work well in any room with a modern farmhouse design. It’s a beautiful touch for the living or family room, as it’s a major conversation starter with guests. Or, place beams in the bedroom to create your own cozy cottage.

Foam ceiling tiles or tin ceiling tiles are a beautiful and ornate take on the classic, vintage ceiling design, but are made easier to install. If you’re curious about how to put up foam ceiling tiles, follow these steps:

1. Prepare the surface: Before installing, ensure that the surface of the ceiling is clean of dust, grease, wax or other dirt that may keep the ceiling tile from sticking properly.
2. Find the center of your ceiling: For the most appealing layout, start at the center of the room and work your way out.
3. Apply adhesive to tiles: Flip your chosen style of tile over and apply a generous amount of adhesive on the back. Keep the glue toward the middle to avoid any excess on the tile’s edges.
4. Install the first tile: Find where you marked the middle of the ceiling and stick the first tile to that section. Ensure the tile is stuck properly before moving on to the rest.
5. Follow through with the rest of the tiles: Keeping the edges as close together as possible, install the remaining tiles in parallel rows.

Tiling can look great in almost any room based on the material that you choose. Also, paneling looks clean-cut, which can work very well in the bathroom or kitchen. Consider the current look and feel of your rooms —  or the redesign you’re planning — when deciding on the ceiling that suits them.

How Accessories and Decor Can Complement a Bold Ceiling

Once you’ve come up with your ceiling design, you can choose specific decor and accessories to complement the elevated area and bring more attention to it. For instance, certain wall colors or paint schemes can draw eyes from the floor to ceiling with the right mesmerizing flow.

Decor placement can also make a major difference; consider high mirrors on adjacent walls to bounce light around the room and make the space feel more open. Or, try making a gallery wall that goes from the middle of the wall up toward the ceiling. This will lead a gaze up toward your beautiful new ceiling design and keep the focus there.

Another design tip to try for decorative ceilings is using taller furniture in corners and up against walls. Take a skinny, tall lamp, for example. It’s both functional and beautiful but can also act as an arrow, pointing people’s attention up to the ceiling.

How To Choose a Style That Caters to Your Ceiling

You may look at your ceiling and be a bit nervous to tackle such a big design project. What if your room style doesn’t work well with what you’re envisioning? What if the space’s decor clashes with a dream color you desire to paint your ceiling? While these are important questions, they shouldn’t keep you from having the home design you want.

Transforming the rest of your room to better flow with your ceiling style doesn’t have to be a difficult task. If you’re intimidated by the thought of making this adjustment, but want to get the job done right, call a personal decorator from Decorating Den Interiors. He or she can pay a home visit or discuss ideas over the phone for a consultation, getting a better idea of what you have in mind for the space

After this initial discussion, your personal design consultant will evaluate your interior and develop a game plan to transform your room into a new and improved sanctuary that you’ll never want to leave. We’ll make it easy for you: All you have to do is tell us what you want, and we’ll do everything in our power to make it happen!

Home redesign can be an intimidating feat, but there’s an experienced professional out there who can lend a helping hand. The Decorating Den Interiors team can’t wait to work with you on your next project!

Contact Decorating Den Interiors today to talk with a personal decorator and get started on your project.