Inexpensive Ceiling Treatments
Ceilings are often the most forgotten and overlooked parts of the house, yet the impact of a decorated ceiling is enormous. By adding texture or color to the ceiling, you can easily transform a plain room into one that's warmer and more creative. You do not have to spend lot of money to decorate a ceiling, either. Choosing modestly priced materials and doing the work yourself is economical, and your small (or big) but inexpensive changes will go a long way.
Paint
Paint is probably the easiest, quickest and least expensive ceiling treatment. White ceilings look forgotten and add nothing to a room. Designer Christopher Lowell recommends choosing a wall color from the middle of a graduated paint swatch, then using the color that is "two shades lighter for the ceiling if it's under 9 feet high or one shade darker than the wall color if it's over 9 feet."
Faux Finish
Faux (which means imitation or fake in French) finishes are another inexpensive way to add interest to your ceiling. You can create faux finishes by using painting techniques that result in a finished surface that may resemble wood grain, aged wood, metal or plaster. If you use a faux finish on the walls, such as a Venetian plaster look, let it continue over the ceiling, perhaps in a lighter shade, to prevent breaking the illusion. With plain, painted walls, faux finishes, such as antiqued faux gildings, can make a big romantic or dramatic statement, especially if paired with a beautiful light fixture.
Fixtures
Interior designer Patricia Gray recommends dressing up ceilings with medallions. While they used to be handcrafted from plaster, plastic versions are now widely available in big box hardware stores, lighting stores and online stores. They're easy to install with adhesive and once painted, you can hardly tell they're plastic. Light fixtures, too, help to make a statement. Utilitarian contractor lights are just that, utilitarian. Many attractive light fixtures are now available in lots of styles and for a modest cost, they make a big impact.
Moldings
Moldings add architectural interest. In addition to crown molding that follows the perimeter of the room, other inexpensive moldings can be installed flat against the ceiling in a variety of patterns, such as a honeycomb pattern, which Patricia Gray suggests.
Paneling
Expensive paneling lends a distinguished formal look. For a budget-friendly alternative, you can use bead board, either painted or varnished, to achieve a Victorian or country look.
Tin Panels
This Old House magazine suggests using pressed tin ceiling panels. Embossed in a variety of designs, they can be simple or ornate and come in 2-by-2 feet panels with overlapping edges, which you nail to furring strips mounted on the ceiling. Though they are an old-fashioned ceiling treatment, you can mix them with modern elements for an eclectic look. They tend to look better on high ceilings. If you like the look of the tin, all you need to do is coat them with clear polyurethane. However, pressed tin ceiling panels also come pre-painted or you could always paint them yourself.
Tags: ceiling panels, ceiling treatment, Ceiling Treatments, faux finishes, Inexpensive Ceiling, Inexpensive Ceiling Treatments