Drop ceilings are usually gray and dull.
Drop ceilings are inexpensive to maintain and can be a practical solution for ceilings that cannot be covered with drywall, such as those in a basement or an office building. The tiles' simple and practical design does leave something to be desired when it comes to enhancing your decor. Often gray and dull, drop ceiling tiles can be decorated to add style and color to the room and still maintain functionality. You can liven up your unattractive drop ceiling by decorating the tiles yourself with fabric or paint.
Instructions
Fabric-Covered Ceiling Tiles
1. Remove any fixtures that are mounted to the ceiling tiles.
2. Remove the ceiling tiles from the ceiling. Drop ceilings make this simple. Push up on the ceiling tile and pull it out at an angle so it slips out of the frame.
3. Measure a ceiling tile with a measuring tape. If you have any irregularly sized tiles at the edge of the ceiling that were cut to fit, measure them as well. Write all of your measurements down, along with the number of tiles you have of each size.
4. Cut pieces of fabric that are 3 inches longer and wider than each ceiling tile with sewing scissors. Choose a fabric that will fit your decor and liven up your dull ceiling.
5. Place your fabric (printed or right side down) on a flat work surface, and lay a ceiling tile in the center.
6. Pull the edges of the fabric tightly over all four sides of the tile and staple them in place on the back of the tile with a staple gun.
7. Scuff the metal ceiling frame with steel wool to remove any buildup from smoke or air pollutants and prepare it for paint.
8. Spray an even coat of metal primer over the entire surface of the frame and allow it to dry.
9. Spray two coats of that is suitable for metal over the frame, allowing the first coat to dry before applying the second. You can use a color that blends with your chosen fabric, or try a contrasting color to highlight the division between tiles.
10. Replace your ceiling tiles once the final coat of paint has dried completely.
Stencil-Painted Ceiling Tiles
11. Remove all of the ceiling tiles from the frame and clean them thoroughly with a damp rag to remove any smoke buildup or dust. Allow them to dry.
12. Clean your frame with a damp rag as well and allow it to dry.
13. Lay your ceiling tiles over a drop cloth on a flat surface to paint them.
14. Spray the ceiling tiles with latex primer to seal the surface and prepare it for paint.
15. Paint the front of your ceiling tiles with a paint roller and latex paint. Allow them to dry. Choose a color of paint that will blend with the colors in your room, or choose a neutral tone if you plan on changing your decor often.
16. Lay a stencil over one tile at a time and spray paint over it with a slightly darker or lighter color than you used for the whole tile. Allow it to dry. A color that is slightly darker or lighter than the base color will give the illusion of texture and will add interest to the ceiling.
17.Scuff the frame of the ceiling with steel wool.
18. Cover the frame of the ceiling with an even coat of spray primer that is suitable for metal.
19. Spray two coats of spray paint that is suitable for metal over the frame. Allow the first coat to dry before you apply the second coat. Use either of the two shades you used to paint the tiles, or you can try a contrasting color that highlights the metal frame.
20. Replace the tiles in the frame once all of the paint has dried.
Tags: ceiling tile, ceiling tiles, color that, Drop ceilings, paint that, spray paint, suitable metal