Looking for unique and creative ceiling design ideas? Here are seven creative ways to make your ceiling so much more interesting.
This is supposed to be a serious article about ceiling design ideas.
Ideas that are so clever and so unique and so creative that they give you a crick in your neck from looking up.
But when I sit down to type?
My fingers don’t want to type serious ideas.
They don’t want to prose on about clever, creative unique ideas for the fifth wall in your home.
All they want to do go all old school with Megan Trainor.
Because you know I’m about that ceiling ’bout that ceiling ’bout that ceiling….
….no walls.
I’m about that ceiling ’bout that ceiling ’bout that ceiling.
No walls.
I know.
I get it.
I need professional decorating help. 🙂
7 Ceiling Design Ideas That Keep It Interesting
1. Simple pine planks
This bedroom in the house that I photographed in Alabama has a simple pine ceiling.
It’s such a simple idea.
And yet so brilliant at the same time.
I love the idea of using plain pine planks—but keeping it interesting with different sizes and widths of the boards.
(total aside: you know you weren’t even looking at the ceiling because of that headboard.)
Here’s another ceiling with a similar treatment from the tour of my old house.
The new owners created this amazing porch area reusing wood from the house.
I love the simplicity of the pine.
2. Whitewashed distressed wood
This is the same song second verse option of number one.
Except.
Except the wood has been distressed and whitewashed.
This is the perfect option if you are remodeling an old house and pull down a wall and need a place for all that wood that you want to recycle.
Then make sure you call attention to it with a chandelier like this.
3. Geometric pattern with wood
I know there are Christmas trees in this picture but I had to share this one.
It’s one of the cleverest ceiling design ideas I’ve ever seen.
This is from a showhouse in Nashville that I photographed and I literally gasped the first time I saw it.
My first thought was how amazing it was.
My second thought was that it might involve a lot of dusting.
But I’d be up on a ladder with a Swiffer every day of the week to have a ceiling like this.
3. Stained wood with stencil
Nothing says fancy like this ceiling.
And it’s relatively simple to create.
Just stain the ceiling and layer in a stencil with a different color of stain.
And then find a chandelier like this.
Easy.
Right?
4. Reclaimed wood beams
This study ceiling is from another house that I photographed in Nashville.
The decorator told me that they found this arch in an old barn and had it reconfigured to the ceiling.
If you don’t have an old barn lying around, you could recreate this with reclaimed wood and a lot of patience.
6. Metal ceiling
This was a porch on an outdoor area of a house I photographed and a clever option in the ceiling design ideas encyclopedia.
This is recycled metal from another project.
The beauty of the ceiling is that it was left alone.
They just sealed the original patina on the metal and left it as is.
7. Two types of reclaimed wood
And now?
We come to this.
My favorite ceiling on the planet. It’s two different types of wood wrapped around a trey ceiling. And then? As if that wasn’t amazing enough, they added a third beam in the middle of the center part of the ceiling and added this amazing chandelier.
I photographed this years ago from a showhouse that I photographed. I actually think it’s everyone’s favorite ceiling because do you know how many times this picture has been pinned?
357,091 times.
Psssst.
It told me it wanted you to pin it.
It’s trying to make it to 357,092. 🙂
PS Have you ever seen any fun ceiling ideas? I’m working on a ceiling project and need a little inspiration.
One more for the road
I found this picture from a house I photographed in Alabama.
Every ceiling needs a little red, white and blue.
Ceiling DIY
If you are looking for an easier DIY you can do in an afternoon?
This DIY ceiling that I created with painter’s tape is a fun project.
You can see it here.
I wallpapered the ceiling in our piano room and just love it! These wood options are also wonderful. Really warm up a space!
These are all SO great!! I love the stenciled one!!! xoxo
You're so silly. We must be sisters. 😉 My fave is the stenciled ceiling. The ones with beams are pretty but oh, the cobwebs. Cleaning them sounds like a good job for someone else. And yes, I was definitely checking out the headboard rather than the ceiling with your first option.
Beautiful.
I wallpapered my powder room in grey cloud paper and included the ceiling. What an amazing difference! Also check out Leanne Ford’s teen room in a showhouse in the last Milieu magazine (?). Instead of hanging a chandelier medallion she had a massive medallion stenciled on the ceiling! Wish I had thought of that!
I love ceilings with old wood they are so pretty and noticable. You have some great ideas, thanks and I pinned it.
Karrianne Absolutely love your posts; you bring sunshine to wet, wet California this day. Thank you
You are hilarious, KA. What a serious ceiling post. But truth? I like a very plain ceiling. I don't like my ceilings to compete with my ever-changing seasonal decor. But the best ceiling in these pics you showed on this post? Your bathroom. It's the best one by far, to me.
How fun is that corrugated metal? That would be fun on an outdoor space with wildflowers, old wood table & benches, ok I’ll stop. Wood chandelier (I lied) Have a Supercalifragilistic Day no matter what you do!
These are amazing! I need a pretty ceiling in my life!! Sharing this post in my Mitten Moments this coming Sunday! Have a great day!
Yes of course I have ceiling ideas! I've put shiplap in drop ceilings, beadboard in drop ceilings, and now lately I painted tin ceilings 3 different ways! Let me know if you want more details but I bet you've already chosen your ceiling treatment....