3 super ideas for your ceiling

Have you ever heard of the 5th wall? Unless you’re an avid fan of interior programmes and design magazines, the phrase may be unfamiliar to you. The 5th wall refers to a room’s ceiling, suggesting it is an extra surface that’s available to decorate.

Most of us are probably guilty of painting our ceilings brilliant white as almost an afterthought but one of the hottest interior design fashions is being more creative with our ceilings.

Here are three ideas for you to try if you want to add interest above head height:

1. Add pattern with wallpaper

Wallpapering your ceiling may sound eccentric but it can be a more subtle way of adding pattern to a room when compared to wallpapering all of the walls. Confining a pattern just to a ceiling may also use less wallpaper - a benefit if you’ve fallen in love with a really expensive roll!

If you’re wallpapering only your ceiling and want the room to look tonal and ‘pulled together’, pick a colour from the pattern and paint your walls in the same shade. Prefer a more punchy effect? Wallpaper every wall and continue the pattern across the ceiling.

2. Play with proportions using paint

There are no rules when it comes to colours for your ceiling, although the usual design principles apply. Painting your ceiling a light colour will push it away and give the perception of grander proportions. A dark colour will create the illusion of a lower ceiling for a cosy, cocooned atmosphere. 

As with walls, you can help bounce natural light around with the right choice of paint. Anything that’s high sheen, gloss or labelled as ‘lumi, reflective or space’ is ideal if you want rooms to be brighter. A matt or chalky finish paint will absorb light and create a muted ambience.

3. Introduce a 3D element

Unless you live in an immaculately preserved period home, your ceiling will probably be smooth and flat. If you look back at the Georgian, Edwardian and Victorian eras, the reverse was true. The fashion was to add ornate flourishes with gypsum plaster mouldings, which was a nod to the lavish Greek era. 

Ceiling details are making a comeback, especially among those restoring heritage properties and homeowners looking to create a classic design aesthetic. Roses that go around the flex of a light fitting, fluted cornicing, plaques, panels and beadwork are available in both traditional gypsum plaster and lightweight plastic. Leave in their natural state or paint to match your colour scheme. Alternatively, use wallpaper that is printed with a moulding detail for an all-over effect.

The 5th wall is an exciting place to start your decorating journey in a new home. If you’re looking for the perfect property to move to, get in touch today.