Ceilings are often overlooked, but they can have a big impact on a room’s overall vibe. They can make a bold architectural statement, hide structural elements, and more.
Paint, moldings, wood, tin, wallpaper, mirrored panels, and more can all add character and dimension to home ceilings. Read on Ceilings Perth to learn more about these popular ceiling design options.
Conventional ceilings are flat and smooth and usually finished with drywall and painted. They are the most common type of ceiling in homes and provide a clean canvas for creative design. They also help regulate temperature, hide electrical wiring, and conceal plumbing. However, there are many other options for ceilings that offer more style and function.
For example, crown molding added at the junction of wall and ceiling can add a decorative touch. Another popular option is beamed ceilings which are often constructed of timber and can lend a rustic feel to a room. They can be paired with a conventional ceiling for a more elegant look or with a vaulted or domed ceiling for dramatic effect.
Cathedral ceilings are a variation on the conventional ceiling that is popular in high-end homes and churches. These ceilings have evenly sloping surfaces that meet in the middle to form an apex and give a grand, dramatic appearance. They can be paired with either a conventional ceiling or a vaulted ceiling and may have recessed lighting or other features like faux beams.
Another stylish ceiling option is a coffered ceiling, which is an intricate pattern that is added to the top of a conventional ceiling. It can be made from wood or other materials and has the potential to transform a room into a room with an airy, luxurious feel. Coffered ceilings can be a focal point of the room and are usually installed in more spacious rooms, such as living and dining rooms.
Some homeowners are also choosing to upgrade conventional ceilings by raising them to higher heights, which can make a space feel larger and more open and can add to a home’s resale value. However, raising a conventional ceiling requires the removal and replacement of structural and load-bearing framing. It’s important to consult with professionals when considering modifying a conventional ceiling.
For a ceiling with texture, some homeowners choose tongue-and-groove planks or shiplap, which are better known as wall siding options, but work well on the ceiling as well. Other ceilings with a softer look include beadboard planks, which have semi-circular raised ridges that add a cottage feel to a home. Beadboard can be made from a variety of materials, but pine is the most common.
Wood Ceilings
Wood is a classic material for flooring and walls, but it can also be used on ceilings. This adds warmth to the room and creates a beautiful aesthetic, especially when paired with beams.
There are a variety of hardwoods that can be used for ceilings, including cherry and maple. Less expensive options like pine can also look beautiful with the right construction and finish.
One of the biggest advantages to using wood for your ceiling is its insulating properties. Due to air pockets within its grains and cellular structure, wood is up to 400 times better at retaining heat or cold than steel. This can help keep indoor temperatures consistent throughout the year, reducing energy costs.
Additionally, the porous nature of wood helps it absorb sound waves, mitigating echoes and making spaces more acoustically pleasant. This is particularly helpful in large commercial spaces or residential areas where noise control is a priority.
Unlike other conventional ceiling materials, which can only be installed in a grid system, wood panels are prefabricated. This makes them a fast, easy to install option that can be fitted in a t-bar ceiling system. This allows them to be installed without the need for patching or drywall installation, which can reduce the overall cost of a project.
Aside from the acoustic and insulation benefits, wood is also known for its strength and durability. It’s a highly workable material that can be cut into different shapes and sizes to suit your space. This means you can create a custom look for your ceiling that reflects the rest of your interior design and still incorporates the best features of wooden ceilings.
While many homeowners focus on factors like wall coloration, furniture, and floors when designing their living spaces, the ceiling can be overlooked. However, it’s an important part of a home and deserves to be treated as such. Choosing the right material for your ceiling can drastically improve the overall comfort and appearance of your space, so it’s worth taking the time to make an informed decision. PropertyScout hopes this guide has helped you gain a better understanding of the different options available and the value they offer for your unique home.
Exposed Ceilings
Exposed ceilings, also known as open plenums, leave ceiling structures like beams, ductwork and pipes visible. These ceiling types are gaining popularity in commercial buildings, especially for their industrial look and increased natural light. An exposed ceiling also allows for design creativity with custom lighting and piping fixtures. With this style, MEP installations become decorative components and not just distribution systems.
Because they are more eye-catching than suspended ceilings, exposed ceilings can help create a sense of space and increase visual appeal in a room. The extra height of these ceilings also makes them easier to cool, allowing hot air to rise more easily – an advantage in warmer climates. However, since there is no barrier to heat loss, a high ceiling can be challenging to maintain during colder months. And because a sound barrier is not present, these ceilings are more prone to echoing and noise.
MEP systems can be a challenge for designers to conceal in spaces with an exposed ceiling, which requires more skill and labor than hiding them with panels. Exposed ceilings may also increase energy expenses because they provide less resistance to heat transfer than a conventional ceiling.
While they do not hide MEP systems as well as a suspended ceiling, a soffit can be an attractive way to conceal these elements. A soffit is the area beneath a ceiling, where you can install speakers, lighting fixtures, fire and smoke detectors and more. A soffit also provides an aesthetically pleasing finish to the ceiling, hiding tubing or unsightly structural features to create a clean and uniform visual picture.
Another type of ceiling surface that is both functional and beautiful, a concrete ceiling gives spaces an interesting texture. This ceiling is a great choice for warehouses or other industrial-style buildings, and it can be combined with other materials to create a unique aesthetic. Concrete ceilings are also easy to clean and resistant to moisture, making them a practical option for areas that must be durable and dust-resistant.
While they are not as common as other ceiling surfaces, ceiling beams can add a dramatic and visually appealing effect to any space. When paired with traditional or modern design, beams can make a space feel warm and inviting. If you’re looking for a more subtle appearance, you can choose to paint your beams the same color as the walls or opt for faux beams made of wood or polyurethane.
Microperforated Ceilings
The acoustics of this ceiling are enhanced by the use of micro perforations in a coloured birch veneer. From a normal view, the holes are almost invisible. The result is a modern ceiling with superb acoustics, perfect for environments such as restaurants and bars.
From a design perspective, these unique acoustic panels blend seamlessly with both existing and planned spaces. The patented angled micro-perforation method optimizes the panels’ surface performance by reducing reflection and sound transmission loss, while also absorbing noise and electromagnetic waves and mitigating heat.
Unlike slotted acoustic panels that reduce reverberation through the use of large holes, this product’s unique micro-perforations allow for a high level of acoustical performance without compromising aesthetics. The acoustic panel is designed with the ability to be covered in a variety of exterior surfaces, including natural wood veneers, vinyl, melamine or standard high-pressure laminates, to provide an attractive design that can complement any space.
Sound absorption occurs when air molecules are compressed and disorganized by micro-perforations in the surface of the panel, causing them to lose energy. The resulting friction between the air molecules and the wall of the micro-perforation creates a jetting effect that significantly disrupts the uniformity of succeeding sound waves.
At low and medium sound levels, the primary mechanism of acoustical energy absorption is through jetting, which happens on both sides of the micro-perforation. This results in significant disruption of the uniformity of succeeding sound waves that travel through the perforation and into the space behind it, thereby significantly reducing reverberation.
At higher sound levels, the primary mechanism of acoustical absorption is fluid friction. This occurs when the ejected air molecules collide with the compressed air molecules of the approaching sound wave. The fluid friction converts some of the acoustical energy into heat, which further absorbs the sound. The result is a dramatic reduction in reverberation that results in improved speech intelligibility and enhanced room acoustics.