8 Photos That Show Why You Shouldn’t Ignore Your Ceiling When Decorating

Sometimes a room can be perfectly decorated, but it still feels like it’s missing something. Maybe the decor style is too by-the-book, or maybe it feels like it’s missing some pizzazz. If you feel like your space needs an unexpected punch, turn your sights upwards to the ceiling. Your ceiling is usually a large swath of white space that you don’t do much with. And as it turns out, decorating the ceiling with accents and wallpaper patterns can really transform a room from so-so to memorable. Check out some ingenious ideas below.

Emily Henderson added a touch of adventure to her kids’ room by creating a tent-like ceiling over their twin beds. Now, her children will feel like they’re camping as they hang out or sleep underneath.

Not only did Liz Kamarul paint the ceiling of her Portland kitchen a bold navy blue, but she then made her lighting fixture pop by adding a crochet cloth around the pendant. Not only does this design move add texture to the space, but it also helped to break up the dark ceiling.

For those who like a touch of whimsy in their living room, follow in Liz’s footsteps and add a cluster of paper lanterns floating out from a corner. They will mimic bubbles, but without looking cheesy.

Do you have a green thumb, or just aspire to live inside an apartment-turned-greenhouse? Then have plants coming down from the rafters. Lara Ivachev’s home in the suburbs of Melbourne has a leafy ceiling accent spanning across the dining room. She used foraged foliage and wound it around a wooden pole that was suspended from the ceiling with chains.

Lauren Liess knew exactly what to do with the slanted ceiling of her living room. She added a rustic touch by incorporating wooden beams across its length, adding unexpected interest to the space.

Do you have immovable ceiling tiles that you feel are an eyesore? Take a page out of Margaret and Corey’s book, who transformed their Pasadena studio into a color-filled space. They painted each individual tile a different color, making the ceiling a centerpiece of their studio.

If you’re a maximalist at heart, cover the ceiling with patterns to make a room memorable. This navy herringbone wallpaper from Clairbella Studio adds a preppy touch to the all-white space.