When Designing From the Ground Up, Don’t Forget the Ceiling

When it comes to decorating or redesigning interior spaces, the ceiling is often glossed over with a fresh coat of paint and overlooked in favor of larger upgrades to the walls or flooring, but according to The New York Times, the ceiling is sometimes the best place for an eye-catching finish. High-gloss paint can create a reflective statement ceiling with a mirror-like finish that brings in natural light and can make interior spaces feel bigger and brighter.

Metallic ceilings also add light and texture to a room, while patterned wallpaper fills an otherwise empty canvas with art. Even simple additions like wood paneling can create a rustic charm that makes spaces feel cozy and inviting.

For a primary suite in the barnlike addition to one house, Mr. [Douglas C.] Wright chose barn board with knots, to create rustic-looking ceilings. But when he was designing a modern house in Atlantic Beach, N.Y., he chose clear cedar for a more refined look.

“We wanted a warm, soft feeling,” he said, that maintained the home’s sense of elegance. “If every surface had just been white, I think it would have been soulless.”

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