When it comes to building or remodeling your dream home, ceilings deserve just as much attention as walls and flooring. A wide variety of ceiling types are available, and they can transform your space’s overall look and feel.
Ceilings Perth are the upper interior surfaces of a room or other enclosed space, often concealing infrastructure elements like plumbing, electrical wiring, and ductwork.
Wood beams can create a dramatic focal point in a room, adding depth and visual interest. They’re often used in homes with vaulted ceilings or to add a rustic, country-inspired style to more modern designs. Properly installed and stained wood beams or faux substitutes can insert a touch of structural elegance to any room, from formal dining rooms to cozy bedrooms.
Beams are usually constructed from solid lumber, but can also be made from a combination of materials. They can be stained to match the rest of the room’s color palette or left natural for a more rustic look. They can also be painted or decorated with extra moldings to add a unique design element.
Wood beams were a traditional building technique when old-growth forests were plentiful, and it was easy to harvest the necessary lumber for construction. Today, we can create stunning wood beam ceilings using a variety of methods and styles, including glulam and engineered timber.
Regardless of the material, inspecting open beam ceilings regularly for signs of damage is important. Wood is vulnerable to moisture and sunlight and, if exposed for long periods of time, can become damaged or discolored. Sealing and staining wood ceilings regularly is important to prevent moisture damage and maintain their appearance.
One way to add a little more flair to a beamed ceiling is to paint them in a bold color. This can be a fun and creative way to add a focal point that stands out from the rest of the room, or it can serve as an accent to highlight specific architectural elements.
For a more subtle touch, you can also add a contrasting wall or other feature to draw the eye away from the ceiling. This will help keep the attention on other features of your home, such as a stunning piece of furniture or a fireplace mantle.
Faux wood beams(Opens in new window) are an excellent option for those looking for the look of a wooden beam ceiling without the cost or weight of solid wood. These beams can be molded to mimic the look of any type of wood and are available in a wide range of colors, grain patterns and textures.
Sloped Ceilings
Sloped ceilings add dimension and warmth to cozy attic rooms, but they can also pose a design challenge. Homeowners should always check local building codes, which regulate how low a sloped ceiling can sit before it’s considered livable space.
In a modern design, sloped ceilings can make a room feel edgy and contemporary. The angled walls create a dynamic backdrop for furniture and decor, allowing homeowners to play with scale and proportion. They can also reveal architectural features that are normally hidden, such as rafters and beams. For a stylish look, these structural elements can be painted to create contrast and balance.
Another advantage of a sloped ceiling is that it can be used to conceal or highlight ducting, pipes, and electrical wiring. However, it’s important to be aware that these elements may show through the drywall, which can make them more visible and affect a room’s aesthetic. Depending on the desired look, this can be an intentional style choice or an unavoidable necessity.
Homeowners with sloping ceilings can create dramatic lighting designs by installing recessed light fixtures, or even a chandelier. However, they should be cautious with pendants or other hanging lights, as some styles are not compatible with a sloped ceiling. They should also use a canopy box to conceal the electrical wires, as this technique will allow them to install pendant lighting on the sloped ceiling.
If you’re using a recessed light fixture, it’s crucial to choose directional downlights, which will point in the right direction to illuminate the room. This is particularly important for rooms with a single slope, as if the downlights are pointing in different directions, the space will remain unlit.
Sloped ceilings can be a beautiful design element when incorporated properly. By keeping these tips in mind, you can fully utilize the design potential of your sloped ceiling and elevate your living spaces. Just remember to keep the lighting and color scheme in balance, as a sloped ceiling can easily become visually chaotic if not carefully considered. By following these simple rules, you can create a living space that feels bright and spacious while still maintaining your personal taste and style.
Ply and Batten Ceilings
Whether in a tray ceiling or as an accent wall, board and batten walls are sure to draw the eye upward. This style of paneling consists of wide wood trim (battens) on top of a plywood backer board. Traditionally, homeowners add the battens to the plywood before adding the board portion but we’ve been known to do the opposite and add the boards to the plywood for a more cost-effective solution.
To avoid a lot of miter cuts when creating the battens, install a piece of shoe molding upside down along the bottom of your baseboards. The narrow part of the shoe blends in with your baseboard and the wider section acts as a flat ledge on which to lay your battens. This makes the process much quicker and easier to complete without the need for a miter saw.
Plywood panels are a great option for creating batten walls as they’re hard wearing and come with the ability to be perforated for acoustic performance. They’re also impact resistant and come in a variety of species.
If secret fixing is important for your project, consider a split batten system that has two separate parts to ensure it stays hidden once in place. This will require a little more planning to set out cut-outs for things like power sockets but it’s worth the extra effort to make sure your walls are fully concealed.
Timber battens can add a sense of construction and stability to a room, as well as helping to insulate the space and keep heat inside. When used in a ceiling, they reduce the impact of noise and timbre shrinkage on the plasterboard, resulting in a long-lasting finish.
In this terrace, timber battens enclose the spiral staircase to limit – but not obstruct – the amount of sunlight that enters the interior courtyard. This helps to keep the interior of the home cool while maintaining a sense of transparency and connection with the surrounding outdoor spaces. Timber battens can also be incorporated into facades to reduce direct sun exposure while maintaining a light and open feel.
Timber Ceilings
Timber ceilings are a great way to incorporate natural wood features into your space, without having to compromise on structural integrity. Depending on the species and grade of timber used, they can last a lifetime with minimal maintenance required.
As a natural material, timber adds warmth and beauty to any room, and its rich textures are ideal for feature walls, cladding, paneling and ceilings. Timber also improves acoustics, which makes it a popular choice for commercial spaces, schools, homes and offices. Timber ceilings are a good choice for open plan layouts and can be custom designed to suit your space.
A timber ceiling can be a great way to open up a room and increase a home’s value for resale. It can provide continuity with other wooden elements in the house, such as hardwood floors and furniture.
Shed, or single-slope ceilings are commonly found in residential homes, but can also be used for commercial spaces. These ceilings are great insulators, providing a desirable temperature throughout the year and reducing energy costs. The porous nature of timber helps to absorb sound and mitigate echoes, making it an ideal choice for acoustic control.
If you want a timber ceiling that’s more visually striking, you can go with a coffered or tray roof design. These styles offer a unique look that’s often more expensive than standard drywall constructions. A coffered ceiling can also add significant value to your home, increasing its resale price.
Tray ceilings are more aesthetically appealing and can be constructed with a wide range of materials. They can be painted to match your shade scheme, or stained for a more traditional look. They’re a good option for smaller rooms, as they can make them feel bigger and more spacious.
Unlike synthetic building materials that may emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs), timber ceilings are natural and have minimal off-gassing. This means they can help to improve indoor air quality, which is important for people with allergies and sensitivities. In addition, timber is renewable and biodegradable. It’s also a sustainable resource, and choosing FSC-certified timber ensures that your project uses timber harvested from responsibly managed forests.
