The design options on the ceilings are as diverse as the imagination of the owner of the apartment or his invited designer. Some prefer drywall for ease of use and the ability to create multi-level structures, others prefer stretch sheets. Each of them can surpass any idea of a colorful, multifaceted design.
Modern eclectic projects, of course, are difficult, but it’s still possible to do it yourself. As for what are the design ceilings, in the article we will talk about this and demonstrate the various options that are at the peak of the trend today.
Role in the interior of the room
The most difficult and at the same time important place in the decor of the room is the ceiling. How often can you see a well-furnished apartment in which something is missing? The design ceiling can solve this problem by focusing on particular details. So, for example, the visual space can be reduced by a multi-level construction made of drywall, while a complex system of rails will allow you to distract the inexperienced eye from, for example, the broken geometry of the walls or the irregular shape of the room itself. There are a lot of options. Of course, do not forget that the design ceiling can become a decoration for the nursery. Those who have seen firsthand the "starry sky" will definitely want something similar to themselves.
Integration with other elements
The designer’s worst nightmare is an abundance of elements from various projects that in no way combine and literally shout about it. Classic furniture with art deco panels, cold minimalism with an old grandmother’s sideboard - there are many examples of such a scenario. The design ceiling should organically fit into the design of the entire room, in extreme cases, serve as its main one.
For example, if a person stands for free space, then it is not worth “pushing” on him with the heavy construction of the ceiling. It is better to use, for example, a light and reliable stretch ceiling of a light shade, highlighting it with additional LEDs to hide the lamps and abandon the chandelier. The designer ceiling made of drywall, in turn, will completely hide all the bumps in the finish.
Choosing the best option
If the owner cannot decide which option he likes best, then it is worth paying attention to a number of criteria, which, quite possibly, will simplify the task:
- The microclimate in the room. It is important to consider humidity, temperature changes, the presence of heating equipment and other nuances. If the customer has no desire to solve these issues, then the most simple solution was and remains a drywall.
- Easy to clean. To wipe dust with a multi-level construction is another task. But to look after the glass design ceiling seems to be a question with an asterisk. In comparison with this, wipe the tension cloth with a sponge or a special rag - this is a mere trifle.
- Stability and reliability. If you hit the drywall simply with your fist, it will crumble, the glass will crack, but the film will hold back the blow. The same thing happens during flooding. When deciding on the design idea of the ceiling, do not forget about practicality.
- Easy installation. One of the key classifiers. Plasterboard ceiling design ideas are easy to implement even with your own hands. But pulling the canvas without a special gun and experience is quite difficult. Mounting glass is also very dangerous.
As you can see, a rather difficult choice is actually due to only a few specific options. Ceilings of design work are almost always expensive, and therefore the choice of a project should be deliberate and comprehensive.
Builder's best friend - drywall
Why is that? The fact is that this material is incredibly easy to use. It can be mounted on a metal profile or wooden battens, to make whole structures and even walls. It is quite lightweight, and therefore you can cope with the installation alone. However, the design ceilings in the house when using drywall turn into a real work of art with many elements, sides, various solutions and, for example, with lighting. The material is affordable, and therefore the cost of the project as a result is unlikely to exceed the planned budget. Separate single-level and multi-level designs. In addition, the “box” of this material serves as the main one for the glass ceiling and for a number of other cases.
Armstrong designer ceiling is a type of suspended structure in which panels are used for cladding. It is mainly intended for decoration of office premises, and therefore it is rarely considered in the case of home rooms. Its installation is carried out similarly to the method below.
The advantages and disadvantages of drywall
The key advantages of drywall are: plasticity, low cost, ease of use, low weight, unpretentiousness. But the minus is only one, but it is extremely significant - fragility. If you inadvertently drop a sheet of drywall to the ground, it will simply crumble and you will not be able to use it. For the same reason, such structures should be avoided if there is a risk of mechanical damage to the ceiling in the room. The customer would be surprised how great the desire of children to try to break through the structure, for example, with a hammer. As for the installation, the designer ceiling made of drywall is quite possible to do it yourself.
A brief example of installation
Suppose, it was decided to mount the suspended ceiling at the same level with incomplete coating of the canvas. In this case, wide sheets of drywall, a metal profile, angles, screws, a level, a ruler, a pencil and a screwdriver, a puncher and dowels will be required. The project is not the most difficult, only brief recommendations will be given below:
- Before mounting the structure, the ceiling cloth needs to be sanded, primed and leveled, it is better to walk with a special compound from the accumulation of moisture and insects.
- The first step is to attach a longitudinal metal profile to the dowels. If the house is new, then there will be no problems with this, but with a more dilapidated structure this must be done carefully.
- After this, the installation of the transverse profile to create a metal base. The process uses self-tapping screws and a screwdriver.
- After that, drywall is mounted, sheathed from the inside to the outside. If the ceiling is not completely closed and a chandelier hangs in the center, then there is no need to make holes for the fixtures and conduct wiring, LED light can be laid later.
- To create a round sheet of drywall, moisten it a little, and then dry it in the proper form.
- After the installation of the main structure is completed, an additional wall of a slightly smaller size is laid on the inside, a kind of pocket for lighting.
- The whole structure is completely covered with putty.
As you can see, the project is by no means the most complex, which can not be said, for example, about the design in 2-3 levels. In this case, experience will be required.
In the reviews, many craftsmen say that the metal profile can be replaced with wood. The design rack ceiling looks interesting, especially if only part of the resulting “mesh” is sheathed, but in this case you need to process the tree and take drywall easier and thinner.
The stretch ceiling is extremely beautiful
It is not just that it is leading among projects in popularity and collects a huge number of admired reviews of the stretch ceiling. Design decisions can be brought to life with the help of modern materials. But to crank up such a project with one's own hand is a difficult and, by and large, thankless task.
Directly the film itself can be pulled and leveled with a building hair dryer, but it will take a lot of time and effort, and the result will turn out to be somewhat faded, especially when compared with those options that were made using a special gun.
Reviews say that in the event of a successful professional installation, designer stretch ceilings are great in any interior.
Advantages and disadvantages of suspended ceilings
The main drawback of this type of finish is the immediate limitations imposed by the material. So, for example, it is impossible to mount a stretch ceiling under the condition of permanently high humidity in the room, since moisture will accumulate and deform certain sections of the film. The same goes for the constant effect of heat. In the rest, the stretch ceiling does not differ in special nuances in the care or operation.
According to the owners, the coating can even help to eliminate the consequences of flooding with the proper quality of the material. The fact is that the film used as the basis for the project is flexible and able to withstand the considerable weight of water, creating a huge "drop" where moisture accumulates. Moreover, if the installation was carried out correctly, then pumping out water, drying the canvas and re-tensioning it will not be difficult.
Otherwise, such a solution is distinguished by beauty, style, ease of maintenance.
Varieties and design options
- Film or canvas. Oddly enough, in some cases they use a fabric base, which implies its advantages and is often the only possible solution.
- Appearance. Matte or glossy finish. The first is suitable as a base, canvas for applying a stencil or drawing with the aim of focusing on it, the gloss is good in itself and is perfect for any interior. According to professional designers, this is a great option for rooms with a small ceiling height.
- Combination. In some projects, the stretch ceiling plays the role of a central accent, while on the sides of it there is a box made of drywall. This is necessary for more comfortable installation of lamps, hiding the backlight. However, repairing a designer ceiling of this kind is a rather problematic task, especially if you need to get to the canvas.
As you can see, there are a lot of finishing options, and important selection criteria will allow the owner to decide what he needs.
Sample mounting card
As mentioned above, do-it-yourself installation is so difficult to do with your own hands, but this does not mean at all that you can remain a layman in this matter at all. So, the process of installing a stretch ceiling is as follows:
- A wooden frame is mounted around the perimeter of the covered area, it will serve as the basis and at the same time the side of the film tension.
- The film is opened and mounted gradually, diagonally, this is necessary to prevent skewing and creases in the future.
- When all sides are tucked in, the canvas is still sagging, removing this effect is quite simple - you need to heat the material.
- This procedure is carried out using a special gun that uniformly raises the temperature over a large area, because of which the chance of getting a hole or stretching on the ceiling is minimal.
- The edges of the wooden structure are closed with special fillets.
Often, the team that carried out the installation will be suitable as the best craftsmen for repairs. As people who face such a nuisance say, the challenge of other specialists is the risk of losing the canvas in general. In addition, such a project is quite expensive.
Glass and metal are a new trend
This kind of design ceilings is the most expensive, problematic, complex and beautiful option for decorating a room. It is used extremely rarely and by and large by those customers who may not reckon with the costs. The project looks like a huge mirror or frosted glass with a stencil applied or internal illumination. Installation takes place in several stages with the installation of a profile, drywall box, backlight. It is difficult to look after such a “brainchild”, but the effect obtained from the admiration of the guests is worth any effort. In some cases, you can cheat a little and make a semblance of a real design decision - just stick the mirror panels on the canvas using a special composition. It does not look so impressive, but simplicity and lower cost often prevail over the impression. Most often, this kind of design is installed in the bedroom.
Advantages and disadvantages of a glass ceiling
A key advantage of a glass designer ceiling is the effect and impressions of it. According to the owners, this design option looks extremely beautiful, especially in the mirror variation and with backlight. However, the design has a number of impressive disadvantages, the main of which is the high cost. The price of such a project will be higher than that of any other, and the replacement of even one panel will turn into an endless "quest". Installing this kind of ceiling is only necessary if the customer is confident in their ability to maintain their presentation and will not clutch their hearts if one of the panels falls. By the way, this is, in principle, unlikely, but still possible (this factor should be taken into account).
The design ceiling is undoubtedly a very interesting as well as fashionable solution. However, its installation must be balanced, financially supported and thorough. Otherwise, the customer runs the risk of getting a headache and significant expenses instead of an interesting solution. Design decisions on the ceiling are just a tribute to fashion, and therefore it’s not necessary to “hurt” them at all.