When you’re decorating a room or reimagining a space, creativity can continue beyond the walls. Ceilings are perfect for adding texture or interest — as Dallas designer Philip Thomas Vanderford points out, the space covers a lot of square footage. “It’s a big opportunity to do something and add some detail,” says Vanderford, founder of Studio Thomas James.
In an entryway for the Kips Bay Decorator Show House in Palm Beach, Vanderford’s studio covered the limestone ceiling in a burgundy wallpaper by Porter Teleo; the hand-painted detail of the wallcovering is a nod to frescoes in Italy. Vanderford has also lacquered ceilings in vibrant hues and painted ceiling trim in a contrasting color. “I love a good trim detail,” he says. “It’s a place that is often ignored.”
Designer Lindsey Mathias considers ceilings essential to her approach. “They are an equal part in any space,” she explains. “Spaces are three-dimensional. No one experiences a space looking in only one direction. The built environment is a representation of idea, concept or even a metaphor. It should be cohesive and with intention. If the ceiling plane is not addressed, then we have missed an opportunity to complete our thought or idea.”
That philosophy is on display in a home Mathias designed with builder Coats Homes and SHM Architects. “The ceiling in the primary bedroom follows the lines of the exterior roof,” she says. “Capitalizing on this height allows for tall windows to bring in morning light and views of tree canopies. The wood ceiling was intentionally selected to bring warmth into the space.”
If your space features wallpaper, keep it going overhead for even greater impact. Take this bedroom designed by Laura McElroy with Blue Print Interiors. “When a room is fully wrapped in a beautiful paper from floor to ceiling, it makes the entire room feel more intentional and especially grand,” she says.
McElroy notes that small spaces, such as a powder room, can also benefit from a covered ceiling. “It becomes all the more charming and impressive when encased in a striking, picturesque patterned wallpaper,” she says.
Even if your walls are uncovered, the ceiling is fair game for wallpaper. Designer Abbe Fenimore, owner of Studio Ten 25, created this dining room. “We wanted to add a statement to the room with wallpaper on the ceiling to help soften the vast feel of the space,” she says, adding that the bold print makes the space even more inviting for entertaining.
And yes, it’s an investment to paint or cover a ceiling, but you’ll feel the payoff each time you enter a room. “You never hesitate doing a fantastic rug,” says Vanderford, “or you’ll spend a fortune on art.” Think of the ceiling as one more canvas.