The beauty of a home lies in its aesthetics and appeal to the eyes. Modern homes are not shying away from offering these, as the hunger for exquisite interiors and complimentary exterior beautification continues to grow among homeowners.
The ceiling, an overhead surface covering the underside of a buildings roof was not considered as a space where aesthetics could be flexed or nor did it get any special attention from homeowners in years gone by. But today, things are obviously changing.
The interior of every home obviously makes a statement about the personality of the owner; from the curtains, sofas to the paintings and even lightings. However, overtime most people tend to forget the beauty a pleasant ceiling can add to a home, because like the colour on our walls can add drama or sophistication to a room, the ceiling can also transform a room’s look and feel.
Achieving modern designs doesn’t come easily anyway, there are so many vital decisions to take, such as the ceiling height, lighting positions as well as a befitting colour as the era of plain white ceilings are fast fading away.
Adding a drop ceiling to an already low ceiling or even a smaller room does not always paint a good picture. Rather, painting the ceiling with a light colour makes the area appear larger. For large rooms, a dark coloured ceiling could act as the tonic for a cosier feel by making the area seem relatively smaller.
A sure way to get the best out of an ordinary ceiling is by adding architectural features. Wooden beams, upholstered acoustical panels, coffered ceilings, beadboard, woven woods, floating screens, artwork or even a faux finish will always add that extra spice.
Deriving the best out of a roof space is not just about architectural design but also an accompanying efficient lighting. Adding lights that illuminate towards different directions can always help create a special effect in a room.
Equally, a skylight obviously increases the sense of extra space and lets in five times more light than a window of the same size, interior designs believe.
It is important to note that not all parts of a home deserve a ‘sumptuous’ ceiling. Where a room already has a focal point, such as the kitchen, dinning room, the ceilings are best kept plain and light as people in these part of the home already have their attention on their cooking space or food.
A prominent growing trend is the use of plaster of Paris (POP) ceilings which interior decorators say has significantly revolutionised contemporary homes.
POP ceilings have transformed the roof space from a mundane part of an interior to an exciting design element that offers so much for the eye to feast on as it equally adds life to a home from an ascending view.
The first unmatched advantage of a POP ceilings is its flexibility. The ceiling can be easily moulded into any shape, producing several designs such as ornamented designs that add elegance to every home with its classic look.
Among its several advantages is its ability to blend with just about any building; homes, offices, restaurants, hotels, malls and also hospitals with its smooth and appealing finish that can also be painted to compliment the theme of either a bedroom or a sitting room.
Another reason for its preference for drop ceilings is its ability to encourage the use of lighting options for the interiors such as recessed lighting. In addition it hides exposed plumbing, air conditioning ducts and electrical wiring; producing a neat ceiling.
Adding beauty to the interior is the rare ability of a POP ceiling to provide different levels in the ceiling creating a beautiful aesthetics pleasing to the eye.
ODINAKA MBONU
