Ceiling Styles: What Are Your Choices?

The ceiling may be the last place you think deserves attention when building your new home, but choosing a ceiling style is an important decision a homeowner shouldn’t forego when deciding on a house plan or making modifications. Not only does choosing a ceiling style enhance the aesthetics of the room, but it also can create an optical illusion to make the room seem larger and more open without raising the ceiling height. Here are some great ceiling options to consider as you browse through our house plans:

Vaulted Ceilings

This option is one of the most popular choices among these ceiling styles. A vaulted ceiling describes an arched form of ceiling that is generally comprised of a height greater than 8’ to 10’. Its attractive appeal is that vaulted ceilings lift up the room, causing an immediate expansion of the feel of the space. Trusses are commonly used to shape a vaulted ceiling, but materials like stone, reinforced concrete, brick, or wood also pull off the look.

Vaulted ceilings are a category of ceilings, with barrel vault ceilings being among the most popular vaulted choices. Its semi-circular arched appearance reflects that of a barrel cut in half and placed as a ceiling. They offer a traditional simplicity that is typically found in main rooms or a hallway. If you’ve already found a house plan you love and want to add a vaulted ceiling, you can learn more on our blog about the cost of adding a vaulted ceiling to your home

Cathedral Ceilings

Often categorized as vaulted ceilings, cathedral ceilings have a higher point or pitch, with two equal sloping sides that meet in the middle of the room and conform to the shape of the roof. This style allows the room to open up to the highest possible point, making it feel more open and spacious. In addition to visual appeal, the Cathedral ceiling calls for a series of taller windows, allowing for an abundance of natural sunlight to flood the space or room they occupy. This style definitely works best in great rooms, bedrooms or formal living rooms.

Tray

Another popular choice is the tray ceiling. It is a conventional ceiling with a 6” deep cutout extending upward to make it look like a tray. Its shape is often rectangular or an angled square. It is an excellent artistic feature that leaves room for customization, such as an accent paint job, different types of molding, or unique lighting. Tray ceilings are great for bedrooms, dining rooms, and bathrooms.

Coffered

Coffered ceilings look like a series of mini tray ceilings covering the entire ceiling in one room. The pattern is usually a square or rectangular grid. Coffered ceilings add a sophisticated touch to rooms like the kitchen, bedroom or living room.
 

Conventional

Found in most homes, conventional ceilings are typically 8’ or 9’ in height and deliver a flat, simple, or textured design, much like the walls. They are the easiest to build and are functional for any room in the home. Conventional ceilings can be a blank canvas, giving you the ability to let your creativity within the space run wild.

 

Dropped

The most popular style for a basement is dropped ceilings; they hang below the primary ceiling. Dropped ceilings consist of a metal grid on which the tiles are suspended. They work well for basements because installation is easier to install and more affordable than when added to the original ceiling. Adding a touch of paint could definitely transform this type of ceiling and set the tone for decorating the rest of the room.

Beam

Beam ceilings use exposed beams laid across a conventional ceiling to add depth and dimension. Typically found in Modern Farmhouses, Mountain Rustic, or Lake Home Designs, beam ceilings highlight a rustic feel but can also be made with various materials, such as metal, to add a modern vibe to the room. Beam ceilings are a great living room, bedroom, or kitchen addition. 

With so many ceiling styles and choices, the ceiling structure can add so much value to the home and beauty to the room and set the tone for the remainder of the living space. This choice should be considered carefully when designing your dream home, and, as always, if you’ve finally found the one but need to make a few changes, we are able to modify any of our 21,000+ House Plans.

As you explore various house plans with endless ceiling choice options, take note that every house plan in our collection can be modified through our Modifications Services. If you find the perfect house plan but have a preferred ceiling choice in an area, you can request to make changes with our modifications team. We want your home to be exactly what your family wants and needs. Find more information about how the customization process works HERE.