You walk into a room and see monotones on the walls with minimum decor, and look up to the ceiling, expecting a base colour painted on but instead, it’s been painted in a completely contrasting colour with different textures and accessories, and even though it sounds a little absurd, you cannot take your eyes off something so aesthetically pleasing. The existence of statement ceilings can be traced back in history and has gained popularity in today’s living. It adds class and elegance to a home along with comfort and confidence.
“Statement ceilings have become a trend due to the huge involvement of the common man into the interiors of his living space, where they visualise something other than just shimmering chandeliers or fans. There are various types of statement ceilings that one could style their house with, depending upon the budget and the client’s willingness to spend on the material. I always suggest that my clients visualise the unseen beauty of the ceiling as it is one of my prior design elements which stand out well in any setting.” says interior expert, Muthu Krishna.
With inputs from experts, statement ceilings can be economical as well. Good textured wallpapers of your choice along with a majestic chandelier for the living room or small lights hanging from the top, for bedrooms. Geetha Nair, a homemaker, elaborates, “In our hall, walls are a light shade of grey, and we have plants as decor alongwith our old wooden table. The ceiling is a mixture of colours in the form of abstract art. It gives a very lively and comfortable vibe and makes the house welcoming, which is great, because we often have a lot of guests over. Looking up at the ceiling while reading a book after a long day, makes me relax as the colours are bright and add luxury and grace.”
This trend has been widely used at restaurants where the ceiling compliments the theme of the place, and sets the mood, making it welcoming. It has recently snooped into living spaces like the bedroom, and other intimate areas. Harish Unnikrishan, an interior expert, feels that as a designer, leaving the ceiling blank has always been something he didn’t like, and this trend has been getting popular as it brings a vastness to the space instead of a room filled with just furniture. “Wallpapers, of texture and shapes, creeping on to ceilings will be the next thing. With the help of gypsum ceilings, we get to create a variety of statement ceilings depending on the client’s requirement. Mostly, these ceilings are designed in the living area to make it look vast in intimate spaces like the bedroom where certain designs help drive the emptiness away. Cornice in gypsum acts as a good base, and if paired with wooden stripes on a white background, it lends it a simplistic classy look,” says Harish.
There has been a noticeable change in society and people have become more accepting, educated about the nuances of art culture, decor and aesthetics. Shreya Arora, an architect is all for it, “I find it interesting how it’s being looked at as an independent element because ceilings have always been an integral part of spatially creating a certain aesthetic and an overall experience. Statement ceilings have the power to set the tone of the ambience. It’s a great way to be aesthetically dramatic and bold. Ceilings have become a symbol of identity. An example of a statement ceiling we’ve been working on involves an art installation in sync with lighting fixtures to be suspended from the top that runs with the graphic theme of the client’s restaurant and product branding.”
From lamps and baskets to paintings and wooden carvings, ceilings are being beautified and it couldn’t be anything lesser than a treat to one’s eyes!
— Aditi Jayakumar
