11 Ways Wallpaper Can Take Your Ceiling to the Next Level
Wallpaper isn't just reserved for walls – used on the ceiling it can change the look and mood of a room
Rebecca Gross
13 March 2017
Design writer and historian. I write about contemporary architecture and design, and I study cultural history through the lens of architecture, design and visual culture. I have a Masters in the History of Decorative Arts and Design from Parsons The New School for Design, New York. My latest book is called "Ornament is not a crime: Contemporary Interiors with a postmodern twist."
Design writer and historian. I write about contemporary architecture and design,... More
Ceilings are not the most commonly thought of place to use wallpaper, given its name, but there’s evidence it has been used on ceilings dating back to the early 1500s. And just like wallpaper, ‘ceiling paper’ in this case can completely transform the look and style of a room, and affect how it feels to be in it. Be inspired by these 11 ways to create a striking ceiling using wallpaper.
1. Colour combo
Choose a paper with colours that complement the palette of the room to create an all-encompassing, harmonious and striking look. In this bedroom, the geometrically patterned wallpaper features the same green colour as the walls and ties in with the navy bedspread. The geometric pattern is also echoed in the Greek key pattern on the pillow.
Choose a paper with colours that complement the palette of the room to create an all-encompassing, harmonious and striking look. In this bedroom, the geometrically patterned wallpaper features the same green colour as the walls and ties in with the navy bedspread. The geometric pattern is also echoed in the Greek key pattern on the pillow.
2. Floor to ceiling
Floor-to-ceiling wallpaper means it usually covers the wall from top to bottom. But in this case, it also covers the ceiling.
Floor-to-ceiling wallpaper can bring a sense of glamour to a room. However, it could be overpowering if a bold, bright or overly patterned paper is used. This light and lightly patterned paper is subtle and sophisticated.
Floor-to-ceiling wallpaper means it usually covers the wall from top to bottom. But in this case, it also covers the ceiling.
Floor-to-ceiling wallpaper can bring a sense of glamour to a room. However, it could be overpowering if a bold, bright or overly patterned paper is used. This light and lightly patterned paper is subtle and sophisticated.
3. Defining statement
In an open-plan area, functional spaces are usually defined by furniture placement and area rugs. In this case, the kitchen is also defined with a graphic pattern on the ceiling.
The black-and-white geometric pattern adds a bold and sexy statement to the kitchen, delineating its area and creating a sense of enclosure. Whereas wallpaper is usually plastered in lengths, here it’s adhered in pieces. Interior designer James Dawson drew the pattern onto the ceiling and then the “wallpaper guys” cut and lay the shapes as drawn.
Take a tour of this house
In an open-plan area, functional spaces are usually defined by furniture placement and area rugs. In this case, the kitchen is also defined with a graphic pattern on the ceiling.
The black-and-white geometric pattern adds a bold and sexy statement to the kitchen, delineating its area and creating a sense of enclosure. Whereas wallpaper is usually plastered in lengths, here it’s adhered in pieces. Interior designer James Dawson drew the pattern onto the ceiling and then the “wallpaper guys” cut and lay the shapes as drawn.
Take a tour of this house
4. Creative contrast
A brightly wallpapered ceiling that contrasts with the rest of the room can create a strong and graphic statement. Here, it’s as simple as canary yellow and white striped paper set against grey walls and a black-and-white rug.
When using vibrant colours, keep them controlled and to a minimum. They work best when the rest of the room is more subdued, so as not to overdo it or dilute the striking effect.
A brightly wallpapered ceiling that contrasts with the rest of the room can create a strong and graphic statement. Here, it’s as simple as canary yellow and white striped paper set against grey walls and a black-and-white rug.
When using vibrant colours, keep them controlled and to a minimum. They work best when the rest of the room is more subdued, so as not to overdo it or dilute the striking effect.
5. Covered alcove
Using wallpaper on the wall and ceilings of a small space such as a nook or alcove can help create a cosier and more enclosed effect. The effect is enhanced in this space, as the both the paper and floor have a geometric pattern and the leather of the chair picks up the tan colour in the paper.
Get past your fear of way-out wallpapers
Using wallpaper on the wall and ceilings of a small space such as a nook or alcove can help create a cosier and more enclosed effect. The effect is enhanced in this space, as the both the paper and floor have a geometric pattern and the leather of the chair picks up the tan colour in the paper.
Get past your fear of way-out wallpapers
6. Colourful canopy
One of the main characteristics of wallpaper is that it is always designed to look like something else – to imitate flowers, chintz, linen, or to add geometric pattern or colour. Here it adds an imitative canopy of flowers to the ceiling. The dynamic look draws attention to the bedroom ceiling, while colours and furnishings in the rest of the room feel calm and relaxed.
When using a vivid wallpaper such as this, keep other patterns low key and furniture simple, and work with only one or two of the colours in broad expanses with the others as accents or highlights.
One of the main characteristics of wallpaper is that it is always designed to look like something else – to imitate flowers, chintz, linen, or to add geometric pattern or colour. Here it adds an imitative canopy of flowers to the ceiling. The dynamic look draws attention to the bedroom ceiling, while colours and furnishings in the rest of the room feel calm and relaxed.
When using a vivid wallpaper such as this, keep other patterns low key and furniture simple, and work with only one or two of the colours in broad expanses with the others as accents or highlights.
7. Subtle ceiling
This bedroom is very similar, with colourful wallpaper on the ceiling, but it’s much more subtle and understated. Here, it adds visual interest to a bedroom that is otherwise white with warm timber floors. In a minimalist room like this, add small pops of colour with pillows, artwork and decorative features that pick up the colours in the paper.
Browse more kids’ bedroom ideas
This bedroom is very similar, with colourful wallpaper on the ceiling, but it’s much more subtle and understated. Here, it adds visual interest to a bedroom that is otherwise white with warm timber floors. In a minimalist room like this, add small pops of colour with pillows, artwork and decorative features that pick up the colours in the paper.
Browse more kids’ bedroom ideas
8. Custom design
A custom wallpaper design on the ceiling of this bedroom is perfectly in keeping with the mood and feel of the room. It was created using Luxe Walls – a self-adhesive wallpaper that can be printed to a standard or custom design. And being removable and changeable means you can switch up your ceiling aesthetic whenever you like.
A custom wallpaper design on the ceiling of this bedroom is perfectly in keeping with the mood and feel of the room. It was created using Luxe Walls – a self-adhesive wallpaper that can be printed to a standard or custom design. And being removable and changeable means you can switch up your ceiling aesthetic whenever you like.
9. Lively laundry
The light and airy paper on the ceiling in this laundry is anything but mundane. With birds and cloud imagery, it imitates the sky and creates a sense of spaciousness and movement in the room. This isn’t necessarily a paper to be used in a living space, but it works to great effect in a utility room, wet room or a space with no windows where it can brighten and lighten the mood of the room.
The light and airy paper on the ceiling in this laundry is anything but mundane. With birds and cloud imagery, it imitates the sky and creates a sense of spaciousness and movement in the room. This isn’t necessarily a paper to be used in a living space, but it works to great effect in a utility room, wet room or a space with no windows where it can brighten and lighten the mood of the room.
10. Light effects
The combination of a wallpapered ceiling and a statement pendant light creates an illuminating effect at the entrance of this home. The paper is monochromatic with a darker background and lighter geometric pattern. When the light shines on it, the pattern reveals itself even more. Experiment with the combination of pendant and paper to see how this look could work for your space.
The combination of a wallpapered ceiling and a statement pendant light creates an illuminating effect at the entrance of this home. The paper is monochromatic with a darker background and lighter geometric pattern. When the light shines on it, the pattern reveals itself even more. Experiment with the combination of pendant and paper to see how this look could work for your space.
11. Solids and stripes
This pretty-in-pink bedroom is saturated with light pink, set off by the thick white stripes on the ceiling. The striped paper provides a visual break from all that pink, while enhancing rather than disrupting the look and feel of the room. The choice of thick stripes rather than thin stripes adds interest and a visual rest without overdoing the effect.
Tell us
Do you have wallpaper on the ceiling of your home? Upload a picture to the Comments section below.
More
Browse more interior design ideas
This pretty-in-pink bedroom is saturated with light pink, set off by the thick white stripes on the ceiling. The striped paper provides a visual break from all that pink, while enhancing rather than disrupting the look and feel of the room. The choice of thick stripes rather than thin stripes adds interest and a visual rest without overdoing the effect.
Tell us
Do you have wallpaper on the ceiling of your home? Upload a picture to the Comments section below.
More
Browse more interior design ideas
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https://www.hyggeandwest.com/collections/wallpaper
Thank you, Gemma. Very much appreciated!
SAVE THE BOXES your ceiling wallpaper arrived in! Professional's Tip: It will make a perfectly sized tool for hanging the wet paper.
Remove one long side of box and add a length of rope or webbing/strap attached to both small ends (aka: the top & bottom of shipping box) long enough so the box can hang horizontally from installer's neck with the missing side up. Place 1 dampened strip of bookmatched paper zig-zag folded into in the box (almost like some facial tissues are packed); climb ladder/platform; start placing leading edge of paper at top of wall, square up to marked plumb line, then gradually work your way towards the floor easing the paper out of the box as needed.