Types of ceiling finishes

Once you’ve decided on your ceiling style, it’s time to think about the details. Ceiling finishes — including textures, fixtures, and other features — can easily enhance a ceiling, make it a focal point, or tie a room together. From basic to bold, there are options for every aesthetic.

Types of ceiling texture

One of the most effective ways to add depth and design to your ceiling is to use a unique ceiling texture. There are a number of textures to choose from, many of which can be homemade. Some of the most popular ceiling textures include:

• Flat or smooth: The most basic ceiling texture is smooth. This is the simplest and easiest texture to achieve, although it doesn’t add anything extra to the piece. If you want your ceiling to play a background role in your space, a flat texture is a good choice.
• Orange peel: Taking on the appearance of an orange peel texture, you can achieve this splatter look by using a spray or roller with thinned drywall mud. This is one of the easiest textures to achieve, but some homeowners think it looks like a creaking ceiling.
• Trowel: Taking its name from the tool used to create this texture, a jump trowel effect is achieved by using a trowel to apply drywall mud to a surface. There are a wide variety of jig trowel designs, so you can choose precisely the texture you want.
• Tear down: Like a jumping trowel, demountable ceilings feature large patches of drywall mud, but this style is less spaced out. It’s a popular option because it’s both timeless and easy to make, but it can sometimes be tricky to clean.
• Dotted: Also called slapbrush, stippling texture is created using a soft, long-haired brush, moving excess drywall mud into pointed or semi-pointed shapes. It can be a great option for hiding blemishes, although it can be tricky to apply.
• Tourbillon: Also applied with a soft brush, the swirling texture is a collection of circular sweeps of plasterboard, creating multiple circles in a repeating pattern. This creates a unique and pleasing pattern, although it may require some artistic skill to create.
• Pop corn: The textured look of crumbled popcorn can be achieved with a spray or paint over treatment. Although some consider popcorn ceilings, which were popularized in the 1950s and 1960s, to be outdated, the texture exudes a unique style and also has noise-canceling properties.

Types of ceiling lights

Another key factor to consider when designing a ceiling is how you will add lighting to the living space. The design and placement of lighting can dramatically change the mood of a room, so you need to be intentional with these choices.

Do you want to stand out with a chandelier or do you prefer recessed lighting? Perhaps you would like to opt for more natural light and incorporate a skylight instead. Take the time to consider your options and remember how the shape and design of your ceiling can affect your lighting choices.

Types of ceiling moldings

Borders, trims and moldings provide another opportunity to customize your ceiling design. By far the most popular option, crown molding is a decorative addition placed along the edge of the wall adjacent to the ceiling. It comes in a variety of sizes and designs, from a basic thin border to a thicker, more ornate style.