A Guide to 15 Types of Ceilings for Your Home

The many different ceiling styles can impact the overall style and feel of your living room, dining room, kitchen, bedrooms, and bathrooms. Here is an overview of fifteen different types of ceilings.

1. 1. Beamed ceiling: A beamed ceiling has exposed load-bearing wooden beams. Some designers install ornamental faux beams on the outside of an existing ceiling to achieve the rustic look of this classic style.
2. 2. Conventional ceiling: A conventional ceiling is made out of the same drywall used to furnish the walls of your room. It functions as a fifth wall, covering the interior structural elements of a ceiling like insulation, beams, and wires. Standard conventional ceilings are usually eight feet high, but some conventional ceilings can extend up to ten to 12 feet.
3. 3. Cove ceiling: Coved ceilings meet a room’s walls with rounded edges rather than sharp 90-degree angles. This can create a cozy, rustic look.
4. 4. Drop ceiling: A dropped ceiling, also known as a suspended ceiling or a false ceiling, is commonly seen in office settings. Pushable panels are laid on top of a metal grid (usually made of wire) over the existing ceiling, making them lower than conventional ceilings.
5. 5. Dome ceiling: A domed ceiling is an arched ceiling that narrows as it reaches the center point, forming a sloped dome shape. You often see exposed beams on domed ceilings.
6. 6. Shed ceiling: A shed ceiling is a ceiling that is slightly angled to one side.
7. 7. Tray ceiling: A tray ceiling has a sunken-in portion that sits a few inches higher than the rest of the ceiling surface.
8. 8. Coffered ceiling: Coffered ceilings contain multiple inverted sections, creating a gridded or waffled effect.
9. 9. Tin ceiling: Tin ceilings are made out of stamped tin. They often contain designs that give a room a vintage feel.
10. 10. Vaulted ceilings: A vaulted ceiling refers to any ceiling that angles up toward the roof to extend higher than the standard eight-to-ten-foot height of average flat ceilings. In traditional architectural design, the term “vaulted ceiling” referred to ceilings with a self-supporting arch. However, the term is now often used to describe any angled, high ceiling.
11. 11. Arched vault ceilings: The term “arched vaulted ceilings” refers to any type of vaulted ceiling that is arched rather than straight. Arched vaulted ceilings feature a curved, self-supporting structure rather than just straight beams.
12. 12. Barrel vault ceilings: Barrel vaulted ceilings follow a simple curved slope from wall to wall, similar to one half of a circular barrel.
13. 13. Cathedral vault: Cathedral ceilings have narrow, sloping sides that are unarched. The straight lines in this vaulted ceiling usually run parallel to the roof’s pitch, creating a mirror-like effect.
14. 14. Groin vaults: Groin vaults are a complex type of vaulted roof structure in which two barrel vaults intersect to form an intricate, curved x-shape. Groin vaults aren’t common in home design and are usually reserved for complex architectural projects like cathedrals.
15. 15. Rib vaults: Rib vaulted ceilings feature a series of exposed beams set along central focal points to create a unique, structural look along the vaults.

Everything about your ceiling down to its finish and texture can enhance the feel of a room. Here is an overview of some of the different types of ceiling textures and finishes.

1. 1. Smooth: A smooth ceiling texture (also called flat texture) is the conventional ceiling finish that often comes standard in most modern homes.
2. 2. Popcorn: A popcorn ceiling has sprayed drywall mud, styrofoam, or stucco bits embedded into the ceiling surface giving the appearance of popcorn or cottage cheese. Popcorn ceilings can absorb noise and are sometimes called acoustic ceilings. However, they are no longer a popular choice in most new homes and are difficult to paint evenly.
3. 3. Swirled: A swirled ceiling has full or half-circular patterns made with a tool like a trowel, brush, or sponge to create a swirled effect across the surface of your ceiling.
4. 4. Orange peel: Orange peel ceilings have a bumpy texture that resembles an orange peel. To create this effect, you spray your ceiling with a spray gun filled with a thin mud mixture then prime it and paint over it.
5. 5. Skip trowel: A skip trowel ceiling involves pressing an angled trowel into your painted drywall ceiling to create an uneven surface that has the appearance of hand-done stucco.
6. 6. Knockdown: A knockdown ceiling texture, also sometimes referred to as Spanish lace, is created using the same method as the skip trowel, except once the trowel marks are made, the ceiling is dried then painted with a different color, giving it a “lacey” effect.
7. 7. Spray sand: A spray sand ceiling has a splatter effect that can be used to cover up ceiling cracks. To achieve this texture, contractors spray a mixture of water and a thin mud or primer onto the ceiling with a paint sprayer.
8. 8. Fish scale: A fish scale ceiling texture is made with tools like a whisk broom to create round, sweeping arches resembling fish scales.
9. 9. Stippled: A stippled ceiling texture is another popular ceiling texture made with a stipple brush to create an uneven surface. Contractors use the bristles of a slap brush (or stomp brush) to create the effect of wrinkling.

Consider the following elements when choosing the best type of ceiling for your new home.

1. 1. Make sure the ceiling style complements your home. Think about the style you’re going for, and choose a ceiling that complements that. For instance, rustic beamed ceilings may not complement any modern elements in your design. Textured ceilings can create a lot of visual interest in an otherwise plain room, but can overpower your decor.
2. 2. Be mindful of budget, without sacrificing quality. Make sure to use high quality materials, even if your budget is limited. Some ceiling materials may be outside your budget, but you shouldn’t settle for something that will fall apart within a year.
3. 3. Consider fans and other existing equipment. Certain ceiling types may make it difficult to install a ceiling fan should you decide you want one. Think about other renovations that you may want to include in your room design later on, and make sure they’re feasible with your chosen ceiling type.
4. 4. Think about maintenance. Certain ceiling textures like smooth ceilings are easier to clean than others like popcorn or orange peel ceilings. If you’re cleaning and maintaining your ceilings yourself, consider the amount of effort you’re willing to put in.

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