Creating a tray ceiling can add drama to your bedroom. We tend to pay more attention to floors and walls when decorating a room, but the ceiling, referred to by decorators as the fifth wall, is a wonderful opportunity to add an impressive touch and highlight your beautiful bedroom furniture. A tray ceiling can enhance furniture with any style, from elegant traditional bedroom sets to sophisticated contemporary designs. The key is to use just the right elements to unify the look.
Tray ceilings are very impressive and serve a functional purpose when lighting is added. Surprisingly, they are not all that difficult to create. And when you add some special touches like interesting paint and definitive moldings, you can create a distinctive focal point for the bedroom and make your gorgeous furniture more noticeable.
- Defining the Look: Tray ceilings are often featured in upscale homes to add an interesting architectural element and make the ceiling look higher. A tray ceiling is similar to a soffit, where the ceiling has two levels. Typically the center level is a couple of feet higher than the lower periphery.
- Creating a Tray Ceiling: You can construct a tray ceiling by designing a box frame for the periphery of the ceiling. To create the look without the bother, you may be able to find special molding and install it a couple of feet below the ceiling.
- Adding Molding: Many people choose to add intricately detailed crown molding to a tray ceiling. The result is a luxurious look that enhances the most opulent home and makes your dcor look more impressive.
- Lighting the Tray: To really make a statement, add rope lighting to your tray ceiling. This indirect lighting will create a soft glow, perfect for a bedroom. Simply lay a flexible tube with small strung lights behind the molding. Or, you can use recessed or track lighting for a more targeted and functional light. Another lighting option is a beautiful chandelier.
- Painting to Add a Decorative Element: There are many options for using paint to draw the eye to the tray ceiling. Metallic paint in copper, gold or silver adds a lavish flair, and glazing and faux finishes create another layer of depth. For high visual impact, try a tromp loeil hand-painted mural of the sky. To keep things simple, just use a deeper or lighter tone of your wall color.
