Photo courtesy of marthastewart.com
Rooms with great views are one facet of exemplary interior design. Alas, sometimes great views are not possible in every room. What then? For interior conundrums like these that means getting creative with what you do have. It is this thinking that spawned the time-honored interior tradition of the accent wall. And this concept, which has been kicking around in modern design since the 1960s, has been flourishing and elevating the aesthetic of rooms that would otherwise be more one-dimensional.
So, what is this we hear that the accent wall trend has been usurped, and designers are happy to see it go? According to some pretty weighty design industry sources, painting one wall a different color just doesn’t cut it anymore. But instead of feeling down about it, forward-thinking designers and space dwellers alike are looking up! And they’re looking to some more rare real estate when it comes to rooms like bedrooms, powder rooms, and even playrooms; they’re looking to the ceiling for answers—and they’re finding them!
In fact, what is now commonly known as “fifth wall” design, has really taken off, and has remodelers, interior designers, and homeowners ascending ladders to reach greater heights.
Photo courtesy of Ryan Ford for Housebeautiful.com.
Unified Design
So why would you want to “go there”? If you have high ceilings, you may know why. While high ceilings can sometimes have a dramatic effect on the aspect of a room, they can also make a space feel hollower, and less intimate. Adding a wallpaper treatment that extends up and beyond the wall to the ceiling helps unify the space. Lighter colors and simple patterns are recommended for this treatment, so the space remains easy on the eye and cozy to the soul.
Photo courtesy of HGTV.com
Layered Design
Adding a coffered ceiling treatment is among the best choices for architects and builders when their clients ask for a room design with distinctive detail. Taking this application a step further by enhancing this intersecting beam treatment with an intense color, bead board, or a complementary wall paper pattern that is either a traditional or textured paper like tweed or grass cloth in its interior square spaces, turns a subtle ceiling enhancement into a true statement piece that will be stunning for years to come.
Photo courtesy of Laura Metzler
Textured Design
Bedrooms often allow greater opportunities for customization and a sense of curation to take flight in their design. Out of the box approaches, such as draped fabric, are welcomed here and can really add flair, warmth, and individuality to a room in this most personalized of spaces. From gauzy to supple, this practice also provides the opportunity to add pretty or artistic touches if you choose to use unique hardware to add even more visual impact.
Photo courtesy of decorpad.com
Pint-Sized Design
Talk about an example where it’s okay to think small—a powder room is a smaller space where sometimes the biggest ideas can flourish. And more often than not when we’re in an exceptionally well-designed home, it has a powder room that is far from a necessary afterthought. Indeed, considerable thought is now baked into these practical spaces and one way that designers are doing it, is by creating a stunning ceiling detail. Methods include extending wallpaper to the ceiling, contrasting patterned wall papers on the ceiling, using antiqued, mirrored tiles, or by color-blocking with a deep, but complementary paint color to the ceiling. The result is a functional room with a fabulous vibe.
Photo courtesy of cocolapinedesign.com
All-In Design
Color-drenching is a paint application practice that has really captured the imagination and the eye of interior trend watchers over the last few years. Choosing one intense, dramatic color that is then applied not just to the walls but also to the ceiling shows you are all-in when it comes to your interior choices. Striking, intense, and inspiring, if you’re contemplating this look you can always try introducing it into a smaller space like your powder room or home office first, to see how well you live with it. And while the commitment to color in this kitchen seems formidable, that’s also what makes it absolutely stunning.
