The beauty and advantages of coffered ceilings in home design
It is often that people decide to design or decorate a room in their house and somehow they forget about the ceiling. The fact is that the ceiling designs with molding is an integral part of the home interior and a decoration element that should not be overlooked. We have collected 50 examples of coffered ceilings to show you how a decorative ceiling completely transforms the room and can add a style, elegance and a whole different twist. Such ceilings can be constructed to fit to different design styles – modern, classic or traditional.
In architecture, the term “coffer” is used for a sunken panel in a ceiling. The word has originated from ancient Greek word “kophinos”, which means “basket.” A coffered type of ceiling is a grid of squares or rectangles that is applied to imitate the effect of crisscrossing beams. Usually, after completion of construction, crown molding is applied to the inside of each of the panels to create a richly elegant appearance. The panels can be in the shape of a square, rectangle, or octagon.
Coffered ceilings have been used for centuries as they are a spectacular feature which accents on wealth, elegance and style. Nowadays you can find unique ceiling ideas in many commercial and public interiors – hotels, restaurants, bars, offices, government buildings, etc. These ceilings have found their place in residential design too. It looks good in a large formal room, modern living room, kitchens, bedrooms, home offices and certainly adds a distinction to the atmosphere. Very often coffered type of ceilings are referred to as “panel ceilings”. The panels can be manufactured from various materials – wood, fabric, metal or even customized with laser cut decorations. We shall say a few words on the basic types of the design.
Wood coffered type of ceiling – for one that type of design allows to show the natural beauty of wood. A full ceiling in a coffered design system looks luxury and shows the refined taste of the homeowner.
Coffered panels and wood trim – only parts are covered with panels. You can opt for square panels, or a center oval or octagon. This type of design gives the opportunity to reduce the cost and still look classy. The cheapest and the easiest design is to use tiles and wood trim moldings.
Most popular lighting solutions for coffered types of ceilings are suspended lighting, recessed lights and chandeliers. Some modern designs feature original LED lighting and combinations of different lighting fixtures. If the room has enough height, a large chandelier will be the perfect complement to a ceiling in a coffered design. In large rooms you can install two chandeliers and you will have a double effect. Crystal chandeliers look dramatic and add incomparable elegance to the interior. Wrought iron chandeliers are suitable for rustic decors while modern pendant chandeliers can be used in contemporary interiors. In combination with recessed lights and other light sources you will have not only a beautiful ceiling but you can make it a focal point.
Photo Courtesy of Tilton Coffered Ceilings
