Don't Forget to Pay Attention to the Ceilings in Your Luxury Home Floor Plan

In any new home you think what meets the eye is the most important. But with this thought you leave out approximately 1/6 of all interior space - the ceiling. Ceiling treatments can set the stage for any room of the house, and have grown from the Traditional "popcorn" effect to exquisite architectural masterpieces to add luxury and style to every room of the house. In addition to being decorative, ceiling treatments can also be used for functional effects as well, such as providing acoustic value and to define functions of the room. When building a new home, the sky is the limit when choosing a ceiling treatment.

The shape of the ceiling offers the most dramatic detail, and provides room definition and controls acoustic values. Most ceiling shapes fall within one of five categories. Cathedral, named after the steep pitches of old-time cathedrals, angle upward following the pitch of the roof and connect at a central peak. Consider cathedral ceilings in your luxury home floor plan to dramatically increase the room's volume, making it ideal for gathering spaces such as the living and dining rooms. Similar to the cathedral shape, vaulted ceilings are open and airy. The edges roll upward to a half-barrel shape, and have variations including arched, domed or barrel ceilings. These ceilings require additional budget and planning in order to obtain the most dramatic effect. For a superb artistic effect, coffered ceilings are a great addition.

These ceilings are made with recessed rectilinear panels, often formed of hardwood, and arranged in an interesting grid pattern with regular intervals. Coffered ceilings are well suited for many home styles especially English country house plans. Exposed beams add a touch of rustic style to any open space. Usually placed along with a vaulted ceiling, beams will add warmth and comfort while also increasing the luxurious feeling of log home house plans or even a more traditional home plan. Tray ceilings are constructed with an inverted indentation and sides angling at 45 degrees up to a flat top. A variation of this is the stepped ceiling which features an inverted indentation and sides in a stair-step fashion leading up to a flat top.

No matter what ceiling shape you choose, any type can be modified with accents to further add your personal style to each space. Adding warmth and scope while remaining out of the way, skylights are quickly growing in popularity among homeowners. These additions create clean lines and support minimalist decorating concepts. Both decorative and functional, trim and molding, create extra style while hiding joints. Crown molding is the most commonly placed trim to connect the walls and the ceiling. Trim is available in numerous materials, shapes and sizes to fit all types of décor. Don't stop at the walls when painting - continue on up to cover the ceiling as well. Different colors will allow for different effects, whether going for a monochrome scheme with the ceiling the same color as the walls, or going a bit further for a bold complimentary color.

Edward