How to Decorate a Tray Ceiling at Home

Paint a mural on your tray ceiling.

The inverted look of a tray ceiling adds distinctive sophisticated elegance to a room. Found commonly in living rooms and bedrooms, the borders of this ceiling type can act as a built-in frame, with the interior serving as a canvass for a number of decorative elements. While a tray ceiling may look good on its own, decorating it allows for a touch of personalization to the space.

Instructions

1. Hang a textured wallpaper in the recessed area of the tray ceiling. For light color wall coverings, paint the interior edges a dark color for contrast. With dark colors, paint the edges a lighter color.

2. Hang a fan from the center of the tray ceiling that extends to the same level as the dropped edges. Use a fan that fits into the overall decorating scheme of the room.

3. Paint an elaborate mural on the recessed area of the tray ceiling.

4. Paint the edges of the ceiling with a decorative border to add a pattered element to the space.

5. Hang a large chandelier from the center of the tray ceiling for a dramatic effect.

6. Place glow-in-the dark stars or shapes around the recessed area for a tray ceiling in a child's bedroom. You could also use glow-in-the-dark paint for a more customized decorating plan.

7. Paint the ceiling with a type of paint that dries to resemble shiny lacquer. Use bold, bright colors for a vibrant look or wood tones for a sophisticated, old-world feel.

Tips & Warnings

• Use your sense of design creativity and style to come up with a custom tray ceiling that matches your exact tastes.

References

• Home Interior Decorating Ideas and Tips: What is a Tray Ceiling?
• Shelter Pop: Cool New Ways to Decorate the Ceiling