Sound/Acoustics
Wellbeing

What effect does ceiling colour have on interior design?

Heather Wiggins
Heather Wiggins
April 11, 2022

Without a question, white is the most popular ceiling colour. But does it need to be? Should your next design experiment with different colours? In this post, we'll look at what can be done with colourful ceilings, how colours can evoke different emotions, and how they can alter one's perspective of a space.

When creating a new room, area, or building, there are many things to think about. Both the client's and architect's vision are important, but so too is the practicality of the space.

One of the most significant things to consider when designing a space is its purpose and how it can be improved to make the residents happier and healthier. Often the fifth wall – the ceiling – is overlooked, but it's an important part of the space.

Colours can play a meaningful part in the design of a building. They can be used to make a statement or to influence how people feel when they are in a space. Le Corbusier, the Swiss French architect and designer who pioneered modern architecture, believed that colours were as important as the floor plan of a building.

How can you use colours to change the way people see a space?

Colours can be used to change how a room or place looks. They can make a space seem bigger or smaller and wider or narrower. Different colours can also create different moods. Below are some examples of how working with colours on different surfaces can benefit your interior design:

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  1. If you want to make a room seem bigger, use light colours ⁠— such as white ⁠— to reflect natural light. This will make the room feel more spacious and open.
  2. If you want to make your room feel cosier, you can use darker and stronger colours on all the walls. This will make the room feel smaller and more private.
  3. If you want to make the room feel bigger, use brighter colours or white. This will make the ceiling feel higher. You can also use coloured walls to accent the room.
  4. If you want to experiment with the height of the room, choose bolder ceiling colours. In some designs, this can create a more comfortable and inviting atmosphere by making the room seem lower in height.
  5. You might want to make hallways appear wider. To do this, paint the ceiling and end wall a darker colour than the side walls. This is a common strategy used by designers who want to make a small space appear bigger.
  6. To make a space feel shorter, you can use darker colours on the back wall and brighter colours on the ceiling and other walls.
  7. You can draw attention to one wall by painting it a brighter colour. Keeping the deeper colours in the background will help to create contrast.

Now that you know how to make a space look different, let's look at how different colours can create different effects.

Ceiling colours and how they affect your mood

Colour selection is often left until the end of the architectural design process. This can be a mistake because choosing the right colours can make a big difference to how your space looks and feels.

Choosing colours for your project can be difficult. But using a colour palette can help you choose colours that will look good together and match your goal. Black tiles, for example, can appear gloomy or even overpowering at times, but they can also seem incredibly young and trendy depending on the circumstances.

Before you choose a colour for your design, think about the function of the space. For example, if you are creating an office area, a white acoustic ceiling reflecting daylight and helping to improve productivity might be a better choice than an intense red ceiling.

Let's have a look at some of the common characteristics linked with several fascinating colours, as well as their effects when utilised to create modern and colourful designs.

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  • Green is a colour that relaxes us and makes us feel good. It is also the most pleasing to look at. Green can be used to create a strong connection with nature, which encourages people to take care of it. Keep in mind that green comes in many different shades, so choose wisely when using this colour. Lime green, for example, can be quite strong on the eyes due to the high concentration of yellow in it.
  • Most people equate yellow with the sun, pleasure, and feeling uplifted. Yellow has the ability to brighten and uplift a space.
  • Because red may be an overwhelming colour on the eyes, it's best to seek deeper reds or delicate pinks when using it. Saturated reds can be invigorating, motivating, and empowering, whereas gentler pinks can be calming, reassuring, and delicate.
  • White is a bright, clean colour that can make a room feel bigger and more open. If you want a ceiling that is not too flashy and will not take attention away from the room, white can be a great choice. You can make it more calming by adding a beige tint.
  • The use of black in a room can make it appear exclusive and exquisite. It can also make a room feel more inviting. This is a fantastic hue for restaurants and cafes. However, don't use too much black in a room because it can make it feel claustrophobic.
  • Blue is the most widely used colour in the world. Blue has a relaxing impact on us, and the correct amount of blue produces associations with nature, the ocean, and the sky. Consider blue if you want to create a tranquil environment in which individuals can concentrate and perform.

Are you ready to add some colour to your next ceiling project?

Did we spark your interest in experimenting with colourful design for your next project? Take a look at our Colours of Wellbeing: this collection of colours has been created expressly for you to design the perfect setting that looks as wonderful as it sounds.