From Bland to Grand: Transform Your Ceiling with 3 Design Ideas

Ceiling design is becoming more prominent with the use of colours, suspended ceilings, and different surfaces and materials. Explore different design tips on how to create a ceiling that not only enhances the look and feel of your space, but also improves the well-being of the occupants.

Lysgården Office, Norway

Ceiling: The key to a great interior design

Interior design is a dynamic and rewarding field. It involves bringing a specific vision to life while meeting the needs and expectations of the customer. While this process can be challenging and even frustrating at times, the end result of a successful collaboration is truly excellent design. As Tony Stavish of A.W. Stavish Design said, ‘The key to great design is capturing the spirit of the client and the essence of the space.’

One area that is often overlooked in interior design is the ceiling. However, according to Stephen Fanuka, a contractor based in New York City, the ceiling should not be ignored. In fact, Fanuka refers to it as the "fifth wall" in a room. It is interesting to think of the ceiling in this way, as it provides another dimension for creative expression and becomes a canvas for design.

As a result, we are seeing a trend towards bold ceiling design solutions — whether through the use of colour, refined suspended ceilings, different surfaces and materials, or in specific room types. Deb Barnes, the Director of Interior Design at HGA Architects and Engineers, an American design firm, says that the ceiling plane can “really influence the fit and feel of a space when used as a design element.”

It is fascinating to see the evolution of the ceiling as an important element in interior design.

A beautiful ceiling is more than just meets the eye

While a ceiling can be a standout design element in its own right, it can also serve a functional purpose. As a large part of the interior space, the ceiling is an ideal location to focus on achieving optimal lighting, acoustics, and indoor climate in order to create a healthy and comfortable environment. A functional and beautiful ceiling design can be just as stunning as any other work of art and contribute to the overall success of the design.

SEB 2011
Copenhagen, Denmark
SEB Bank & Pension
Lundgaard & Tranberg Arkitekter, København, Denmark
Mono
Office

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The key to great design is capturing the spirit of the client and the essence of the space

Tony Stavish

Interior Designer

3 Tips to Transform Your Ceiling into a Show-Stopping Focal Point

Let’s have a look at some interesting ways that you can turn your ceiling design into a beautiful and modern visual finish.

1. Don’t be afraid to add some colour

When people think of commercial ceilings, they often envision a standard white suspended ceiling. However, incorporating colour into a ceiling design can be a powerful element in the overall interior design scheme. Unfortunately, the ceiling is often an afterthought in the design process. This leads to a lack of coordination with other elements in the space. To avoid this, it is important to consider colour choices for the ceiling early in the development process in order to find the perfect balance of function and effect.

Working from a colour palette can be helpful in choosing coordinated colour schemes for a modern ceiling design. For example, the Meininger Hotel in Amsterdam features an exposed open plenum design with a colourful ceiling inspired by Vincent van Gogh's Sunflowers. This dynamic space, which uses Rockfon Contour® baffles in the lobby, serves as a great example of how a colourful ceiling can enhance the overall feel of a space.

_{Image: The Meininger Hotel, Amsterdam}

Meininger Hotel,The Netherlands,Amsterdam,Christian Sandor Tschersich,LAVA Architecture,Rockfon Contour,Ac-edge,Chicago Metallic™ T24 Hook 2850

If you are interested in bringing colour into your ceiling design, we have curated 34 exclusive colours for acoustic ceilings and wall solutions to inspire and enhance your interior design. Be sure to check it out for more ideas on how to bring your ceiling design to life using colourful tiles.

2. Take Advantage of High Ceilings in an Open Plenum Design

The open plenum design trend has gained popularity for its eco-friendly architecture. It helps reduce energy costs and lowers the price of building construction. This design style is often associated with creativity and originality. This is due to the fact that it exposes functional elements of a building rather than hiding them behind a ceiling.

While open plenum design can create a visually spacious room with high ceilings, it also exposes hard surfaces, which can negatively impact the indoor acoustics and the comfort of the occupants. Hence, to maintain an open look, it is a good idea to use acoustic panels or islands.

One example of an open plenum design paired with a stylish interior is the Rockwool GBS Office in Warsaw. To create a calming and welcoming interior, the designer incorporated biophilic elements and pastel colours such as natural green, sky blue, turquoise, warm sand yellow, and pastel pink.

The furniture is upholstered in soft fabrics, adding to the overall soothing atmosphere of the space. This combination of biophilic elements, pastel colours, and pleasant fabrics has a positive impact on the well-being of the employees who work there.

_{Image: ROCKWOOL GBS Office, Warsaw}

Corridor in Rockwool GBS - biuro w Warszawie in Warszawa Poland with Rockfon Eclipse, Rockfon Lamella and Rockfon Color-all, A-Edge

We offer an innovative and aesthetically pleasing frameless acoustic ceiling island solution. Rockfon Eclipse^® Customised comes in an unlimited variety of shapes, providing unique design freedom to inspire and enhance your interior design scheme.

3. Make a Statement with Monolithic Ceiling Design

Monolithic architecture, which involves constructing a building or structure from a single block of stone, has seen a resurgence in popularity in recent years. This design style, which can be traced back to the Neolithic period, seeks to integrate the exterior and interior of a building into a cohesive whole. Examples of modern monolithic architecture include Le Baron Vert in Osaka by Phillippe Stark, the Royal Library in Copenhagen by SHL Architects, and the Messner Mountain Museum Corones in Bolzano by Zaha Hadid.

While monolithic architecture can be visually striking, it is known for its poor acoustics due to the presence of reflective surfaces. However, there are ways to achieve the seamless appearance of monolithic architecture while also improving acoustic performance.

You can really influence the fit and feel of a space when you use the ceiling plane as a design element.

Deb Barnes

Director of Interior Design with HGA Architects and Engineers

The Novo Nordisk headquarters, designed by Henning Larsen Architects, is a circular building inspired by the shape of insulin molecules. The building's curved design required flexible building materials, and Rockfon® Mono® Acoustic was chosen for both the vertical and horizontal surfaces. This allowed for the creation of continuous surfaces that tie the room together and provide both outstanding acoustic comfort and seamless, stunning visuals.

_{Image: Novo Nordisk Headquarters, Bagsværd}

Big pharmaceutical office in Copenhagen, Denmark, Rockfon Mono Acoustic, Industrial, Henning Larsen Architects, MTHøjgaard, Svend Christensen

Check out this innovative seamless acoustic ceiling solution. It is a must-have for all architects and designers involved in monolithic building designs.

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If you haven’t heard of Rockfon, we’re doing it right. We’re the world’s leading acoustic company – and our mission is to keep things quiet.

Our noise-absorbing systems, ceilings and walls soften everything from loud machinery to bubbly conversations. And they’re not just comfy to the ear, they’re beautiful, durable and protect against fire. All so that we humans can think, rest and enjoy life more. Sounds beautiful, right?

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