Welcome to our guide of tray ceilings design ideas for the living room, bedroom, dining room, bathroom and kitchen.
What Is a Tray Ceiling?
Tray ceiling design ideas can feature many different styles such as rounded design, molding, different paint colors, lighting, wood shiplap, arched construction and tiered levels, just to name a few.
Tray ceilings have been used for hundreds of years, and continue to be incorporated in homes of modern design. Historically, tray ceilings were used both for architectural design and for disguising duct-work before the invention of central heating and air. Now, however, tray ceilings most often serve as a design element.
Types of Tray Ceiling Designs
Here’s a few of the most popular tray ceiling design styles you can find in residential homes.
Standard Tray Ceiling | Basic form with a flat ceiling and a raised central panel |
Cove Tray Ceiling | Tray ceiling with a curved, concave shape that extends from the wall to the ceiling |
Tiered Tray Ceiling | Tray ceiling with multiple layers or tiers that create a stepped or tiered effect |
Box Beam Tray Ceiling | Has exposed wooden beams laid out in a box-like structure |
Recessed Tray Ceiling | Recessed into the ceiling with a raised center panel |
Barrel Vault Tray Ceiling | Ceiling features with a semi-circular or elliptical shape |
Coffered Tray Ceiling | Tray ceiling featuring a grid of recessed panels |
Living Rooms with Tray Ceiling
A large area rug frames the space and provides a way to create cohesion between the furniture fabrics while providing color and contrast.
Dining Rooms with Tray Ceiling
Bedrooms with Tray Ceiling
Kitchens with Tray Ceiling
Bathrooms with Tray Ceilings
This large circular modern bathroom chandelier makes a grand impression and draws the eye up to the illuminated ceiling feature.
How Much Does a Tray Ceiling Cost?
For homes that are significantly past the construction stage, the price is going to be higher. The price of installation in constructed homes will usually range between $3,000 to $5,000
Another aspect to consider is the location of the room in which the tray ceiling will be installed. Tray ceilings are most easily installed in rooms on the upper level of the home. It may be possible to install a tray ceiling on a lower level floor, but this is unlikely due to construction constraints.
What’s the Difference Between a Coffered Ceiling and a Tray Ceiling?
A coffered or box beam ceiling has beams or molding that creates a grid across the ceiling. The grid creates squares using the beams that hang lower than the rest of the ceiling.
While a tray ceiling is a variation of the coffered ceiling, there are a few differences between these two types of ceilings. These differences lie mostly in the design itself, as well as the materials used in each project.
A coffered ceiling is recessed similar to a tray ceiling, but a coffered ceiling has additional design elements. Coffered ceilings have recesses that are designed in such a way to create box-like indentations. Tray ceilings, on the other hand, Have only one recess that runs almost the whole area of the ceiling.
Tray ceilings are typically created using materials such as plaster and drywall. While Coffered ceilings are generally constructed from different types of wood or faux wood beams.
Coffered and tray ceilings do have a number of traits in common. Both ceiling designs offer recessed areas and affect design elements such as warmth and light. Another similarity is that both designs are limited to a degree by the size of the room. While a tray ceiling is limited by physical size, a coffered ceiling is limited in the accent capabilities that can be added in a small room.
How Do You Accent a Tray Ceiling?
Conversely, a metallic paint will give the room a feeling of warmth, which can be helpful in large rooms that otherwise feel a bit empty.
You may also consider painting a mural in the recessed ceiling area. Using a stencil to create an art design would be perfect for a nursery or another room where a mural would be an appropriate accent.
You could also choose to add wood inlay along the trim to add a bit of detail to the tray ceiling. The type of wood inlay will be determined by the style of the room. If it’s a room in a beach house, for example, bead board can be used to fit the style.
You may also choose to highlight the recessed portion of the ceiling by adding a chandelier or other fixture that draws the eye to the ceiling. The fixture will cast shadows onto the recessed portion of the ceiling, making the room seem taller.
What is a Reverse Tray Ceiling?
This creates a very different look than a tray ceiling, and is a bit more difficult to design as well. A reverse tray ceiling needs to be installed in a room with a tall enough ceiling to incorporate the drop, at least ten to twelve feet in height.
A reverse ceiling is perfect for large rooms that would benefit from an increase in warmth. Rooms with high ceilings often suffer from a lack of intimacy and warmth that makes the room feel empty.
A reverse tray ceiling brings a portion of the ceiling down, making the overall room feel smaller. It may be prudent to accent this reverse tray ceiling design by affixing a light fixture to the part of the ceiling that is dropped.
Homeowners interested in this design should consult a contractor to get an estimate and make plans. If you’re looking for a change, tray ceilings can transform the look of your home and give you a unique design.
How To Determine The Depth Of A Tray Ceiling?
The general depth of a tray ceiling is 8 inches to have that perceptible effect, but it can range as little as 1 inch to 12 inches depending on many factors. The following are determining factors to get the best depth of a tray ceiling.
Determining Factors
1. Room Size. Smaller rooms, around 70 to 130 square feet, will look good with a shallower tray ceiling lower than the average 8 inches deep. Larger rooms require a deeper tray ceiling, around 9 to 12 inches deep, for an impactful statement.
2. Assess Decorative Elements. A deeper tray ceiling is recommended when planning to place lighting fixtures and other decorative hanging elements.
3. Desired Effect. A deeper tray ceiling increases the vertical height, which in turn provides an airier feel, a practical effect for small rooms.
4. HVAC System. While a tray ceiling can be used to conceal pipes and electrical wires, existing homes with preexisting HVAC systems can limit the height of a tray ceiling. Consult a professional if unsure if there are existing pipes or wires in your ceiling.
5. Added Treatments. Adding Decorative inserts will need added depth and structural support.
Tips For Tray Ceiling Construction
1. Hide Joints with sealing compound. The edges and seams of the drywall where the boards meet can be sealed to create a seamless joint by using a joint compound.
2. Consider using lightweight materials. Light materials such as gypsum and foam are easier to handle and will have less weight load on the structure. Also, consider metal furring, such as aluminum braces, if needed, as it is lighter while it won’t expand or contract like wood.
3. Use premade components for faster construction. There are pre-built tray ceiling kits and prefabricated moldings that come with a variety of designs. These components will cut time on the assemblage of a tray ceiling.
4. Always plan the lighting before construction. A lighting plan beforehand ensures that electrical work is laid out correctly and lighting fixtures will look seamlessly integrated with the tray design.
5. Use rope lighting for a dramatic look. The long tube of lights is installed along the perimeter of the tray ceiling, which will emphasize the recessed area while giving it a dramatic glow which is great for social spaces and the bedroom.
Tips for Painting a Tray Ceiling
1. Start with the edges and corners of a ceiling before applying to flat surfaces to provide a cleaner and more precise paint finish.
2. Paint in small sections to prevent lap marks. Evenly paint the previous section with the next segment to blend in color.
3. Apply in multiple thin coats, which achieves a clean and smooth appearance.
4. A lighter tone than the rest of the room’s overall color scheme can make a small room more spacious and open. A bold tone, meanwhile, is great for large expansive social spaces that can provide an opulent appeal. An exposed wood texture can also add depth and richness to the space.
5. Understand the difference between the matte and glossy paint effect on your tray ceiling. Glossy paint can reflect light better and can look more opulent than a matte finish. The downside is that imperfections can be easily seen with the reflective finish.
A matte finish is commonly used as it can hideaway imperfections and is easily repainted when needed without showing differences between the newly painted section and the old paint.
Lots of great ideas! I have used embossed wall covering in the tray as well as faux finishes.