Interior decor enthusiasts are always seeking new ways to design beautiful homes. Sometimes this means looking to the future. But other times, this means looking at the past and combining the old with the new.
Currently, this is what seems to be happening with statement ceilings. People are taking advantage of old ideas to turn their rooms into works of art.
In this article, we will guide you through the process of designing and fashioning a statement ceiling in your mobile home.
What’s up?
Believe it or not, statement ceilings are back big time. You might have missed the headline, but they’ve risen significantly in popularity since 2017. For example, in that year, Pinterest noted that searches and saves about statement ceilings went up by more than 310%.
And they are still trending in 2020!
Many design experts speculate that their newfound favor might be at least partly the result of a backlash against minimalist trends. Some people are looking for a bit more decoration and ornamentation with their lives.
By decorating your ceiling, you can get this extra layer of ornamentation without necessarily having to buy more furniture or knickknacks.
Think of your mobile home’s ceilings as the fifth wall in every room. A wall that has largely been neglected since the 1940s when new Modernist’s styles took the forefront. It’s an empty canvas that you can do with as you wish.
Working with mobile home ceilings
But there are some limitations to what you can or should do with your ceilings, especially in a mobile home.
Firstly, decorating ceilings can be a tricky, time consuming, and costly process. So you definitely want to know what you are getting yourself into before you start.
Secondly, due to all of the above, it can be difficult to remove or reverse any changes you make. You need to be sure of what you want to achieve and what its effects will be on the space.
Remember that any renovations you make can play a role when you’re trying to sell or rent out your mobile home. In either of these cases, you probably don’t want to make changes that are too radical. Or at least, if you do make extreme changes, stick with ones that are easy to reverse.
On the other hand, a well-designed ceiling can add to the total value of the property. And it could even be that one, unique aspect that helps the mobile home stand out from the pack.
In addition to these considerations, there are some potential pitfalls in terms of the structure of the building. While many manufacturers might give you the options to customize your mobile home’s ceiling height, most models come with a ceiling height of 8 to 9 feet.
Generally, nine feet is considered the standard for site-built properties.
However, some mobile home models come with ceilings as low as 7 ft. 6 in. This can make rooms feel small and cramped. In these cases, you need to be more careful about making any changes or additions to the ceiling.
You also need to be mindful of how much weight your ceilings can bear and how that weight should be spread out.
The do’s and don’ts of creating a statement ceiling
As with any interior decor project, you want to let your creativity run wild. But within certain bounds. There are some rules you should stick with if you want to get good results.
To start, we will look at the do’s first and then move on to the don’ts.
The do’s
Here are the basic rules you want to follow when creating a statement ceiling.
Do stick with a color palette
Rule number one – try to work within a color palette.
Statement ceilings contain the word statement in for a reason. Their effect can be significant. You can use them to brighten up a room, add interest, and provide some glamour. But note that they can also make a space appear darker, cluttered, and loud.
To avoid making your room garish, you should make sure that your proposed statement ceiling works well with all the existing colors.
This doesn’t mean it has to be the same shade, but your shades shouldn’t clash. Here is a handy guide to choosing fantastic color combinations.
Do match your ceiling to the walls
One option that often works brilliantly is to paint the ceiling the same color as the walls. You can even use the exact same paint. However, it usually works better if you use a similar base color but select a different tone, tint, or shade.
In short, you get different tones of a color by mixing in grey. You produce multiple tints by mixing in white. And you get shades by combining the color with black.
For example, if the wall of the room is blue, you can paint the ceiling with a different tint by choosing a pastel blue.
Do take your time
If we’ve said it once, we’ve said it a thousand times. Don’t rush into this. This isn’t the type of upgrade you want to make on a whim. Instead, you should plan what you want to do and how you are going to do it.
Plus, getting a second opinion can be quite beneficial.
The don’ts
These rules aren’t all necessarily hard and fast. If you want to break some of them, you can. But you should do so with care.
Don’t add too much weight
Overall, this is the most important rule to follow. If you don’t follow it, the results could be disastrous. The ceiling and roof could cave in, and you and your family might be hurt in the process.
There are a variety of additions that can make your ceiling heavier. For example:
- Molding
- Chandeliers
- Dropped ceilings
- Mirrors.
If you plan on making change that includes one of these elements, check how much weight your mobile home’s ceiling can handle and where the supports are.
Don’t compromise the structural integrity
This guideline goes hand in hand with the one above. And the consequences of breaking it are also similar.
Like site-built buildings, mobile homes have support walls and beams that help keep them standing. And if you mess with these supports, the whole structure can come tumbling down. Or at least parts of it can.
You want to work with these supports if you intend to make any additions to your home. Otherwise, you will need to add to the home’s support structure to compensate for the changes.
Don’t make your rooms feel cramped and small
Another thing that you want to avoid is making the room in question feel smaller and the ceiling seem lower. Generally, this detracts from the atmosphere and appearance of a home, especially if the mobile home is already on the compact side.
There are a number of additions to the ceiling that can make this happen. They include the following:
- Covering the ceiling with something thick.
- Adding anything that hangs or protrudes from the ceiling.
- Creating a dropped ceiling.
Don’t paint your ceiling with colors that are too dark
All in all, this is the rule that is the most bendable.
Usually, painting a ceiling darker will make a room appear smaller. As discussed above, this typically isn’t a good move.
But there are some exceptions. People have achieved incredible statement ceilings by using darker colors in the right way. You can make a room feel more cozy and magical by, for example, creating a starry night sky with black paint and fiber optics.
Most of the time, this works best in bedrooms and home theaters.
Creating different types of statement ceilings
You might be asking yourself, what’s all the hype? How much can you do to decorate your ceiling?
Well, there are hundreds of proven methods out there that you can try out. Here we will cover the basics of how to create some of the top types of statement ceilings.
Most of these will be suitable for the majority of mobile homes. But it’s still best to study the plans for your house carefully if you are going to make any extensive changes. It is also advisable to consult a professional if you don’t have experience in this area.
Add some height
One of the most significant changes you can make to a ceiling is to raise its height.
There are several ways you can do this. All of them require some extensive modifications, and hence, planning. Besides this, they generally require the services of a structural engineer. Even then, raising a ceiling is not always possible in a mobile home unless you want to raise the roof.
Hacks to get the look
Luckily, there are easy hacks you can try to create the illusion of height.
- Use vertical patterns on the walls.
- Install taller windows.
- Paint the ceiling a bright, glossy white.
- Hang your curtains as high up on the walls as you can.
- Install canister lights that point upwards to the ceiling.
- Paint the walls with an ombre design, which becomes lighter as you move upwards.
Wallpaper your ceiling
Applying wallpaper is not as easy as it looks. And it can be even trickier when you are sticking it to your surface upside down. But it is a low-weight solution that can look amazing once it’s up.
Method:
1 – Cover the floor and furniture with plastic sheets and tape.
2 – Remove any fixtures from the surface.
3 – Measure the ceiling and cut the wallpaper into strips of the right size.
4 – Follow the manufacturer’s instructions to mix the paste.
5 – Apply evenly to the back of the paper and then “book” it. This involves folding the paper on itself and letting it sit for five minutes.
6 – Next, you can start hanging the paper, piece by piece. Overall, this is the most challenging part. Therefore, you will need to get a friend to help you. Your friend can hold up one end of the paper while you stick the other end to your surface. Smooth over each section as you apply it.
7- Finally, when all the sections are hung, you can flatten the seams where they overlap.
Hacks to get the look
Once again, there are some hacks you can try if hanging wallpaper seems like too much effort.
- Apply self-adhesive decals or stickers.
- Use stencils to paint patterns on the ceiling.
- Stick pages of a newspaper or book to the surface for a bookish aesthetic.
A fresh coat of paint
Generally, one of the cheaper and easier options is to simply apply a coat of paint to the ceiling. Painting the surface with a solid block of color is a tried and tested method. But if you are very artistic or have some artistic contacts, you can even turn the ceiling into a mural.
Method:
1 – First, you should remove any fixtures or trim from the ceiling.
2 – Next, use plastic sheets and tape to cover up the floor and furniture in the room. You should also try to cover the edge of the wall where it meets the ceiling.
3 – Dust off the ceiling and clean off any debris with soap and water. Sand down any rough areas.
4 – Fill any cracks or holes in the ceiling.
5 – Apply primer over the entire surface. Doing this means that you usually won’t have to apply more than one coat of paint.
6 – Start painting the edges and corners with a paintbrush.
7 – Once this is done, you can load your roller and paint the surface in sections. It usually works best to use a roller with a long handle.
8 – In cases where you need a second coat, wait at least two hours for the paint to dry before continuing.
Fantastical fixtures
So what do you do if you want to jazz up your ceiling, but you’re not ready to go all-out?
One solution is to install one or more stunning light fixtures. If you have enough cash and want to add a touch of glamour, you can consider investing in a chandelier. However, if your mobile home has a seven or eight-foot ceilings, this is not advisable.
Plus, this option can be quite heavy. Therefore, other types of light fixtures often work better, especially if you want to replace existing ones.
Installation:
1 – Turn off all the switches for your ceiling fixtures. Afterward, turn off the power at the circuit breaker.
2 – Next, remove the light bulbs and unscrew the existing fixture from its outlet box. Lower it and disconnect all its wires.
3 – Now remove the insulation at the ends of the wires of the new fixture.
4 – Hold the fitting up to the ceiling. We recommend that you ask a friend to help. While your friend holds the fixture, you can connect its wires to the wire nuts in the ceiling and insulate the connection with electrical tape.
5 – Secure the fixture to the outlet box. Afterward, you can screw in the light bulbs and test to see if everything is working properly.
Think outside the box
These guidelines can help you turn a blank canvas into a pleasing picture. However, it’s often adding a touch of personal flair that makes a masterpiece. So don’t be afraid to try something new and striking.
But if big and bold don’t exactly suit you, don’t fear. There are plenty of styles that make just as much of a statement by being understated and toned down. If this is more up your alley, take a look at design tips and tricks for a Scandinavian mobile home or these minimalist design basics.
About EZ Homes Design Team
