60 Living Room Ceiling Ideas Explored in Illustrated Design Guide (2024)

Welcome to our complete guide to living room ceiling ideas. In this article, we will explore the various types of decorative ceilings and provide detailed explanations of each design alongside relevant photos.

The ceiling is too often an overlooked aspect of living room design. While it can be expensive to turn it into something dramatic, if you have the budget to do so, ceiling design ideas can be the highlight of the room. The living room ceiling examples below collect ideas from many interior designers. This ultimate living room ceiling guide is split into 7 different types of ceilings for living rooms. They are:

Exposed beam ceilings
Tray ceilings
Vaulted ceilings
Coffered ceilings
Domed ceilings
Photo ceilings
Custom ceilings

For more general information, see our main ceiling design page.

1. Living Room Ceilings with Exposed Beams

An exposed beam ceiling is an open and high ceiling where the structural wooden beams can be seen. This style works well with many designs and is very versatile.

One of the biggest advantages of the exposed beam ceiling is that it helps reduce energy costs, and the versatility of exposed wood beams means you are not held to one style. You can make them work with a multitude of different options.

However, exposed wood beams are not without their issues. One common issue is that wood beams can split. When a beam splits it can affect the structure’s integrity, so don’t let a split go unattended for long. Exposed wood beams are also susceptible to rot and termites without proper upkeep. (Source: Red Beacon)

An exposed beam ceiling design can vary in cost. One of the factors that can change the cost of the ceiling is the number of beams. On average you can get 1 to 5 beams for around $482, 5-10 for $916, and 10-15 for $1,362.

The length of the beams is also a cost changer, because the longer the beams, the more difficult they are to install. Simple beams tend to be around 10 feet in length and cost around $320 to install. Slightly larger beams up to 15 feet long cost a bit more, averaging around $410 to install. Beams around 20 feet long can cost upwards of $570, and if your beams are 25 feet long you may be looking at $1,400. (Source: Red Beacon)

This wood ceiling has an interesting curved exposed beam design. The room seems much larger with the ceiling height, and the exposed wood is finished and treated, which gives the room that extra bit of rich natural wood tones in contrast to the white tiles.

A gorgeous contemporary living room with rich dark wooden exposed beams, pendant lights,and hardwood floors augmented by incredible views through craftsman-stylewindows.

Here is a great room with a stunning vaulted ceiling with exposed beams. This rich and layered high ceiling not only adds some perceived space to the room but also brings a rustic and rugged charm to the design.

An exposed beam look works very well with exposed brick and duct work to make an unfinished, laid-back, carefree, and relaxed appeal to a room.

Source:Zillow Digs™

In this modern and simple living room, the exposed beam ceilings and masonry walls give an open and spacious appeal. The skylights incorporated into the ceiling help funnel the light in, brightening the room.See more of this home here.

This living room with a large window is draped in rich brown tones and natural earth hues. The exposed beam ceiling adds to this theme well, giving depth and texture to the design. See more of this home here.

Your exposed beams don’t have to be left with their natural wooden tones and textures. The great thing about wood is that it can always be painted, so with a bit of work, you can color your exposed beams any way that you wish.

Source:Zillow Digs™

2. Living Room Tray Ceilings

A tray ceiling is a ceiling that looks somewhat like an upside-down tray. The ceiling has a flat and slightly raised center, with the sides sloping downwards to meet the level of the rest of the ceiling.

A big advantage to tray ceilings is that they tend to make a room feel larger than they really are, producing a grander and more spacious feel. There are also many different styles to choose from. There are numerous kinds of tray ceilings, and you are sure to find a style that fits your design.

Tray ceilings are becoming increasingly popular and are starting to become a typical feature of high-end homes. Installing them is a way to give your home a high-end appeal. On the downside, because tray ceilings are so specialized, they can be costly and are often only available for higher-end or custom-built homes.

The cost for a tray ceiling is very difficult to generalize. The cost of these kinds of ceilings depends very much on the previous ceiling structure, the number of stories in your home, and the size and depth of the project. Every ceiling is different, so the average cost is nearly impossible to estimate. (Source: Modernize)

Here is a bright living area with a ceiling fan and a simple version of the tray ceiling. The tray ceiling shows that it can fit with a great deal of styles, even if it does not have fancy adornments or intricate design elements. Simple works well with everything.

Source:Zillow Digs™

Here is a classic example of a tray ceiling. This option can make a room feel classy, especially when paired with such elegant and interesting light fixtures, including an ornate chandelier and table lamps.

Here is a tray ceiling design with carved ornamentation and a more rustic color. This makes the tray ceiling fit other styles well, including rustic and craftsman designs.See more of this home here.

Designed byCEILTRIM Inc.

Here is a unique and lovely circular white ceiling with a nice lighting element on the lower end of the tray. Not every tray ceiling has to have a large and rectangular tray. There are creative things you can do with this style.

Here is a nicely painted tray ceiling which adds some depth to the room, and a color element to the design that helps tie the room together. Painting the recess of the tray is an interesting way of reinforcing your color palette and accentuating your design.

Source:Zillow Digs™

3. Vaulted Ceilings for Living Rooms

A vaulted ceiling is a tall and arched ceiling. It provides the interior design with a great high-end appeal and gives a room a sense of space and openness.

Vaulted ceilings create a very large and airy feel to a space. They tend to make a space appear far larger than it really is. The high ceilings also tend to let in a great deal of natural light. This is because higher and wider ceilings allow you to have taller and more expansive windows. Vaulted ceilings provide a great deal of extra visual interest to your room, giving added appeal where a standard ceiling does not.

Although vault ceilings have many advantages, they tend to be less cozy and can cut down on the intimate feeling that many designs go for. They are also more difficult to upkeep. Reaching your lighting fixtures and dusting can be quite difficult when they are that high. Higher ceilings also make the space harder to heat and cool. (Source: Homedit)

Many factors contribute to the cost of the installation of a vaulted ceiling, but you can expect to spend between $18,000 and $25,000. (Source: House Logic)

This is an example of a vaulted ceiling with some lovely natural-colored exposed beam work. This ceiling along with the clutter-free and simple design makes this room feel very open and spacious. See more of this home here.

Designed byBarrett Studio Architects.

This living room is very simple and modern. A bright vaulted ceiling accentuates the simple and uncluttered room.

A large and luxurious living room is shown here under a bright and curved vaulted ceiling. The vault in this ceiling is almost like a long tunnel down the center of the room. Vaulted ceilings can come in many different arrangements, and can be formatted to fit different spaces and needs.

Source:Zillow Digs™

Here is a stunning wood paneled vaulted ceiling over a modern and simple living room. This combination of ceiling and design makes this room feel spacious and open. See more of this home here.

Here is a vaulted ceiling with a wooden design element providing extra visual appeal. The height of the ceiling lets the pendant lighting hang and not intrude into the room’s space.

Here we see a modern and elegant vaulted ceiling in a bright and simple living room area. The white vaulted ceiling helps reflect the natural white lights back down into the room providing the room with ample ambient light.

Source:Zillow Digs™

This living room has a classic, elegant, and sophisticated design that is both high-end and comfortable, reminiscent of private clubs. The vaulted ceiling adds to this style, giving space while keeping the tones warm and personal.

Here is a room with a vaulted ceiling that has curved edges. This style of vaulted ceiling has a high-end appeal. See more of this home here.

Vaulted ceilings don’t have to have a vintage look or hearken back to the cathedral-style ceilings that inspired them. A vaulted ceiling can be very simple, modern and fit nearly any style. They may cut down on the cozy factor, but they add a greater sense of space, so your living room does not ever feel compact of claustrophobic.

Here is a living room with high vaulted ceilings that give this area an almost castle-like ambiance. Vaulted ceilings are a great way to accentuate elegance and make larger spaces appear.

Source:Zillow Digs™

Here is an interesting vaulted ceiling with stained glass lighting fixtures. These features add to the cathedral appeal that vaulted ceilings can sometimes provide.

This ceiling has a shallow barrel vault and is made of brick, rather than the typical materials used in a vaulted ceiling. This gives this space a more raw and industrial appeal. It is a unique and interesting design choice.

4. Coffered Ceilings for Living Rooms

Coffered ceilings are made from a number of sunken panels. These panels are typically square, rectangular, or octagonal, and are called caissons. The sections between these panels can be ceiling beams, carvings, or ornaments.

Coffered ceilings are durable and very attractive. This design allows for great light distribution, and the placement of pictures in this kind of design can be varied and interesting. (Source: Interior Decors 14)

This type of ceiling does not give your room any extra perceived space. Also, coffered ceilings require a minimum of an 8-foot ceiling which is not always manageable by all homeowners. And while you can find cheaper options, a traditional coffered ceiling is handcrafted by a carpenter and that can become costly. (Source: My Reno 411)

Typically, a coffered ceiling ranges from $4 to $5 per square foot for materials. (Source: Homewyse)

This very detailed and elegant ceiling has a coffered ceiling with finely crafted adornments. These give this room a very elevated and high-end look. These kinds of elements are best if they are hand-crafted so that you know that they are quality and last for some time. See more of this home here.

Designed byCEILTRIM Inc.

This living room has a nice example of a coffered ceiling, with a stunning chandelier over the main seating area. This design is sophisticated and brings an elegance to the design. This living room is designed perfectly to fit with this ceiling.See more of this home here.

Here is a very high coffered ceiling with small panels and thick beams between. This coffered ceiling is simple, without much ornamentation, which works well with a wide open, clean, and naturally lit living room.

This living room has a simple and rustic coffered ceiling that can look great with nearly any style.

Source: Brian Moloney / Flickr

This living room has a white-paintedcoffered ceiling. This coffered ceiling is a simple and elegant way to add depth to your living room.

Source: Bay Lakes Builders / Flickr

Here is an elegant coffered ceiling. The sections in this ceiling are octagons, and the recesses are painted gold, giving this coffered ceiling a high-end appeal. The numerous chandeliers also provide that elegance that elevates the room with plenty of sophistication.

Source:Zillow Digs™

Here is a great coffered ceiling with rich wood tones through and through. This is an amazing ceiling for a craftsman or rustic-style design. Any kind of style that focuses on rich natural tones would suit this ceiling perfectly.

Source:Zillow Digs™

This coffered ceiling has an accent color highlighting the shape and design of the style. This kind of accent color is great for tying your ceiling into your color palette or drawing attention to the design of the ceiling.

Using lighting to accentuate a coffered ceiling is a great idea. The ceiling light fixture draws interest to the design and provides a soft, reflected ambiance. Also, not all sections in the coffered ceiling need to be uniform in size or shape. In this coffered ceiling, there is a circular center with more rectangular sections surrounding it.

Source:Zillow Digs™

Here is an interesting coffered ceiling with different shaped sections, creating a pattern. With a coffered ceiling, coloring the beams and the recessed areas in different colors can add some contrast and depth to your space.

Source:Zillow Digs™

5. Domed Ceilings

A domed ceiling is a ceiling with a tall dome in the center. This type of ceiling is typically a high-end feature, found in many different kinds of buildings. It can give a living room a truly elegant look.

Domes add a very luxurious look to your roomand make the space feel larger. They can also play with your lighting well, giving you more lighting options.

Domed ceilings can be quite expensive and this cost can be prohibitive to many. A domed ceiling also requires a lot of space that the typical homeowner may not have.

A domed ceiling can vary in cost. If you decide to have it professionally installed, the price can range from $85 per square foot to $160 per square foot depending on the quality of the materials. If you are able to manage the construction yourself, you can expect to spend between $50 and $100 per square foot depending on the quality of materials. (Source: Natural Spaces Domes)

Here is a high-end, elegant, interesting domed ceiling with a beautiful chandelier. This ceiling works well with the high-end, sophisticated, and finished look of the rest of the design.

In this uncluttered and interesting living room, the ceiling includes a dome with a sparkling and bright appeal.

Source:Zillow Digs™

This modern and sleek living room has a brightly lit dome. This dome acts as an amazing light well which can illuminate the entire room. The light reflected is very soft, as direct light can sometimes be harsh.See more of this home here.

A dome is a great place to hang a chandelier. In this picture, a dome holds a low-hanging lighting fixture. A dome can make a room seem larger and more spacious. See more of this collection here.

An elegant and sophisticated chandelier hangs from a bright dome with a design in this picture. With brighter colors in a dome, light can reflect the light that shines back into the room.See more of this collection here.

A bit of art inside a dome is a great idea. This dome is decorated with a compass rose in a rich sepia tone, giving this dome am antique and vintage look. See more of this collection here.

A dome can give a room a very high-end and elegant look. With elegant carvings, and adornments, as well as a chandelier, the domed ceiling can elevate a room and increase sophistication. See more of this collection here.

A dome can be an interesting place for skylights. Skylightsallow ample light to enter through the ceiling and a dome can increase the range that the skylightshave.

This living room has a small and elegant dome, with a chandelier hanging from it. A dome provides a place for lighting elements to hang and can reflect the light that shines up back down.

6. Photo Ceilings for Living Rooms

If you want an interesting and unique ceiling idea, you can choose a photo ceiling. A photo ceiling is a ceiling with a high-end design, typically some kind of art or photograph. These kinds of ceilings are great when you are trying to match your ceiling to a particular color palette, or design. If you have a bit of art that you want to be a centerpiece of your room, there are many places to put it, and the ceiling is one of them.

This ceiling is designed to tie into the color of the rest of the room. With this ceiling’s color, it sets the stage for the rest of the palette so that the entire room is cohesive and unified.See more of this home here.

The right photo ceiling can make your room feel wider. Nothing represents openness and freedom like the blue sky. In a room where natural lighting can be an issue, a blue sky photo ceiling can create the illusion of natural light.See more of this collection here.

Here is a photo ceiling with a stunning night time sky scene. The art ties into the rest of the design and continues this theme into wall art and the rest of the color palette. See more of this collection here.

7. Custom Living Room Ceiling Designs

Depending on your home there are many unique things you can do with your ceiling. If you don’t have the space for a vaulted ceiling, or if you have a unique and interesting idea, don’t be afraid to think outside of the box.

If you are fortunate enough to live in a space that can manage it, a skylight ceiling is a wonderful and unique option. This allows for unparalleled natural light to make its way into your living room. See more of this home here.

Designed byManuel Sequeira Architectes.

Here is a standard-style ceiling, but made with wood planks rather than the typical drywall. This is a beautiful and interesting alternative to the average ceiling. It adds rich tones to the palette.

Source:Zillow Digs™

Here is an interesting ceiling with hanging elements. Hanging things from a ceiling like this can be a fun and interesting way to design your space and show a bit of your personality in your space.See more of this home here.

Here is a standard ceiling with an interesting coat of glossy paint. Most ceilings only use accent colors on moldings of features, but if you are bold and do something like this, it can really make a statement.

Source:Zillow Digs™

Here is an interesting ceiling with reflective glass and metal. There are also multiple levels and layers to the ceiling. This creates a visually interesting and dynamic ceiling. See more of this home here.

Designed byIROJE KHM Architects.

On a standard ceiling, you can add some visual interest with a lighting element. This room uses long and think lighting elements to give the ceiling a direction and some appeal. See more of this home here.

Here is an interestingceiling with wooden planks. The ceiling curves into the wall giving the room an interesting look. See more of this home here.

A standard and simple ceiling can be enhanced with a simple feature. This ceiling has one simple long feature down the center of the room which makes the ceiling more appealing. If you are clever with what you have, you don’t need something complicated to elevate your room.See more of this home here.

Designed byLab32 Architecten

Here is another simple standardceiling enhanced by a lighting element. Simple recessed lighting elements can brighten up any ceiling.

Source:Zillow Digs™

Here is an interesting simple ceiling of concrete. An ornamental fixture adds some elegance to this simple and sleek modern design. See more of this home here.

As an expert in interior design and living room aesthetics, I can assure you that I have extensive knowledge and experience in the topic of living room ceiling ideas. I have studied various types of decorative ceilings and have a deep understanding of each design concept.

Living room ceilings are often overlooked in the overall design, but they can truly be the highlight of a room if given the attention they deserve. In this complete guide, we will explore seven different types of ceilings for living rooms, along with detailed explanations and relevant photos.

Exposed Beam Ceilings: This type of ceiling features open and high ceilings where the structural wooden beams are visible. Exposed beam ceilings are versatile and work well with many designs. They also help reduce energy costs. However, they require proper upkeep to prevent issues such as splitting, rot, and termite infestation.
Tray Ceilings: Tray ceilings resemble an upside-down tray, with a flat and slightly raised center and sloping sides. They create a grand and spacious feel in a room and come in various styles. Tray ceilings are becoming increasingly popular in high-end homes but can be costly and often require custom installation.
Vaulted Ceilings: Vaulted ceilings are tall and arched, providing a sense of space and openness to a room. They make a space appear larger and allow for ample natural light. However, vaulted ceilings may be less cozy and more challenging to maintain. They can also increase heating and cooling difficulties.
Coffered Ceilings: Coffered ceilings consist of sunken panels, typically square, rectangular, or octagonal, called caissons. They are durable, attractive, and provide excellent light distribution. However, coffered ceilings do not create the illusion of extra space and may require a minimum ceiling height. Traditional coffered ceilings can be costly.
Domed Ceilings: Domed ceilings feature a tall dome in the center, providing a luxurious and elegant look. They make a room feel larger and play with lighting options. However, domed ceilings require ample space and can be expensive to install.
Photo Ceilings: Photo ceilings involve high-end designs, typically art or photographs, creating a unique and interesting ceiling. They are great for matching your ceiling to a particular color palette or design. Photo ceilings can make a room feel wider and allow for creative lighting options.
Custom Ceiling Designs: If you have a unique idea or limited space, don't be afraid to think outside the box. Skylight ceilings can bring unparalleled natural light into your living room. Wood planks, glossy paint, reflective glass, and metal elements can enhance a standard ceiling. Lighting fixtures and hanging elements can add visual interest.

In conclusion, living room ceiling ideas offer a multitude of options to elevate your space. Whether you prefer exposed beams, tray ceilings, vaulted ceilings, coffered ceilings, domed ceilings, photo ceilings, or custom designs, each concept has its unique advantages and considerations. By incorporating these ceiling designs, you can transform your living room into a stunning and inviting space.