Stretch ceilings are a great piece of your interior design to play with because it has to be custom fit to your room and the layers add a dimension to your design that is pleasingly unexpected. But what are stretch ceilings? Let’s give you a quick overview
Stretch ceilings are made from a 0,2mm fabric that is PVC based and needs to be warmed slightly before it is fitted into place to make it flexible. Prior to installation, an aluminium and timber framework needs to be built into the room that includes all the built-in spotlights and sound equipment the room may need. The frame is built in as many different layers as the design requires and bolted or suspended to the concrete slab above. Once the frame has been installed the fabric is clipped into place on the outer perimeter edges, warmed, stretched and anchored to the rest of the frame piece by piece. The material is also fully recyclable, permeable, maintenance-free and hygienic so it reduces your maintenance costs dramatically and is ideal for homes for those with allergies to dust or mould.
Table of Contents
40 Double Layered Stretch Ceilings That Make Your Home a Place to Remember
These ceilings can also come in every colour and finish so you can combine glossy and matte or neutrals and brights to create a scene on the ceiling that is often combined with interesting light fixtures that the ceiling manages to amplify. On a three dimensional level, these ceilings give you the freedom to recess and project portions of the ceiling to designate certain areas or just to look fantastically innovative.
If you want to see all the possibilities these incredible designs hold here are:
1. Matte vs Gloss
The rather small scale of this living room has been uplifted by the stunning double-layered ceiling above it, which features a glossy oval that has been shallowly recessed into the centre of the matte ceiling around it. Little spotlights run around the perimeter of the oval with a statement chandelier style light at its centre that is reflected by the glossy finish of the ceiling. A lot of designs in this list have based at least a section of their ceiling around a matte white portion that highlights other elements of the design.
2. Huge Glossy Lounge Ceiling
In a similar way to the example above this ceiling has used a glossy portion recessed into a matte frame that contrasts beautifully over a neutral space. The design is white on white so all the focus is on the difference in materials rather than bright colours. The rectangular ceiling spans across the large expansive lounge around one edge with a silver rail of hanging lights that add to the mood lighting.
3. Crimson Recessed Mandala
This decorative little ceiling lives in a very shallow recess to emphasize the crimson mandala at the centre of the ceiling. The matte framework houses a series of spotlights that encircle the central panel to amplify it. The inset panel has a glossy finish lit by UV LED lights around the rim with an oversized decoration in an unexpected place. The surface has been punctured to expose a rich red material that is slightly translucent. This allows it to be lit from behind, which combined with the UV lights the space in a very ethereal way.
4. Fantastical Ceiling Falling to the Floor
The boundaries of what is possible have been tested in this incredible double-levelled stretched ceiling design. The first stretched portion has an onyx high gloss finish that stays where it’s expected to. The same cannot be said for the white portion. It snaked like a ribbon in the breeze and flows from the ceiling and twists down to fuse with the wall beside the kitchen that will, in fact, most likely be the anchor for the support cage. This is an incredibly difficult look to achieve that has been executed to perfection.
5. Framed Chunky Rectangles
The tall ceiling in this glamorous apartment consists of rectangular glossy panels that have been recessed into thick chunky frames in a matte finish. The glossiness of the recessed surfaces reflects the room below and makes it appear even taller. Over the lounge, this has been paired with a little chandelier hanging from the centre that lights the ceiling in an ethereal glow. In addition to this spotlights have been mounted along with the whole matte frame so the room is bathed in multi-directional light surrounding the room.
6. Futuristic Bubble Blowing Ceiling
In this stunning futuristic design, the two layers have a large gap between them to add to the drama. The top layer is pitch black and dotted with LEDs that resemble stars and lie flat. The white layer below undulates in an amorphous shape with two cutouts. One of these perforations creates a dining room recess that is lit from above and draped with brightly lit curtains. The other is a circular cut out that a string of glass bubbles flows between to create this stunning whimsical feature within the living space.
7. Cute Pink Child’s Bedroom Ceiling
This novel children’s ceiling has a round-edged rectangle cut out of a pristine white stretched ceiling. The translucent, pastel pink surface is printed with a flock of multi-coloured butterflies that flap around the corner. A dark silver light fitting sits at the centre, attracting the butterflies to it. It’s also lit softly from behind when the lights are on so tinting the room in a rosy hue.
8. Dramatic Shiny Lounge Ceiling
Above this comfy lounge and its large TV and a huge L shaped leather couch sits a minimally beautiful but beautifully lit ceiling. It sports a thick rim of matte white with spotlights built in over the lounge and elegant pendant lighting you as you sit at the breakfast bar. A square portion has been cut out and recessed in a polished, shiny finish with a dramatic organic light fitting that is reflected by the ceiling at the centre.
9. Striped Monochromatic Ceiling
The whole interior of this upmarket lounge is rendered in black and white all the way up to the ceiling. The main feature of the room is the ceiling of projecting matte white arches sitting beside recessed glossy black arches that run alongside, alternating across the whole room. The effect is positively Tim Burtonesque and creates a surreal, modern space to entrance guests upon entry. It provides pockets of space for the TV lounge as well as the bio fireplace with a rug where you can cosy up beside the fire.
10. Contemporary Glowing Lounge
The ceiling of this contemporary lounge features a recessed panel with a thick frame both rendered in a matte white finish. Spotlights run along the frame to light the lounge while the perimeter of the room is lit using another layer of ceiling that has been recessed even further. This perimeter lighting has been executed in a more translucent material that is frosted white and glows ethereally around the room. This is finished with a pendant light in the centre that mimics the ceiling in both material and light quality in the form of a glowing cube.
11. Futuristic Open Plan Living Room
The intense futurism of this living room has taken its design all the way up onto the ceiling. The layered stretch ceiling is a combination of glossy black over the living room with the round, white carpet that is slightly recessed into the matte white ceiling that runs around over the traffic areas with dark wooden flooring mirroring the space underneath. One wedge-shaped portion pushes itself out that houses a skylight over the ceiling, which has its own raised tiled floor that defines it underneath.
12. Ethereal White Space
This modern room is rendered in white from the leather couches to the wallpaper and pale wooden flooring and right up onto the modern ceiling. This is another double-layered ceiling that uses white on white panels in matte and gloss finishes for a sophisticated effect. An uneven polygon has been recessed into the matte panel in a glossy white finish with the matte frame dotted with spotlights. The statement ceiling has a statement light fixture in three-dimensional frosted polygons that are reflected in the surface of the ceiling.
13. White and Blue Faux Fans
The foundation of this contemporary ceiling design is the thick, projecting white frame around a long, glossy blue rectangle. Two fans hang from the azure expanse innovatively alternated with the same material as the frame in a shape that echoes the fans themselves. This design is pleasingly graphic and unexpected with a glossy, white frame and pristine white walls acting as the neutral backdrop to the contemporary design with its dark wooden base.
14. Uplifting a Small Space
Here we have a classic example of how to upgrade a small lounge using modern design. The room itself is full of slick black and white furniture with pops of orange and yellow in the soft furnishings. It has a round, glossy centre that is recessed shallowly into the matte white ceiling that covers the rest of the room. The glossy part is encircled by spotlights with a statement light fixture in the centre that is reflected in a spacey way as the round bulbs reflected in the ceiling.
15. Stylized Pink Flower Ceiling
The quirky style of this ceiling design is really fun for a child’s bedroom. Again a matte white ceiling has been used as the base of this multi-levelled design with a glossy pink section around the floral purple chandelier. The stylized flower is recessed with a reflective hot pink finish that is cute and fun, adding a bright element in an unexpected place.
16. Top Deck Style Ceiling
The deceptive quality of this ceiling stretches across this space using light and mirrors to make the space appear to be double volume, which makes the lounge look massive. The matte portion stretches across the space to deliver the spotlights over the armchair. This portion encircles a tinted mirror that reflects the room back in a trippy way with a sparkling chandelier at its centre that you get to experience twice with the ceiling.
17. Graphic Room With a Ceiling to Match
This graphic room design uses deep brown, pale hues of grey, blue and red that continue into the ceiling design. The aforementioned ceiling has a deep brown frame with spotlights around three sides and hanging black pendant lights over the pale grey couch. The rectangle shallowly recessed into it has a frosted finish that is lit from behind in soft light. This trio of lights is finished off with the delicate chandelier at its centre.
18. Space Age Lounge Space
The out of this world quality of this room is executed from top to bottom. From the blue water reflection wallpaper to the leather ergonomic armchairs that sit one opposite the other the room is spooky, but the main feature is the ceiling. A rectangle in a glossy finish has been recessed into the glossy ceiling that surrounds the main feature with spotlights. The panel has a translucent, glossy finish in a deep blue that is lit gently from behind and spotted with starry like LED lights across the surface, which completes the other worldly room design.
19. Subtle Dynamic Open Plan Ceiling
The layout of this minimal space isn’t really significant but the ceiling single-handedly uplifts the space and makes it directional and dynamic. It consists of two swooping layers. The first has a matte white finish dotted with spotlights that are alternated by the second recessed layer in buttercup layers that are beautifully glossy. Their swooping shape directs you around the space and takes this from average to stylish really simply.
20. Modern Ceiling Waving Around the Corner
This futuristic modern living room style has a dramatic design that combines polished concrete walls with this wacky ceiling. The largest area of the ceiling is grey and mounts the space plant-like light feature to hover in the centre of the room. A curving, neon LED-lit portion waves around the corner in a highly reflective royal blue dotted with spotlights. The combination is rather dystopian and futuristic to its core.
21. Combining Light and Finish
Here we have another neutral and, dare I say it, the forgettable room has been livened up by the dramatic ceiling in two layers. This statement ceiling combines spotlights that have been fitted in both the matte and glossy portions. The thin strip of matte white runs over the door with the rest of the ceiling in a recessed glossy finish that reflects the room below in a sophisticated manner.
22. Flawless Futurism
The flawless futurism of this red, white and black interior has been lit strategically for maximum drama. The colour scheme and finishes of the room have been mimicked in the layered ceiling. A massive glossy white ceiling expanse has been cut by a rip of recessed red that cuts across the lounge. Every white nook and cranny is lit with a super bright ceiling light in the centre of each space with a series of sparkling spheres that reflect off the ceiling in an incredibly dynamic way.
23. Chic Geometric Lounge Ceiling
This sumptuous lounge is full to the brim of old money glamour with a stylish, modern ceiling lighting it from the above head in contrast. The matte, perimeter ceiling has another matte rectangle that disappears behind it. This whole situation frames a glossy white rectangle with a hanging chandelier at the centre with five round flower-like light fittings that are reflected in the ceiling.
24. LED Lights in a Double Stretched Ceiling
Again, in this contemporary design, the ceiling has designated this chic lounge area. A thick matte ceiling has a matte rusted orange panel recessed into it. The gap between has been lit by warm LED lights to amplify the statement colour that this space has been built behind. This ceiling perfectly suits this stylish modern room with its wooden wall panelling, large dark tiles and neutral leather couches.
25. Shining White Modern Living Room
The all-encompassing white aesthetic of this room is almost sterile in its futurism. Glossy white expansive tiles cover the floor, a finish that is echoed in the artistic ceiling, which has a weird twisting design that looks like ink dropped into a pool of water. This feature is framed by matte white ceilings with clusters of four spotlights running around its perimeter. All of these features combine to create a lounge that wouldn’t look out of place in a Bond movie.
26. A Shade of Onyx
This large, open-plan modern space has a statement ceiling that leads you into the space. The matte white ceiling has a very subtle frame around it with a glossy portion recessed in a sharp triangle with its apex at the entrance door. This point then leads you along one side with a strip of bright spotlights to move you through the space without you even realising.
27. Baroque Turquoise Glamour
The hotel bedroom has an incredible white and turquoise interior with a statement round bed with a ceiling to match. This circular recess in the matte white ceiling has a high shine finish that reflects the white opalescent chandelier in the centre reflects in a turquoise pool. This, along with the up lighters around the room, casts a romantic light around the room.
28. Jetson’s Style Green and White Kitchen
The kitchen of this eclectic apartment is in a bright green and pure white colour scheme in a futuristic style that wouldn’t look out of place on the Jetsons in the 70s. The iconic ceiling is a thick vivid green around the perimeter with a recessed glossy white in the centre over the breakfast table. The green glossy finish is brought down into the space through the cabinetry, the crazy fridge and a stylized green mushroom chandelier growing overhead.
29. Space Printed Glowing Stretch Ceiling
This stunning space print ceiling is lit from behind when the lights are off and the stunning view is revealed. This stretched fabric is slightly translucent and printed with a dynamic view of space in tones of blue and purple dotted with LED stars. This panel has been recessed into the traditional white stretched ceiling frame so it is subtle when the lights are on and stunning when they’re off. This is also a great option for a creative night light for a child that loves space but is a little afraid of the dark.
30. Geometric Modern Layers
This modern ceiling runs down the length of this open plan luxury apartment in a series of stretched squares overlapping one another erratically. The fact that it is rendered in all-white without perimeter lighting produces an effect that is almost sculptural. Each panel is dotted with four spotlights in a square formation at the centre of each leaving out the lights where the panels overlap. The same stretched panel design has been used on the walls that flank the door to the bedroom that incorporates its folding doors into the design in an incredibly stylish way.
31. Glamorous Lounge Ceiling Design
The lounging space of this modern but sophisticated room has been rendered in cream and white, amplified by burnished red. The ceiling features alternating stripes of matte white with recessed glossy beige that wave across the lounge, not one straight line in sight. The strip of spotlights running down the central stretching piece light the couches along its length with a reaching organic chandelier in the middle of a glossy section at the denouncement of the room.
32. Startling Radiating Ceiling Design
The outstanding ceiling design over this rather traditional lounge dominates the design due to its sheer scale and graphic pattern. Matte white spokes reach out from the vintage chandelier in the middle of the room with a chunky white, octagonal frame around it. Each wedge of the ceiling is inset with glossy wedges of pitch black that reflects the room below in a really trippy way. The ceiling fits perfectly into this interesting, faceted room with tall windows and a dark floor that has been designed from the ground up.
33. A Glowing Circle
This statement hallway leads into an open plan living space with a curved wall. This shape is echoed in the ceiling that sets the lounge apart from the rest of the space. The design features the traditional white stretched ceiling with chunky white cornering with a glossy, cream circle over the couches that is slightly translucent and lit from behind. The vintage chandelier at the lounge’s centre is reflected in the glossy lens in a way that oozes luxury.
34. A Lake of Blue
The whole layout of this small, open plan apartment has been pulled together by an oval of glossy blue recessed slightly into the ceiling across the apartment. A simple white stretched ceiling is built around it with no extra mouldings to maintain the clear aesthetics. The glossy oval is ringed by tiny little spotlights and further emphasized with steel up-lighters around the perimeter of the room. The round pattern has been continued on the graphic curving feature wall that, in turn, features a circular print running across its surface.
35. Monochromatic Modern Living Space
The monochromatic design of this contemporary apartment has been used from floor to the layered stretched ceiling. Again, within this open plan living room, the space has been plotted using the ceiling. Arches of matte white have been used to divide the spaces with a recessed glossy beige panel stretching between them. Each space has its own stylish light fitting at the centre of each space to amplify each area beautifully.
36. Minimalism but with a Hint of Drama
The design of this entire room has been based around an off white tone that has been used in different forms throughout the space. The textured wall panel, the leather couch, the sheer curtains and the ceiling itself have all been executed in this tone that changes in an interesting manner when you adjust its finish. This ceiling has another ring of matte white with a recessed glossy rectangle that reflects the room below like glass. The matte frame is ringed by spotlights, which are accompanied by a dripping crystal chandelier at the centre of the room that reflects the same shade all through the space.
37. Waving Ethereal Purple
The quirky design style of the eclectic ceiling in this brightly coloured living room matches with the opaque purple curtains and surrounds you in this strange purple bubble. The ceiling has matte white edges that wave around the perimeter with the expected spotlights glowing around the edges. The recessed panel is a glossy, vivid purple. A quartet of bright lights sits at the centre with a waving frame around it spotted by LED strips. The result is ethereal and weird in the best way.
38. Graphically Adorned Living Room
This small lounge has been really graphically designed with a flocked black and white feature wall that is echoed on the couch cushions. The ceiling overhead is a round-edged rectangle lit by neon purple UV lights that illuminate the white surface of the recessed panel of this layered ceiling. Yet again, a chandelier dripping in the crystal has been used at the centre to amplify the unique design and make the lounge feel truly one of a kind.
39. Floor and Ceiling That Twists and Turns
This exquisitely layered ceiling has worked in tandem with the floors and mirrored the stepped rounded living space below. The ceiling consists of fully matte surfaces in various layers. One large twisting portion in white winds it’s way across the space with warm grey recesses on either side. Two more hemispheres of ceiling reach across over the kitchen with a carefully planned gap between the two to emphasize it. The combination between that and the floor creates a living space that is dramatic and noteworthy.
40. Brightly Butterflied Kitchen Ceiling
This graphic kitchen has a dainty décor style with a stretched ceiling over it to add a bright riot of colour across the space. A swooping recessed portion of the layered ceiling is printed with fluttering butterflies in layers. Projecting ceiling panels surround this in a matte, white finish around it with spotlights running along the edge to light the room evenly. These ceilings are also very good for moist rooms like kitchens since they handle humidity without any damage. Combine this whole ceiling set up with the colourful geometric wallpaper on the walls and you have a room that is fun-loving and playful.
Conclusion
Besides the vast amount of practical benefits, stretch ceilings have clearly proven themselves as a magical tool in your interior design toolbox that can change a space entirely.
Their myriad of colours, carefully planned three-dimensional layers and finishes make any room that they grace feel more contemporary and interesting as soon as they set foot in the door. When you work with stretch ceilings you are also free to play with your lighting, instead of always placing light fixtures in the centre of the room, design a space that leads you through it using the ceiling and the lighting
Gone are the days of boring white expanses of the ceiling, stretch ceilings and their stunning design potential are here to stay!
