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10 Small Bedroom Ceiling Design Ideas

Cozy, stylish, and unique bedrooms.
10 Small Bedroom Ceiling Design Ideas
Tom Greenspan
Updated 
December 21, 2022

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Do you lay on your bed looking at your bedroom ceiling, wondering how to make it look better? What can be done with a bedroom ceiling to improve its stark look? If you paint it anything other than white surely, it will close the room in and make it feel small.

In this article, we will explore some ideas that hopefully inspire you to make the changes to your bedroom ceiling, so your bedroom becomes more enticing, making you want to spend more time relaxing in a room you once only slept in.

We will cover some common misconceptions that are frequently endorsed by interior designers and show you how to make a small bedroom ceiling stand out from the crowd without spending a lot of money.

Let's get into it and find out the truth about:

  • Exposed concrete
  • Faux wood beams and an alpine theme
  • A whiter shade of pale
  • Play it again sam, Casablanca influences

How can I make my ceiling more attractive?

There are some techniques that are budget-friendly than an average skilled DIY enthusiast can undertake to make a vast difference to the bedroom ceiling.

Here are some tips to help you get started:

  • Look at your furniture first, using low- furnishings gives the illusion of a higher ceiling and a room of larger dimensions.
  • Use mirrors to your advantage, long slim mirrors are not only great for checking how you look but they can also make the room feel bright and airy and bigger through reflections.
  • Install a dado rail and paint below the dado line in a darker color for the illusion of a higher ceiling.
  • It's a trick often used to create the image of a larger room, using the same color of light paint on the walls and the ceiling, it prevents your eyes from focusing on a particular color.
  • You all know that wearing vertical stripes makes you look slim, try vertical striped wallpaper in the bedroom, it will make your ceiling look higher than it is.
  • Be bold and add color to the ceiling, colors that have a sheen are trendy at the moment.
  • When hanging drapes hang then from ceiling to floor for a sense of height.

Let's try and inspire you into making some cool changes to your bedroom ceiling.

1. Keep it white for height!

Small bedroom ceilings have long been painted white for good reasons, it looks really good and it makes the small bedroom seem bright and airy giving the illusions of larger dimensions, That doesn't mean you can't improve on what many consider to be perfect.

Add ceiling coving for some interesting features to the ceiling, many covings now have recesses for lighting and you can create some fantastic lighting that will make your small bedroom ceiling look like a million dollars.

Install a center alabaster ceiling rose with a beautiful light hanging from the center, it will make the bedroom feel and look like a master bedroom and draw your eyes directly to the beauty of the ceiling and not the dimensions of the bedroom.

Use contrasting paint for the walls as in the image, dove gray makes the perfect choice for a classy stylish bedroom.

How to create this look?

Coving is easy to install, it's lightweight and with the correct adhesives, you have time to adjust the coving so you have a precise fit. The same applies to the alabaster ceiling rose, many are not alabaster but give the same effect and you can't notice any difference when painted.

Use the best light you can afford to make the perfect room and of course, use brilliant white ceiling emulsion to bring the room together.

How easy is this look to achieve? Working on a simple scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being the hardest level to achieve these bedroom shelves is a 5

Coving can be easy and can be difficult. You need to miter to the corners as close as possible and then fill the gaps with filler and smooth off as required.

Use contrasting paints and keep the bedroom clutter free for the best results.

2. Exposed concrete

This bedroom ceiling is likely only going to be available to those of you who live in an apartment block. It's a daring look but when the concrete is exposed the full potential of this tremendous ceiling design can be fully realized.

The shuttering boards that contain the freshly poured concrete leave their wood imprints behind,almost like a crime scene but the good news is no one is going to be arrested.

Dry concrete has a unique look when in a particular setting such as a modern bedroom ceiling and the coolest thing of all it's so easy to reveal the full potential by removing the sterile ceiling plaster boards.

Add a ceiling light using an industrial galvanized steel conduit for the full effect of the look.

How to create this look?

Remove the ceiling covering to expose the concrete ceiling and redecorate, if the ceiling is low opt for low-slung bedroom furnishings such as the bed in the image.

You can even have an exposed concrete floor with some plush sheepskin rugs for a touch of glamor in the apartment bedroom.

How easy is this look to achieve? Working on a simple scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being the hardest level to achieve these bedroom shelves is a 9.

Stripping the ceiling will take time and once done you will need to seal the concrete to prevent a steady stream of dust.

You may also need to repair the tops of the walls with coving if they become damaged as you extricate the ceiling from its fixings.

3. The alpine lodge/ farmhouse look

It's easy to understand that very few homes have exposed beams in a bedroom to make this beautifully inviting bedroom but that doesn't mean you can't create this look, on the contrary, you can use faux beams in your bedroom and emulate this look precisely.

If you are going to consider using real timber beams you may need to get a structural engineer to check that the structure of your roof can tackle the additional weight. But there are other options you can explore.

You can still use wood but it's in a C section and you fix a wood plate to the ceiling to attach the c section box, with some great staging they can look just like the real thing at a fraction of the cost and be purchased at your local DIY store.

The options are vast and you may decide to opt for a modern faux wood ceiling to really make your bedroom pop.

How to create this look?

Let us assume that you will opt for the faux beams, You will need to mark your centers, beams are never random spacing as they are structural in nature. Once you know the positions, fix the wood plate to the ceiling and then attach the C section beams.

Take time staging the beams, you may want to stain local timber hues in your area for authenticity.

How easy is this look to achieve? Working on a simple scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being the hardest level to achieve these bedroom shelves is a 7.

It's definitely a two-man job that is time-consuming to install, the biggest issue is getting the right finish that you will be happy with, canvas your DIY store, and ask to see what finished products they have to help you with your decision

4. The sky’s the limit

Living in an apartment has many advantages and a few drawbacks but when it comes to a blank canvas to create your ideal bedroom then you are at an advantage.

Recessed ceilings offer so much in the way of visual joy with their simple design and architectural excellence the sky's the limit, Recessed ceilings offer the chance to have exquisite lighting details that are hidden for intrigue and sensual lighting combined with the more functional downlights to brighten your bedroom on a dark winter's night.

Floor-to-ceiling mirrors and the oversized headboard are statement pieces that intentionally distract from the dimensions of the room; the theme is carried through to the drapes.

The light paintwork and light tone floor with complimenting modern design rug makes for a masterpiece of bedroom design.

How to create this look?

This would be a custom turnkey solution offered by a developer, people who buy high-ended apartments usually expect everything completed to their specifications.

However, don't be put off, you can create a recessed ceiling in your own bedroom by making a simple but rigid framework and attaching plasterboard., Clearly, you will need the electrics completed to achieve the look.

How easy is this look to achieve? Working on a simple scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being the hardest level to achieve these bedroom shelves is an 8.

It's not difficult but needs a lot of carpentry work to make the frame. Once the frame is secure attaching the plasterboard is easy, get a plasterer to make the finishing touches so you have a good finish.

Use LED lighting inside the recessed ceiling and downlight for your dressing area or general lighting.

5. A whiter shade of pale

Scandinavians are obsessed with painting everything white, it must be a hangover from the winter season when the ground is covered with snow and ice. But the upside is it's a terrific look and this small bedroom ceiling is enviable and budget-friendly.

If you have a small bedroom you really don't have plenty of choices when it comes to decor, it's either going to be conventionally light or you are going to take a leap of faith and jump into the unknown.

So adding some faux beams to the ceiling with some contemporary lighting is going to cause you great delight, lightly washing the beams with a diluted paint solution moves the ceiling away from the conventional and adds some depth to the bedroom which is needed with brilliant white ceiling and brilliant white walls.

Subtle accents by design create wonderfully exuberant small bedrooms.

How to create this look?

Using diluted white emulsion to create the washed-over look is an easy but somewhat time-consuming procedure but, the results can be spectacular and create the break needed for the totally white ceiling and walls.

Only neutral colors will work in this room except for the monochrome pictures with black frames.

How easy is this look to achieve? Working on a simple scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being the hardest level to achieve these bedroom shelves is a 6.

We skipped a light fandango! If you know the words you are of a certain age. It's an easy decorative job and the faux beams are easy enough to install but you will need help.  Whitewash effects may need a few coats to get the exact look you desire.

6. Hidden architecture

Not everything is as it seems especially when you attempt this look in your own small bedroom, don't get me wrong it's achievable but not in the way you think.

If you are thinking let’s rip the ceiling down and get at it then you may have to slow down and apply some thoughts to the slight conundrum. If you rip the ceiling down you will be faced with ceiling joists that if cut or removed could see you and your family sitting in a pile of rubble.

To achieve this look you will need to build downwards which is going to be considerably easier and you will not need to rip down a thing.

Once you have created your recess ceiling you can add any coving design you wish to the main ceiling and then add the lights. A trick was missed with this ceiling which is that LED lights could have been hidden in the new ceiling creating a cool lighting system.

How to create this look?

You will need to make a frame that can support the plasterboards, it is easy if you fix the frame solidly into the existing joists, the weight should not be a factor in a small bedroom.

Paint white and then peppermint green walls to complete the desired look.

How easy is this look to achieve? Working on a simple scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being the hardest level to achieve these bedroom shelves is a 7.

Make the ceiling frame in sections so you are not manhandling a cumbersome weight that is going to twist and break. Fix the frame into the joists with wood skews, and drill holes for the screws at an angle and not in a direct line, this will prevent the frame from pulling apart over time.

7. Somewhere over a rainbow

Inevitably the kids get the smallest bedroom for good reason, they don't understand it's small and they don't appreciate space. So make the most of your artistic flair and create a room fir for a prince or princess with beautiful designs.

Now if you are totally devoid of creative juices pick a kid's book up and check out some of the superb images and recreate them on the walls extending to the bedroom ceiling, Kid's books are rarely dark and sinister so you will find pastels colors and bright tones that are going to fit perfectly into a kids bedroom and make the space look bigger than it is.

If artistry and brush skills are not your things then never fear amazon is near, you can check online and you will be astounding ed at the range of bedroom wall stickers that are available to make a kid's bedroom something special, Still use light paints to freshen the bedroom before starting and extend the stickers though to the ceiling.

How to create this look?

There are two routes to take and it's up to you which is the easiest. If you enjoy the challenge of creating a special bedroom by painting images of trees on the walls and clouds on the ceiling then this idea will inspire you.

There is no shame in using stickers for speed to create a special look.

How easy is this look to achieve? Working on a simple scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being the hardest level to achieve these bedroom shelves is a 4.

It's an easy process if you are creative or not, the only caveat is to make sure the walls and ceiling are good and free from cracks and faulty plasterwork, the colors will show the imperfections.

8. Play it again Sam, Casablanca influences

It may look like a big ask but if you have a room above a bedroom with a wooden floor then this look is easy to achieve. There are no magic tricks and you can still create this look if the space above is an attic!

Once you are confident the space above has a wooden floor you can then remove the ceiling in your bedroom, yes expect debris, spiders, and cobwebs but once you reveal the dusty timbers the full potential is revealed and you can make a beautiful wood ceiling from a home in Casablanca.

There is going to be work preparing for the coming and the more you prepare to fill and sand the better the look is going to be. Once the prep work has been completed some rich mahogany stains will be needed to provide depth to the timber and create the ultimate in bedroom ceilings.

How to create this look?

If the floorboards are splintered and cracked you can consider replacing the section that will be on view in the bedroom, if the room above is drafty then cover the food boards with insulation or a rug at the very least.

Staining the timbers is an easy process.

How easy is this look to achieve? Working on a simple scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being the hardest level to achieve these bedroom shelves is a 7.

This is a great idea for the small bedroom where ceilings are often low, it may be unconventional but the look created is wonderfully simple and creative.

If the room is in use above this bedroom it's worth noting that floorboards have gaps so there will be plenty of gap filling to be done.

9. The truth exposed

It's easy to go off on a flight of fancy and imagine the smallest bedroom in your home is painted with bold blues and olive greens to bring the earthy tones of nature into the bedroom bit the honest through is the best color for a small bedroom ceiling is always going to be white esp[ecially if it's low like the one in the image.

There are always expectations to the rules depending on the material available such as timber but if you want your small bedroom to look like it has larger dimensions then paint the ceiling white, the walls white and use white bedding.

Maybe you don't want your guests or younger members of the family feeling like they are in a lunatic asylum so, this is where you can start using accessories as accent colors to bring your favorite tomes into the bedroom, but keep it subtle.

Keep in mind white will never go out of fashion so you will always have at least one bedroom that is trendy.

How to create this look?

It's white all the way, you can use a light tone for the walls like the light gray off-white in the image, the white floorboards are a feature of the bedroom and should not be covered.

The cream headboard is essential for color and some comfort in the bedroom that removes the stark look of the bedroom which is now inviting.

How easy is this look to achieve? Working on a simple scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being the hardest level to achieve these bedroom shelves is a 4.

It's an easy one to make, it's just painting and a nice bed, make sure the walls are in good condition before applying the paint.

10. Interesting lights

There are some small bedrooms that are difficult to comp[rehend away from their original design and image, so how can you deal with a dull ceiling without taking out a mortgage to make structural improvements? Ok, it's an exaggeration but you must admit the ceiling and the bedroom is pretty uninteresting until you add lights.

There are almost three themes going on with the lights, bondage, Gothic and industrial. It's an enigma of lighting that provokes thoughts, which you assume is its second function other than illuminating the bedroom.

There are lots of interesting styles of lights on the market and if you are not into making big changes this is the way you can create a small bedroom ceiling that is interesting and functional.

A ceiling fan is also a great option for keeping the air circulated in a stuffy bedroom and can provide adequate illumination.

How to create this look?

You will need to find ceiling lights that are meaningful to you or that are provocative in their design, the latter being more difficult to do.

So, look for juxtaposition by using lighting you would not associate with a small bedroom.

How easy is this look to achieve? Working on a simple scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being the hardest level to achieve these bedroom shelves is a 5.

It's a 5 but could easily be a 10 due to the complex nature of buying a lighting system that is going to represent something different in a standard bedroom, it should be a fun challenge and make you think deeply.

Inspiring small bedroom ceiling ideas

Being inspired by ceilings can be a prospect that many of us would never contemplate. Still, when you look at the images presented, they give some food for thought and possible intervention of your own small bedroom ceiling.

If you live in an apartment and are not restricted by tenancy agreements then rip the ceiling down and enjoy the ironic splendor of poured concrete, your friends and family may think you are crazy until they see the stunning transformation of your bedroom ceiling.

Make the most of your property. If you have wood floors, then explore the potential and be inspired by play it again Sam, Casablanca influences look great in any bedroom in any country, enjoy the concept, and work out how you can create your own wood ceiling bedroom.

When we talk about small bedrooms, kids are the first thing that comes to mind and just because the bedroom is small doesn't mean you can't make the room something special that can be enjoyed for years to come.

Take advantage of the vast array of kid's bedroom stickers for boys and girls that are available online and can be delivered the very next day.