The Design Trend That'll Add More Character And Personality To Your Home Next Year

Maybe it's something in the zeitgeist where one feels compelled to look to the skies for answers, or roll their eyes, or sit and daydream: The fifth wall will be putting the "5" in 2025, as ceilings of all kinds make a comeback in home design. Statement ceilings, as they are often called, are expected to become the new design feature that will instantly elevate rooms, according to interior design experts. The most important element will be texture, which can be achieved in a number of ways. (No, popcorn and drop ceilings aren't things again, two once-trendy design trends to avoid.) Adding a decorative finish to the otherwise blank wall can create a number of effects: ambiance, depth, focus, character, and charm, to name a few. 

Painting the ceiling is one way to do it, either matching the walls, choosing a contrasting color, using a high-gloss paint, or creating a pattern such as stripes. For impact, you can also stencil designs, or even cover the ceiling with artwork, photographs, vinyl records, or album covers. And, there are even more creative ways to add character to your ceiling if you aim high.

Two trends dovetail if you use wallpaper, which is capturing the hearts of homebodies once again. The vast array of new designs can send your imagination in far-out directions. Extra exciting is the selection of textured wallpaper now available, some of which come embossed and can be painted over for a raised design, or kept as is to reveal flocking, foil, or natural fibers. Ceilings can also be covered in cedar paneling to achieve the rustic cottagecore look so many love these days; vinyl peel-and-stick paneling for the throwback 1970s feel of playing in your grandparents' basement; or the modern, fresh, and unexpected look of reclaimed barn wood, American oak slats, or tongue-and-groove planks. There's also fabric. Ceilings can be covered with tapestries made of materials like satin or even rope.

Gaining traction is another look from the past — plaster details, which were standard on the ceilings of grand first-floor rooms in mansions from the turn of the last century. Think "The Great Gatsby." They've become accessible for everyone, in the form of ceiling medallions and moldings, both of which can be paired with hanging light fixtures (like in yesteryear's glamorous days). Likewise, stone, brick, and tile — although sometimes heavy and often requiring professional installation — can infuse a Mediterranean or Victorian style. Other three-dimensional features can be created by fashioning designs out of drywall and adhering to the surface, which work particularly well in large rooms with coffered ceilings.