Are Coffered Ceilings Outdated? Here's What Our Expert Says

In today's age of quickly executed new-build houses, people are craving architectural features to make their homes feel more memorable. That's why some are transforming their flat, blank rooms with textured features like DIY board and batten walls, or ceiling beams to elevate the room, and even ceiling medallions to add drama to chandeliers and pendants. However, there has been debate over whether or not one particular feature is still stylish or dated, and that's coffered ceilings. 

Coffered ceilings use beams and recessed panels to create grid-like patterns. The beams create a dramatic grid, adding drama and texture to the room. While they may look beautiful in Victorian mansions, some designers believe they look out of place and overly intricate in new-build homes. To figure out if that's just a few designers' opinions or if the tides really are turning against coffered ceilings, we exclusively reached out to expert Beth Diana Smith, owner of Beth Diana Smith Interior Design, who stated that this style is here to stay.

When it comes to historic features like coffered ceilings, Smith thinks they're too timeless ever to be considered outdated. "I don't agree that coffered ceilings are outdated. I think coffered ceilings are a beautiful, and expensive, architectural element that is timeless and not trendy," she exclusively tells House Digest. These features have been around since ancient Egypt, and were also extremely popular in wealthy Victorian homes. In the mid-1800s, these houses were packed with intricate woodwork, spanning from fireplace mantels to wall wainscotting to ceiling details, including detailed coffered ceilings.

Nowadays, coffered ceilings are still beloved by people who enjoy traditional or historic details. They're also a bit of a flex, since installing one costs between $3,000 to $4,500, but it gets more expensive the more detailed you get. Some people might think this wink toward a pricey investment is unrefined, but if it fits the look of the home and doesn't feel out of place, then it's really just another way to embrace beautiful architecture. However, there is one downside to the look: "This is best used on ceilings that are at least 9 feet," Smith notes, so if you have lower ceilings, avoid this style or you risk your space looking boxed-in. 

Some designers suggest swapping out coffered ceilings for a more "timeless" option, such as plasterwork on cornices. However, Smith thinks one isn't better than the other. They each have their merits, but look better in different types of rooms. "I don't think it's more timeless, but I do think it's a matter of preference because intricate plasterwork on the cornices is a more traditional aesthetic, whereas a coffered ceiling can be done in a way that is more contemporary," she exclusively tells House Digest. 

Thanks to the detail work in cornices, they often remind people of old Parisian apartments, which can be hard to modernize. However, you can easily make coffered ceilings feel more 21st century with some paint. "For example, the coffers themselves can be painted to be a fun color and the trays can be either painted another color or wallpapered," Smith explains. However, while it's a traditional aesthetic, there is one benefit to cornices that coffered ceilings can't provide. "[They] can be done on any area with no ceiling height consideration," she notes. So if you have a short ceiling, plaster away!