The Beautiful DIY Ceiling Design That Will Transform Your Entire Room In An Instant

Ceilings, particularly in newer constructions, can often be pretty plain and uninspiring. Typically created from the same drywall or plaster as the rest of the room, they often lack the architectural details, like crown molding, ceiling medallions, or wood beams of older homes. While you can add these things to new home ceilings, or find other ways to create interest, like using a contrasting color or wallpaper on your ceiling, a more unique solution may be as close as your garden center. Sheets of trellis in a lattice pattern can be added to your ceiling for a charming cottage look that adds visual detail and interest to even the plainest ceiling.

Wooden trellises are often inexpensive and typically average about $20 to $40, like the 4 by 8 foot Sierra Cedar Classic Diamond Vinyl Lattice Panel from Home Depot, priced at $30. This means an even larger room can be a budget-friendly DIY project with a lot of impact. While this job does entail at least two people for installation (one to hold the panel in place while the other attaches it to the ceiling,) it's a relatively easy project to add character to your ceiling. A stunning DIY ceiling design can help a small room look larger by drawing the eye up, making it a great solution for even tiny spaces like a hallway or entry room. 

To decorate your ceiling with latticework, just measure the area you would like to cover, then cut the sheet to size. Then prepare it by painting it the color or finish you would like. Painting a trellis can often be time consuming, so using a sprayer or spray paint can often be a better alternative. You could also sand the lattice and add your favorite wood stain for a natural look. To attach the latticework to the ceiling, use 2-inch brad nails driven directly into the ceiling. If you worry about the weight on the ceiling, you could also use screws and drywall anchors.

If you want a little more control over the dimensions of each lattice opening, you can also assemble a lattice from straight pieces of wood. You'll install your first layer of wooden boards at a diagonal on the ceiling, spaced equally, then install the next layer at the opposite direction. You can also use slender, flat wood trim strips that are very lightweight and overlap well for the project.

There are many options to customize the latticework on your ceiling to your space. Install it wall-to-wall or create a frame surrounding the trellis portion if located in a recessed ceiling. You could add it in certain sections of the room, like above a dining table or over the bed. Or paint the ceiling a color and add a white trellis over it to create some interesting contrast of complementary color. If you decide to install individual pieces, you could also paint the boards in different colors for a two-tone effect.

Style the ceiling in fun ways that emphasize and draw even more attention to it, like adding veins of artificial greenery string through the trellis. Wrap twinkle lights around the lattice for a soft and romantic glow. If you would like to make a high ceiling feel lower to create a cozier effect, you could also attach the lattice to chains at four corners and suspend it from the ceiling.