Two-level stretch ceiling. Design in the living room, kitchen, bedroom
In the apartment, I want the entire renovation to be perfect – from floor to ceiling. Ceilings acquired the most bizarre shapes and sizes. We have collected the most stylish options for stretch ceilings for different rooms.
Stretch ceiling in the living room
Most often, the most complex ceiling design is chosen for the living room. Firstly, several lighting scenarios are relevant for this room. And due to the two levels, you can use different lamps. Secondly, the two-level ceiling really makes the room more elegant, and this is important for the living room.
The simplest design option is a narrow ledge against the wall. It can be both on one side, for example, above the TV area, and maybe along the perimeter of the room. What does such an addition give? First of all, it is convenient to place spotlights in it. Usually they are combined with a large chandelier in the center of the ceiling.
In addition, due to the “narrowing” of the ceiling, it visually becomes higher. It is relevant for apartments in which the ceiling is only 2.5 meters. Even in this case, you should not be afraid of a stretch ceiling. Yes, it takes 5-8 cm of space, but due to such tricks, the difference will not be noticeable.
10 years ago, broken lines were at the peak of popularity. Strict geometry is in fashion now. This decision should be justified from a practical point of view.
By the way, about practicality. Two-level stretch ceilings are needed not only for spotlights, but also for LED strips. They are just installed in the intervals between levels. Due to this, it seems that the upper part is floating in the air. It looks very impressive in the evenings.
In many apartments, the kitchen and living room are combined into one space. And different ceiling levels are one of the ways of zoning. Usually a more complex option is chosen for the living room area. The difference can be emphasized with the help of two types of material: matte and glossy.
In some cases, on the contrary, it is above the kitchen that a lower ceiling is left, since this is not the front part of the room. Different textures look interesting. For example, under wood or metal. Modern fabric options that are used for stretch ceilings can be not only of monochrome colors.
It is still common for different ceiling levels to alternate: higher-lower-higher again. This technique can hardly be called a trend. Rather, it is already going out of fashion. Therefore, if you are only planning to make repairs, it is better to refuse such a decision.
The photo below shows another anti–trend – those curved lines. They have been in fashion for 15 years, they have been used very actively, so the trend has become boring for everyone and will return very soon.
Also, we do not recommend making a stretch ceiling with a pattern. The maximum where it can be relevant is in the children’s room. And that image should be unobtrusive, so as not to get bored quickly. For a bedroom or a living room, you can choose much more sophisticated options.
If you want something complicated, you can play asymmetry. In this case, the lines do not run parallel or perpendicular to each other, but form a polyline pattern. It is important that this idea be supported in other details. It looks especially great in strict monochrome interiors.
Suspended ceiling in the bedroom
A two-level stretch ceiling in the bedroom is usually used in two opposite cases. If the interior is very simple and you need to add a twist. Or if the design is complex, and the ceiling is an important detail of the overall concept.
If you want something calm, but at the same time non-standard, you can, for example, make a second level not along all four walls, but along only two. Also, the second level can be wider than the usual 20-30 cm. So it will look much more noticeable and original.
A common mistake of novice designers is that they try to use as many chips as possible in one space. Do not forget, we are talking about the bedroom – a space for rest and relaxation. The ceiling in this room cannot look like in the hotel lobby. After all, lightness is always a priority in the bedroom.
Therefore, multi-tiered ceilings with many transitions, a combination of several colors will look out of place. Unless the rest of the interior is minimalistic. Conciseness and convenience – that’s what you should start from when choosing a ceiling design for a bedroom.
It is very important to think in advance which lighting options may be relevant for you. So for the bedroom, an open bright light directed directly into the eyes is unacceptable. In this case, spotlights, sconces and light strips are always better than large chandeliers. And a two-level ceiling can just become an excellent basis for them.
A fairly common move is to use a contrasting color between different levels. Mostly dark. The trend draws attention to the interesting geometry of the ceiling. There is only one caveat: this technique works in plus only if the contrast strip is narrow – no more than 20 cm.
The trend to use other contrasting colors is just beginning to come into fashion. You can catch the trend first. The main colors of the season are ochre, sand, rose quartz, emerald, sky blue.
Sometimes stretch ceilings in the bedroom are made in three levels. The first one is for hanging lamps on a long cord (a hot trend!). The second one is for spotlights. The third one is for the LED strip. You will not lose anything if you combine the assignment of the first and second level into one. The concept definitely does not work here: more is better.
A ceiling that looks like a hole has been made can look impressive, especially if a different color is used inside. In the evenings, with a backlight, such a design may resemble the moon or one of the planets. Note how the circular shape of the recess is supported by lamps in the form of spheres.
Usually the second level is placed symmetrically to the center of the room. But not always. For example, with its help, you can additionally allocate a recreation area. This is also of practical importance: it is above the bed that different types of illumination are needed.
The lack of centering of the ceiling can also be dictated by design solutions. For example, when the broken lines continue on the ceiling, which began on the walls. It looks cool when this move is still highlighted with a light strip.
Such work can only be trusted by experienced specialists. It requires high-quality materials, time and more expenses than other options. But if everything turns out exactly according to your idea, the result will definitely be worth it. Not everyone can buy furniture sets and glue beige wallpaper in a flower.
Above we talked about the fact that geometricity and straight lines are in the trend. It really is. But there is one exception – rounded corners. This trend comes from the 60s, which triumphantly returned to interior design. It is important that in order for it to “work”, each new level should be emphasized with a contrasting stripe.
And of course, rounded lines should be supported by other details. If you do not plan to do this, it is better to stop at clear straight lines. One of the advantages is that it is much easier to implement such a project.
Stretch ceiling in the kitchen
In the kitchen, a two-level ceiling is of great practical importance. Often you have to hide a ventilation pipe in it. Usually it goes over the cabinets, so you can see so many design projects with a kind of threshold above the kitchen facade.
If the kitchen area is small, it is better to choose a plain white ceiling. You can recoup on a more complex design. But he must be justified. For example, another ceiling level coincides with a decorative panel on the wall, wallpaper with a different pattern or contrasting painting.
By the way, the second level itself can be chosen in a different color. Preferably not bright: saturated colors on the ceiling do not look very organic. But the pastel color scheme will add sophistication to the interior.
For kitchens in a classic style, two-level ceilings will be most welcome. A simple white coating with sophisticated furniture looks too ordinary. But the ceiling of several levels, and even with cornices, refers to the interiors of luxurious palaces. It remains only to choose the appropriate chandelier.
We haven’t touched on the topic of the material yet. Matte ceilings are definitely in fashion. Gloss was so often used that it is now associated with bad taste. Especially in bright colors. And everything that says that gloss visually expands the space is just a myth.
But this does not mean that gloss cannot be used at all. You can! But you need to do it carefully. Definitely not in bright colors and better in combination with matte surfaces. A small glossy section of the ceiling will look great with glossy kitchen facades.
Whichever ceiling option you like, first think: what do I need it for? What function will the second and each subsequent level perform? In most cases, the most concise options look best.