The Fifth Wall Unveiled

Interior designers have long regarded the ceiling as the room’s “fifth wall”—a blank canvas with far more potential than a simple coat of white paint. While painting is a classic option, designers like Houston-based Sandy Lucas of Lucas/Eilers Design Associates are encouraging homeowners to explore bolder and more creative treatments.

“The ceiling is just so important,” Lucas explains. “Historically, traditional interiors always included the ceiling in the overall design. It wasn’t until the midcentury modern period that ceilings became simplified—typically white and undecorated.”

That’s changing. Ceilings are enjoying a resurgence, with architects, interior designers, and DIY enthusiasts experimenting with a wide range of finishes and styles. For many, the possibilities are limitless.

Paint remains the most budget-friendly option. Lucas prefers soft, sky-inspired shades like pale blues and grays, which are not only soothing indoors but also have a long tradition in Southern architecture for use on porch ceilings—believed to deter wasps while mimicking the sky. But for those looking to make a bolder statement, there are many other options to consider, from coffered ceilings and wood beams to plaster and wallpaper.

Designer Linda Eyles didn’t explore wallpaper for ceilings until she participated in the 2019 ASID Gulf Coast Chapter Show House. She noticed that guests would admire the room, then look up—and be truly captivated. “I had done tray ceilings and coffers before, but never wallpaper,” she says. “It really transformed the space.” Since then, ceiling wallpaper has become one of her signature touches. In one guest bedroom, she used floral wallpaper in deep plum and peacock blue, outlined with matching crown molding, and paired it with velvet plum upholstery and purple drapes.

“The ceiling is such a great opportunity. We used to just hang a chandelier and call it done,” Eyles says. “Now, even in powder rooms, you can lacquer the ceiling to add a bit of sparkle.”

In one standout project, she installed hand-painted wallpaper on the ceiling to create a serene retreat for a client she described as a “Renaissance man.” The wallpaper’s jagged gold streaks on an eggplant background echoed the aesthetic of kintsugi, the Japanese art of repairing broken pottery with gold. The ceiling and rug worked together to anchor the space with artistic flair.

Both Lucas and her partner Sarah Eilers believe ceiling design should always be part of the room’s overall plan. With the right materials and colors, ceilings can influence how a space feels—expanding smaller rooms or adding warmth to larger ones. For instance, wood beams in a vaulted ceiling can draw the eye upward and add dimension, while light hues make small rooms feel more open, and darker tones create a sense of intimacy.

When architecture allows, homeowners can even raise the ceiling height by reconfiguring attic space or incorporating vaulted or groin-vaulted designs. These can be finished with stone, brick, or reclaimed wood for added texture. In some homes, ceiling beams are crafted from authentic salvaged barn wood, bringing rustic warmth and character.

Sarah Eilers saw the impact of these elements firsthand in a new home project in Park City, Utah. There, she used hand-hewn beams throughout, selecting large ones for the airy living room and smaller ones in the adjacent kitchen, which also featured tongue-and-groove planking. Together, the wood treatments added depth and an Old World charm to a newly built space.

While ceiling enhancements are certainly possible in existing homes, designers agree they’re easiest to plan for in new construction. “You have more freedom during construction—painters and millworkers are already on site,” says Lucas. “We try to think through all the ceiling treatments early on, so it’s seamlessly integrated with the rest of the house.”