Tray ceilings can be a striking architectural feature in any room, but sometimes they feel odd or out of place due to their unusual shape or outdated design. If you’re wondering how to improve a weird tray ceiling, you’re not alone. Many homeowners find themselves with this same dilemma: a ceiling feature that’s meant to add flair, but instead, makes the room feel awkward. Fortunately, there are quick and easy ways to fix this problem. A combination of the right paint and molding can transform even the strangest tray ceilings into a stylish focal point.
In this article, we’ll guide you through how to make your tray ceiling work for your room rather than against it. From simple paint color choices to installing decorative molding, you’ll discover all the tips and tricks to turn a weird tray ceiling into a beautiful design feature.
What is a Tray Ceiling?
Before we get into the solutions, let us first explain what a tray ceiling is. A tray ceiling is a ceiling that is lower down in the middle, thus making a step or “tray” effect. The tray can come in such styles as shallow or deep, square or rectangular, and rarely, even an octagonal shape.
Common Issues with Tray Ceilings
Tray ceilings boost the space’s verticality and enhance the general aesthetic but sometimes they can become disjointed and appear to be out of place in the room if the ceiling has an unusual shape or if it is not in line with the room’s style. Some common issues include:
- The harsh difference between the ceiling and the walls
- Strange figures that seem to the ceiling to be out of place
- Poor lighting which we have to say the ceiling is a dark, recessed area
- Outdated colors or styles that are at odds with contemporary decor
Having known the most common problems, let’s see how to improve your peculiar tray ceiling with the aid of painting and molding in the right way.
How to Improve a Weird Tray Ceiling: Quick Fixes
If you’re dealing with a strange or outdated tray ceiling, here’s a quick solution. Optimal – and most quickly – accomplishing the weird tray ceiling fix is done by e.g. painting and molding the surface together to achieve harmony and balance. Colors that are the proper shade can de-emphasize irregularly shaped surfaces while using the proper molding can further shape the ceiling, hence, it will make it appear like it was designed that way and not jarringly inappropriate.
Step-by-Step Guide to Improving a Weird Tray Ceiling
1. Choose the Right Paint Color
The color palette of your tray ceiling could be the reason you feel that the room is small, big, or even the same size. The right shade will enable you to let the ceiling be the unexpected design or to make it prominent.
a. Use Lighter Colors for Cohesion
In the case of a ceiling that seems a bit too distant from the rest of the room, one can change its color to a lighter one that will either match or complement the walls. Lighter tones with no saturation like gentle grays, light beiges, and pastel colors can give the ceiling a soft touch and make it blend with the rest of the room, which in turn will create a more unified space.
b. Go Bold for Drama
In case you want to stand out with your unique ceiling design, then bright colors can help you in this regard by attracting the viewer’s attention positively. Darker shades such as navy, deep green, and charcoal gray can add a certain amount of depth and drama, thus making the rather odd shape look like a design feature. Reynolds gives an example of how the combination of molding and unique colors could allow the ceiling to become a showpiece.
c. Create Contrast
For a balanced approach, decorate the lowered center of the tray with a color that differs from that of the surrounding edges. This contrast will help the ceiling stand out one way by its shape yet not by its craziness. A neutral tone should be used for the outer edge which will blend with a slightly deeper or lighter tone for the inside tray.
2. Add Molding for Structure
Molding is a very good method for creating a weird tray ceiling. It frames the edge to provide it with a much complete and nicely finished appearance. However, one could also do with it to cover any strange figures by outlining the dedicated space with the ring.
a. Crown Molding for Elegance
The most straightforward way of making the space look stylish may be to set up the plain crown molding around the corners of the tray ceiling. Crown molding is a typical element in interior decorating used to add elegance and formality to rooms. The process of choosing the specific type of molding should be influenced by the style of the room, such as contemporary, industrial, etc.
b. Picture Frame Molding for a Modern Touch
To go the modern way could be your choice. Picture frame molding inside the tray is another exciting option that you are making the most of. This design is good at aesthetics and forms a new way of focal point inwards, thereby producing a sleek and polished look. It will look perfect in the living room with a minimal or modern style.
c. Layered Molding for Extra Detail
If you want a more high-end look, you can place several layers of moldings around the tray to achieve it. This can bring out the illusion of depth as well as give that architectural vibe to your ceiling. But make sure not to overdo this—too many layers can crowd the area and cause the ceiling to appear crowded as well.
3. Play with Lighting
Lighting can either enhance or diminish the effect of your tray ceiling. Without proper lighting, even the best interior ceiling paint and molding job won’t stand out. Consider these lighting ideas to complement your ceiling makeover:
a. Recessed Lighting for a Sleek Look
Inside the tray ceiling, recess lights can be installed, creating a recessed area which glows, consequently, this will inject more warmth and depth to the ceiling. Go for this option if you prefer a contemporary appearance.
b. Chandeliers or Pendant Lights for Drama
If you’re after eye-catching decor, a chandelier or a dramatic pendant light over the tray’s center will deliver a mesmerizing lure.
Similarly, carefully match the light fixture’s design with the overall theme of your room.
c. Cove Lighting for Ambiance
Cove lighting placed in the corners of the tray outline will create an illusion of a ceiling that is softly glowing and illusionist. This particular light type is particularly effective in forming a friendly and warm atmosphere, which is ideal for bedrooms or living rooms.
4. Consider Texture for Added Interest
Paint and moldings can be enough to change a weird tray ceiling completely, but sometimes they are not. These are the cases in which texture can actually reinforce the area. Think of the following texture alternatives:
a. Wood Paneling for Warmth
The addition of wood paneling in the tray will bring a rustic, classic look to the area. It is ideal for rooms that embrace the farmhouse or transitional style. You can either choose unpainted wood paneling for a natural look or go for a painted one, depending on the style you are after.
b. Beadboard for a Cottage Feel
If you want a more relaxed and cottage-style look, think about putting a beadboard inside the tray ceiling. The beadboard gives the space texture and creates a delightful effect, which is not too much. Dark and neutral paint colors will go well with the molding and the space.
c. Wallpaper for a Bold Statement
The wall covering will make your tray look bold and quirky when you add it to the inside. You can go for a more subtle or bolder pattern, whichever you choose, and your wallpaper can make your tray ceiling a complete statement piece.
How to Improve a Weird Tray Ceiling: Final Touches
After changing the paint, installing the molding, and putting the lights in, you may want to look at a few last touches to the overall look of the room.
a. Add Ceiling Medallions
Ceiling medallions are one of the most elegant ways of giving a fancy look to your tray ceiling. You can put one around a main light fixture and this will make the space look more complete.
b. Decorate with Architectural Elements
For rooms with a more traditional or formal style, consider using an architectural design to enhance the look of your tray ceiling. Skip the trimmings if your design leans towards minimalism or other modern styles.
c. Keep it Simple
It is possible for a room that has a more minimalistic or modern design to be more effective when there are fewer elements. A tray ceiling design that uses clean lines only, a neutral paint color, and subtle molding can be just as impressive as more complicated ones.
Conclusion
Tray ceilings should never be a design dilemma for you i hate light design. However, you can even change the most unusual tray ceiling to a beautiful architectural feature with the right paint, molding, and lighting choices. Be sure to choose colors and materials that are in harmony with the overall design of your room, and use your imagination with texture and lighting.
Follow these tips to beautify the ceiling and make it a perfect addition to your home. The fact whether you want to blend it with the room or make it a stand-out feature is of total significance. However, the right mix of elements can create a huge difference.
