Coffered Ceilings
Coffered ceilings can add a sense of drama, space, and elegance to any room in your home. This type of ceiling uses a series of recessed panels arranged in a grid to add depth to a flat or vaulted ceiling.
The coffered ceiling goes back to Greek and Roman times, when it was developed to distribute structural weight evenly, especially on heavier, tall roofs. The style re-emerged in the Baroque and Early Renaissance eras, where it dominated aristocratic architecture.
Luckily, you don’t need to be a modern baron to afford a coffered ceiling. Modern techniques have made this type of ceiling accessible to every homeowner because modern coffered ceilings use lighter, more affordable materials.
Waffle Ceilings
Coffered ceilings that have a repeating arrangement are known as waffle ceilings because of their resemblance to the surface of a waffle. While the traditional square or rectangular waffle ceiling remains popular, many more designs are attracting interest. Those designs include octagons and diamonds.
Waffle ceilings can suit any home, from rustic to contemporary. Using a traditional pattern such as squares or diamonds would suit a rustic home, while more dramatic shapes can add a sense of drama to an otherwise sterile contemporary form.
Material choice also plays a huge role in how well a waffle ceiling fits with a particular style. Expert carpenters can convert any flat roof into a waffle ceiling with the addition of beams made from MDF, wood, or plaster. Stained wood is an excellent choice for rustic homes, while plaster panels look great in a modern space.
Waffle Ceiling Vs. Coffered Ceiling: Which One Should You Choose?
Waffle ceilings are a subset of coffered ceilings. The main difference between the two is that the beams in a waffle ceiling cross each other to create a repeating pattern.
Both coffered ceilings and waffle ceilings make excellent choices for large spaces that need an extra dose of style and luxury. A wide variety of beam materials ensures that no matter which style you currently have, you can adapt your ceiling to match.
Another interesting spinoff style is cathedral waffle ceiling boxes. Cathedral ceilings tend to be almost intimidatingly high, and adding a waffle ceiling box can shrink this distance to something friendlier while also adding a focal point to the room.
Coffered Ceilings
Coffered ceilings add a touch of class to any room, but that doesn’t make them suitable for every situation. If you’ve fallen in love with the design and want to install a similar ceiling in your home, make sure to keep the following considerations in mind:
- Ceiling height: Coffered ceiling beams can take up valuable room volume, which can make lower ceilings feel almost too low. Ideally, you want to have a ceiling height of more than nine feet to get the best effect. You can also control the size of the beams to make sure they don’t infringe too much on the room and make it feel claustrophobic.
- Functional or faux: Beams in most modern coffered ceilings don’t have any structural role and are purely decorative. Since they’re not load-bearing, you may need to make sure that your ceiling structure can handle the additional weight.
Coffered Ceilings
Coffered ceilings can add a new spark of life to an otherwise dull room. Get in touch with us to schedule a consultation today! We’ll help you achieve the custom waffle ceiling of your dreams.
