Refresh Your Home With A Coffered Ceiling
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Coffered Ceiling
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Ceilings are an important centerpiece in the home, but their design potential is often overlooked in renovation efforts. Updating just one room of your house with a subtle coffered ceiling can improve the look of the entire space. It can set the tone for your entire design aesthetic, and even add value to your home.
What Are Coffered Ceilings?
A coffered ceiling makes use of hollow beams, called coffers, to create the illusion of deep indentations in a ceiling. Coffers can be indented, sunken, or hollowed-out panels. When the coffers are installed very deep, the ceiling will have a dramatic, impressive feel. This style is often seen in courthouse buildings, hotel lobbies, and other elegant buildings.
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Shallow coffers can add dimension in a more subtle but no less impactful way. They are an ideal choice for rooms in residential homes, such as kitchens, master bedrooms, and even bathrooms. They also work well in apartment buildings and commercial offices with high ceilings.
A Short History of Coffered Ceilings
Coffered ceilings have been adorning rooms for hundreds of years. One famous building that incorporates coffers is the Palace of Versailles, where the coffered ceiling in Maria Theresa’s private apartments is one of the oldest decorative pieces in the palace, dating back to 1683. In addition, the famous dome inside the Pantheon in Rome is encircled by 28 coffers that gradually become smaller in size as they move toward the center.
But coffers aren’t just suitable for palaces and temples. While they work best with high ceilings (think vaulted or cathedral), coffers can be used in a variety of spaces to make a room feel more spacious, textured, and grandiose.
Are Coffered Ceilings Modern?
Although the style itself has deep traditional roots, coffered ceilings persist as a popular modern trend. Their minimalistic, open-concept vibe is especially sought after in contemporary homes. Plus, they add the illusion of space to a room without adding another square foot. As ceilings in homes are built higher and higher, coffers have become an ideal solution to maximize the design impact of the vertical space.
Another great benefit is the fact that coffers can be sound-absorbent. This works wonderfully in modern homes that have wood floors and high ceilings. Having a slight echo in your foyer might not be a deal-breaker, but nothing is more annoying than an echo in the kitchen or the bedroom.
Factors That Affect Cost
Coffered ceilings aren’t cheap. In general, professional installation costs will start around $25 per square foot. However, the type of wood, ceiling designs, patterns, and lighting you choose will affect the cost. Ornate designs, stained cherry, red oak are all expensive choices.
For a more affordable ceiling, try going with an inexpensive wood such as pine. You can even create a coffered ceiling using drywall, synthetic woods, or plywood, then paint the ceiling in the colors of your choice.
Ceiling Design Types
While coffered ceilings have a unique charm, there are other similar designs that are often confused or used interchangeably. It can be helpful to know the difference between the different ceiling designs when you are choosing the best one for your home.
A conventional ceiling is the type of ceiling you will find in most homes and commercial buildings. It’s flat, easy to clean and decorate, and fairly nondescript.
The term suspended ceiling is often used interchangeably with a coffered ceiling, but they are structurally different. The suspended ceiling is installed beneath an existing ceiling to hide wires, exposed beams, and other construction pieces — whereas a coffered ceiling is made up of hollowed-out beams or panels.
Latticework can be easy to confuse with coffers. Both ceiling styles are made up of beams that criss-cross, run the length of the ceiling, or form boxes in various patterns. However, lattice is typically suspended below the lights on a ceiling, creating a diffused lighting effect in the room.
Tray ceilings are another popular alternative in contemporary homes. Typically, the center of the ceiling is raised several inches above the edges of the ceiling. It looks like one singular, inverted coffer.
Benefits of Coffered Ceilings
Whether you are thinking of adding coffers to your home or simply renovating an existing coffered ceiling, the style has limitless potential.
Coffered ceilings can be incredibly versatile.
There are so many ways to design coffered ceilings. Add reclaimed wood to an all-white ceiling for an agrarian feel. Or try unique lighting coupled with minimal detailing for a sleek, modern look. You can play with the depth of the beams, the pattern of the wood, and even different types of ceiling fans to create a look that is perfect for almost any type of home.
Easy to install.
You should always consult a professional when installing a coffered ceiling, because even though coffers are usually hollow and lightweight, you still need to make sure that your ceiling has the weight capacity to withstand the beams. Otherwise, you run the risk of costly damage to your ceiling and possibly physical damage to your furniture or even yourself and your family.
As long as your ceiling is sturdy enough, though, this type of ceiling is fairly simple to install.
Easy to maintain.
Nothing is worse than a ceiling that requires loads of upkeep, because who wants to spend all afternoon on a ladder in your living room? Thankfully, when the correct materials are used, coffered ceilings are highly resistant to mold, mildew, and sagging.
Add to the value of your home.
Coffered ceilings can increase your home’s resale value, making the time and effort you put into renovations even more worthwhile. Their timeless appeal and durable qualities make them a great long-term investment.
Endless Design Possibilities
If you’re unsure whether coffers are the right choice for you, try experimenting with different colors, patterns, and material types. Bright colors can add flair to a retro kitchen, while comforting tones of blue may be ideal in the master bathroom. Adding wood can give a room depth, making it feel homey and cozy like a vacation house. That’s the enchanting beauty of coffered ceilings: they can be adapted to fit almost any design aesthetic.
Whatever style you choose, the timeless look of a coffered ceiling is sure to enhance your space for years to come.
Brandon Hubbard, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP BD+C
