4 Creative Basement Ceiling Ideas
Basements are tricky, as they either have low ceiling heights and/or they contain the guts of the home (ductwork, plumbing and electrical wiring) limiting what you can and can't do. The question most builders and remodelers face is: How do you turn your basement into a functional living space?
As experts in ceiling construction, we're here to help you answer that question. First we'll cover a few types of ceilings for basements, which not only look good, but offer ways to hide the ductwork, plumbing and electrical wiring.
After that, we'll show you how these types of basement ceilings can be utilized to create some really amazing basements. These projects will be sure to get your creative juices flowing with some great ideas for your own basement ceiling.
4 CEILING IDEAS FOR BASEMENTS
- Cove Ceilings : The coved ceiling utilizes concave (or convex) molding along the edges, providing a smooth transition between ceiling and wall. You can hide the plumbing and wiring behind the coving, while getting an elegant look in the basement.
- Astroid Curve : This type of ceiling utilizes a series of curves to form an intricate design. It is highly decorative, so it adds a strong visual element. As most ductwork, plumbing and electrical wiring is contained along the ceilings next to the walls, you can create an exterior soffit around the perimeter of the wall and then install an astroid curve ceiling in the center. When done, you'd never know that the pesky electrical wiring or plumbing pipe was there.
- Barrel Vault : Barrel Vaults don't have to be half-circle. This is a common misconception. When working with basements, you can have a slight rise, which looks elegant, and can be ideal for hiding ductwork, plumbing, or electrical wires. You can also create an exterior soffit around the perimeter and install the barrel in the center, which gives you more options to hide the tubing and wires you don't want showing.
- Radius Ceiling : This ceiling is similar to astroid curve ceilings. You can add a circular ceiling with a light ring. Or maybe your room is rectangular and an oval ceiling would look better. You can limit the drop of ceiling to keep your ceiling height as tall as possible.
When looking for ceiling ideas for basements, the goals should be keeping unsightly installations out of view all while making the space feel as natural and livable as possible.
Turn the basement into your favorite room with these basement ceiling ideas
Now that we've covered a few types of ceilings we recommend using in your basement, let's get into some ways to utilize these ceilings to make your basement the best on the block.
In some homes, the basement is an unappealing cave that you would only consider entering to fetch the laundry or escort a service person to the boiler. They are dark, dank and dreary; three D’s that really shouldn’t be used to describe any room in your home.
But in other homes, the basements are fun and interesting spaces; the kind of rooms you’d like to spend all your time in. What’s the difference? Well, it has to do with design, comfort and some spectacular ceilings (of course!). So, here are some basement ceiling ideas to help get your creative juices flowing and get your basement out of the dark ages.
Vaulted Wine Cellar
When you hear the phrase “vaulted wine cellar,” you might think of something like a bank vault that protects your wine, but that’s not what we’re talking about. We’re talking about vaulted ceilings . This is a post on basement ceiling ideas after all. So, for a bit of inspiration, feast your eyes on this stunning wine grotto that was formed in just a small corner of a basement. This space, with its brick-covered groin vaulted ceiling, will leave you thinking that you stepped into an old European castle – and it all starts with a groin vault.
Basement Man cave
If your home isn’t exactly feeling like your castle, you may want to design a retreat of your own in the basement. Here, the basement ceiling ideas are aplenty. You could go with a groin vault, cove or a dome – just don’t decorate it with ornate flowers and you’ll be fine.
The Ultimate Basement Game Room
The game room could be part of your man cave, or it could be more of a family-oriented space. It’s all up to you (and the fam, of course). Again, the basement ceiling ideas are almost endless. A popular choice for this kind of room tends to be the coved ceiling, but the sky is the limit. You can opt for a groin or even a barrel vault and still pull off a room that you won’t soon want to leave.
Combination Cellar
If your basement is large enough, you can fit a man cave, game room and wine cellar; just treat the basement like any other level of the home. And certainly, you can alternate ceilings. How about a groin vault for the wine cellar a barrel vault for the man cave and a coved ceiling for the game room.
Basement Ceiling Options From Archways & Ceilings
When designing a home, too many people just leave the basement out of the plans. Either they opt to use it for a utility or storage space or they say they’ll get to it later. But why not get the right ceiling in place upfront? It’ll save you time, money and effort later on. So, when you’re planning that new home or massive remodel, it’s the perfect time to start looking at basement ceiling ideas.
We're here to help. Send us your plans by using the form below. We'd be happy to help you with what will and what won't work. You can also call us at 877-303-2263.