From Heritage Murals To Modern Vaults 5 Ceiling Design Trends You Can’t-Miss

A space’s four walls often enclose a room, snugly holding it together. However, it is the fifth wall—the ceiling, an often-overlooked element—that crowns the spaces, shielding them in a cosy embrace. A true unsung hero, the ceiling holds the key to perfectly balanced interiors supporting the structural beams and bearing the lighting that illuminates the space, setting the mood and tone of a home. This crowning jewel influences spatial dynamics, shaping everything from acoustics to visual flow, depending on its design and positioning. Whether adorned with intricate frescoes or vivacious hues, ceilings possess the power to transform a mundane room into a magnificent statement. So why leave all the embellishments on the walls and floors? Bookmark these cool ceiling design ideas that will compel you to look up.

1. Rooted In Heritage At The Flat Bread Apartment

Drawing inspiration from the traditional Chettinad villas, with touches of Kerala and colonial influences, richly layered hues and intricate murals, a duo of apartments amalgamates to form an expansive 3,300-square-foot home in Coimbatore. Dubbed ‘The Flat Bread Apartment,’ this single-level apartment on the 12th floor—designed by Bricks & Beams— echoes the vibrant way of living of the Chettiars (Indigenous people of Tamil Nadu). Topped with flamboyant hues, wooden accents, and references to heritage Chettinad villas, this home tells tales of the past lives once lived.

Dinakar Manie, founder and principal designer of Bricks & Beams, explains, “Complementary textures, patterns, and colours travel across the house through the floors and ceilings.” This tactile experience begins right at the entrance, in the foyer, where a crimson vaulted ceiling embellished with intricate frescoes peeks from above. Crafted by four architecture students this frescoed ceiling draws the eye upward, exuding a maximalist vibe. In the master bedroom, an 8X8 ft hexagonal cot reflects itself in the antique mirrors. 

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2. The Meld House’s Ode To Old-World Charm

Punctuated with references to the traditional elements against a contemporary backdrop, an apartment monikered, ‘The Meld House,’ materialises in the ever-bustling Mumbai. Designed by Gaurav Kharkar & Associates, this 5,000 sq. ft apartment, with its open-plan layout and modern interpretation of heritage details, reflects the inhabitants’ strong roots while harmonising with the current happenings. This striking duplex apartment, stages a tête-à-tête between Scandinavian and Mid-Century Modern design styles, while the traditional elements weave a sense of nostalgia in every nook. With the softly curving beams, a muted palette and vintage-style pops of bright colours, the cadence of tradition in this home is congruent with the tempo of modern life.

“We have always been drawn towards experimenting and mixing different elements and design styles from various eras,” explains Gaurav and Vidhita Kharkar, Principal architect and designer of Gaurav Kharkar & Associates. Consequently, a cute cottage-core fantasy comes to life in the powder room, where austere marble walls meet a monochrome palette, and a vintage mirror reflects the vibrancy of the ceiling. This fuchsia-hued vaulted ceiling as the architects explain, “(is) adorned with hand-painted art featuring tree branches and birds,” evoking a sense of serenity in the bustle, while the gilded beams transport the users back in time. The intricate murals and gold accents conspire to evoke a sense of placidity within this petite powder room.

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3. Tropical Maximalism Woven Into The Hazel Project

Revelling in India’s culture and heritage, a 5,000-square-foot penthouse designed by TaP Design Inc. takes shape in Bengaluru. Christened ‘The Hazel Project,’ this maximalist home, rich with Indian niceties, unfolds as a layered symphony of textures, hues and forms with a recurring motif—Indian crafts. Bathed in sunlight, courtesy of the colossal windows, the penthouse features an open-plan layout saturated with wooden accents and a black and beige palette. While stone flooring, brass inlay work, and antique décor narrate tales of Indian craftsmanship, tropical illustrations paired with real planters peeking from every nook infuse a quaint character to the home.

“While we were keen to give an old-school vibe through the Chester sofa, we felt the ceiling was too plain,” reveals Sneha Talati and Iesha Parekh Shellugar founders of TaP Design Inc. Consequently, the ceiling with a black wallpaper punctuated with florals, transpires guiding the eyes upwards into an ethereal forest-like setting. With these floral motifs recurring, on the carpet, paintings, and cushion covers, this room establishes a connection with the 1,000-sq-ft terrace and the home’s overall theme.

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4. Vaulted Visions And Quietude At Villa 16

Exuding a hedonistic charm, a 4,000-square-foot second home designed by Insitu Design Studio emerges in the heart of Pune. ‘Villa 16,’ with its garden, pool, and palette resplendent with subdued hues, serves as a serene getaway—an escape from the mundane routine of daily life. From colossal double-height gathering spaces bathed in natural light to cosy lounge areas and bathrooms beneath skylights, this sanctuary prioritises quality family time, striking a perfect balance between shared moments and solitude.

To craft the perfect oasis, this home unfolds with expansive spaces—at times even double-height—to evoke a sense of openness. In keeping with this and referencing Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque architecture styles, a series of groin vaults in the foyer welcome the inhabitant’s home. “(It) adds character to what could otherwise be a long, narrow passage leading to the living room,” explains Sahiba Madan of Insitu Design Studio. She adds, “The vaulted arches elevate the spatial experience, offering a feeling of vastness and grandeur while incorporating ornate glass pendant lights.” Further, “in the children’s nursery, the use of Jack Arches in the ceiling introduces a playful and whimsical element,” adds Madan. Crafted with micro-concrete, these exposed arches evoke a sense of depth to the room, while remaining true to the neutral palette.

5. A Sustainable Affair With Tradition At Kathae

Steeped in the principles of austerity and minimalism, this multi-generational family home, designed by Tarsi House of Design comes to life on the outskirts of Bengaluru. Affectionately termed ‘Kathae,’ this exposed brick home, set on a 3,400-square-foot corner plot, embodies a rooted sense of indigenousness. From a Verandah and petite built-in seats to arches and locally sourced stones, every aspect of the home evokes the nostalgic and sustainable way of living once prevalent in the bygone era. Staying true to its sustainable ethos, the abode fosters a seamless connection with nature through an east-facing L-shaped garden that blurs the boundaries between the indoors and the outdoors.

With sustainability in its bones, “the ceiling design is inspired by traditional building methods, with an emphasis on integrating local, natural materials,” explains Veerendra. In the home’s living area, a series of jack arches crafted from brick seamlessly blend in with the rustic ambience, while adding depth to the room. Paying homage to architecture that embraced naturally ventilating techniques, “they act as natural insulators, significantly reducing heat gain and promoting passive cooling,” states Veerendra. Featuring a sloping roof–a predominant roof style in the region—the ceiling is adorned with woven bamboo mat boards and skylights; tipping its hat to ‘architecture before contraptions’ and becoming vestiges of time.

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In the grand symphony of design, it is the ceiling—the fifth wall—composing the most overlooked verse. Yet, as these spaces unveil, a ceiling is not merely a shelter but a narrator of heritage, artistry, and ingenuity. From vaults telling tales of the past to bespoke wallpapers, and from gilded beams that glisten under soft light to the rhythmic cadence of sustainable arches—each ceiling becomes a canvas, bearing memories, tradition, and a tacit summon to look up. In the intricate layers and deliberate craftsmanship, they prompt that beauty is not just in what surrounds us, but in what shelters us too.