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How To Build A Tray Ceiling

Can I create a tray ceiling?

Homeowners stuck with eight-foot ceilings can achieve a faux tray by installing flat trim molding on the ceiling in the shape of a traditional border. After the trim is in place, the ceiling on the outside of the trim can be painted a different color from the ceiling inside the border to create a visual separation.

How hard is it to add a tray ceiling?

Although installing a tray ceiling should be left to professionals, the construction process is surprisingly easy. To create the illusion of a high tray, contractors usually add wood to the perimeter room. Once the framework for the drop-down border has been installed, the wood is usually coated in drywall.

How much does it cost to add a tray ceiling?

Prices vary in every city and for each project, but homeowners typically spend $2 – $4 per square foot to install tray ceilings. In a new-construction home, you might spend $500 – $1,500 total per ceiling.

Is a tray ceiling worth it?

The most obvious benefit of a tray ceiling or step ceiling is that it adds a completely different visual feel to virtually any room in the home. These types of ceilings are common in master bedrooms as they add a feeling of luxury and elegance.

Should tray ceiling be lighter or darker than walls?

By painting your tray ceiling the same color as the walls of your room a space will naturally feel more intimate and cohesive. This is option is perfect for bedrooms. Going a darker than the wall color on the ceiling will have a similar effect, but will make the space feel even cozier.

What’s the difference between a coffered ceiling and a tray ceiling?

While a coffered ceiling has many recessed areas (usually in the shape of a grid), a tray ceiling features a single raised area that mimics the shape of the room. While coffered ceilings can be made with a variety of materials, including different types of wood, tray ceilings are usually made with plaster and drywall.

What is a reverse tray ceiling?

A reverse tray ceiling is similar to a traditional tray ceiling in that there is a disparity in the height of the center of the ceiling in contrast with its perimeter. Rather than the center being taller, however, the center is lower than the perimeter.

How high should a tray ceiling be?

When planning to install a tray ceiling, it is required to have a minimum ceiling height of at least eight feet.

What is the point of a tray ceiling?

A tray ceiling, also called an inverted or recessed ceiling, features a center section that is several inches (or several feet) higher than the areas around the perimeter of the room. This design allows for the use of colors painted on the trim that can turn a bland ceiling into a focal point.

How do you finish a tray ceiling?

Create a beautiful focal point in your tray by installing ceiling planks. For a rich, traditional feel, use stained wood; for a lighter cottage approach, install paneling and paint it white or off white. Decorate with tin tiles. Fill in the ceiling of your tray with tin for a dramatic look.

Are tray ceilings dated?

Tray and coffered ceilings with the banding painted in an accent color. When tray ceilings first became popular for dining rooms and bedrooms, multiple colors and contrasting banding were used to make people take notice of the trayed effect. That looks so dated now. Accent or contrasting color under the chair rail.

What is a double tray ceiling?

A double-tray ceiling is constructed with an inset area, or tray, surrounded by two layers of molding — like a picture frame with matting and a decorative frame — providing a more dramatic appearance. There are various options available for enhancing the ceiling in a way that draws your eyes upward.

What is a raised ceiling?

A vaulted ceiling refers to any ceiling that angles up toward the roof to extend higher than the standard eight- to ten-foot height of average flat ceilings. Among the most common types of vaulted ceilings are arched, barrel, cathedral, domed, groin, and rib, each with its own unique structure.

What is a box ceiling?

What Is a Box Ceiling? A box beam ceiling is a design element that features hollow beams affixed to the ceiling to create a repeating box pattern. This classic design element can be installed in virtually any room, and incorporated into any design scheme. Another name for a box beam ceiling is a coffered ceiling.

How much does a coffered ceiling cost?

A basic 150-square-foot build costs $3,750 on average. Expect to pay $25 per square foot depending on the material and design you choose. The square foot price includes labor and materials but does not cover extras, like trim, paint and finials.Average Cost of Coffered Ceilings. Average Cost $3,750 Low Cost $3,000.

How do you light a tray ceiling?

One of the best ways to enhance a tray ceiling with accent lighting is to install cove lighting. This is typically installed under crown molding or other types of molding using rope lights. The wood trim hides the actual lights so that all you notice is a beautiful glow against the wall or ceiling.