Decorative Ceiling Tiles

Turn your ceilings from ho-hum to wow with decorative ceiling tiles. Even ceiling tiles with a subtle design can spruce up your room, or you can go all out and opt for eye catching styles to make your ceiling truly distinct. There’s a type of ceiling tile for every style of interior design and also for every budget.

Obviously, the first reason most people opt for unique and decorative tiles is that they look great. Ceiling tiles add a sense of warmth and character to a room, and they are one of those little finishing touches that can really pull a look together. Likewise, if you’re stuck with a dated look, like popcorn paint finish ceilings, these tiles can cover up a multitude of past decorating sins with ease. There are other reasons for deciding to tile your ceiling however:

• Ceiling tiles add insulation, which can help keep your home warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer – and your energy bills down.
• Ceiling tiles help with the acoustics of a room.
• Some ceiling tiles help absorb sound, which is perfect if you play an instrument or simply want to be able to watch TV at a decent volume while everyone else is sleeping!

Tiles come in a range of different materials, from tin to polymer plastic, but the most common kind of ceiling tiles are made from fiberboard.

Don’t worry – you don’t HAVE to install your ceiling tiles yourself. There are plenty of places willing to take on the work for you. But if you have your bottom line in mind and want to save the money, it is a manageable job for DIY. Keep in mind that some of the specifics of the installation process will depend on your tiles and your ceiling material, but the basic process is outlined below. This process works if your ceiling is smooth and unchipped/cracked:

• Before you buy your tiles, measure your ceiling. The tiles are usually sold in either 12x12 sizes or 12x24 sizes, so calculate the number of tiles you will need to complete the job, keeping in mind that you may have to cut some of the tiles to create a border or make up the difference if your ceiling measurement isn’t an even number of feet.

• Tiles can be attached to smooth ceilings with glue. Check with your local hardware store to select the right kind of glue for your tile and your ceiling, and then follow these steps:

• First, you will want to make sure that the glue works well with your ceiling (sometimes, even smooth ceilings will begin to chip under the weight of the tiles – meaning they could end up falling on your head!). Put up a few tiles in a few different parts of the ceiling and wait a few days to see if they stay up.
• Provided your tiles stay in place, start by cutting the tiles you need to make your border. Remember, this is only necessary if your room is an uneven size. Don’t try to cut border tiles in different sizes – they should be a uniform size around the room.

• Start with your border tiles, if using, or simply use the full size tiles to work around the outside of the room.

• From the corners, start moving to the center, until the entire ceiling is complete.

That’s all there is to it! If your ceiling is a popcorn ceiling, cracked, or the paint is chipping, you’ll need to use another process called furring strips. This process is a bit more difficult and elaborate, and if you’re not the handy type, you may need to call in a pro at this point. You can learn more about furring strips and evaluate if you’re up to the challenge here.

Have you installed ceiling tiles in your home? Share your stories with us, and your installation tips, by leaving a comment at the bottom of the page.

• Country Style Decorating Ideas
• Bathroom Design Pictures
• Interior Paint Color Combinations

• Country French Style Basics
• Common Themes for Teenage Bedrooms
• Designing for Small Spaces
• Basics of Color Design
• Asian Style Interior Design

• Spanish Interior Design
• Tuscany Interior Design
• Sheet Metal Wall D%C3%A9cor
• Americana Wallhanging Patterns
• Antique Shopping in Cleveland