Tray Ceilings: Pros, Cons, Tips And Design Ideas To Inspire You

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When planning your next home project, don’t stop at the furniture, wall decor and rugs. Make some plans for the most-overlooked surface: the ceiling.

One option is to install a tray ceiling, creating a beautiful focal point for any room in your house. Here’s what to know about building and styling your very own tray ceiling.

What Is A Tray Ceiling?

A tray ceiling is a type of ceiling that uses a raised center section and lower, drop-down borders to create a design that resembles an upside-down tray. Also called an inverted or recessed ceiling, this interior design feature often uses woodwork, hidden lighting or painted trim to highlight the difference between the center and surrounding borders and create focal point for the room.

The shape of a tray ceiling follows the shape of the room’s perimeter, and the recession can be anywhere from 1 inch to 1 foot in depth.

Tray Ceiling Style

One of the great things about a tray ceiling is that it can be wherever the homeowner wants it to be. Tray ceilings can be anything from ornate to simple. Some homeowners choose to add crown molding to their tray ceiling, while others prefer to leave it without trim for a cleaner look. There are also plenty of options for painting a tray ceiling, including choosing different colors for the recessed ceiling and border.

Tray Ceiling Functionality

Tray ceilings can have functional value in addition to their unique charm and style. The drop down of a tray ceiling can be used to hide wires and plumbing, which is great for homes that don’t have the wall space to hide these elements. Tray ceilings can also be built to hide the bulk header and air vent in homes that were built before central air became the standard.

Pros And Cons Of A Tray Ceiling

Tray ceilings add a stylish touch and may even boost your home’s value, but they could be challenging to install in an existing home. Here are some points to consider before creating a tray ceiling:

Tray Ceiling Pros

• Tray ceilings make a dramatic focal point.
• They look good in several house styles.
• Your ceiling will look higher, which creates more visual space.
• Your home value may increase.
• Tray ceilings can help separate different areas of a large room.
• Recessed lighting can add a soft glow to the room.

Tray Ceiling Cons

• Tray ceilings may make a space feel confined.
• They require specific ceiling heights.
• You may need to apply for a building permit.
• These ceilings are difficult to paint and clean.
• You might affect the type of cabinets you can install.

How To Install A Tray Ceiling

The process and the price tag of building a tray ceiling will vary depending on whether you’re adding one to a new home or updating an existing structure.

New Construction

Tray ceilings are easier and cheaper to build into a new home because the builder can plan for the correct ceiling height. Check building codes in your area; most require a minimum height of 8 feet. Based on your specific home, the builder can decide whether to use roof trusses or stick-framing when building a roof over a tray ceiling.

Retrofitting An Existing Home

Retrofitting an existing home to add tray ceilings will be more costly – and in some cases, you won’t be able to add one at all.

First, you’ll need to check whether your ceiling is at least 8 feet tall. Keep in mind that tray ceilings reduce headroom because the borders drop down. So even if you technically have high ceilings, your room might feel cramped.

In some cases, you’ll need to modify the framing to accommodate the tray ceiling. A structural engineer will need to check whether the ceiling joists or trusses are sound enough for this type of project. They’ll also help you apply for a building permit, which may be necessary because you’re altering the home’s structure.

The process is a little easier if the flat ceiling is already high enough to install a drop-down tray ceiling. You’ll construct a drop-down frame of the tray ceiling border, cover it with drywall, and style it accordingly. Depending on the project, you might not even need a permit – but it’s best to double-check.

Construction Process

A contractor can walk you through the steps of building this type of ceiling, but here’s a quick overview:

• Hire a contractor. Gather quotes from several professionals in your area. Compare costs and the reputation of the builder.
• Make a wood perimeter around the ceiling. Dimensional lumber, such as wood, is best for this piece.
• Coat it with drywall. Leave the finished drywall for a minimalist look or add corner molding to cover the drywall seams.
• Add trim, molding or a light fixture. Make the decor as simple or ornate as you’d like, but most homeowners try to match the style to the rest of the room or the house. You can even do something subtle like adding texture to the ceiling.
• Paint the tray ceiling. The possibilities are endless. For example, you could cover the recessed ceiling in one paint color and the drop-down border in a contrasting shade.

Associated Costs

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.

If you’re adding a tray ceiling to an existing structure, expect to pay $1,500 – $3,000 per room for the materials and paint. But if you have to remodel the home extensively to fit a tray ceiling, the price tag could easily exceed that range.

Faux Tray Ceilings

You can also DIY by installing a faux tray ceiling with flat trim molding and paint. First, attach the trim molding to the ceiling where you’d like to create the tray effect. Then, paint the tiers. A darker color in the center and lighter paint on the surrounding border will add depth to the room.

Some homeowners skip the flat trim molding and instead create the illusion of a tiered ceiling. Use a darker shade of paint on the ceiling, then add one or more painted borders around it.

Another cost-effective option is to create a reverse tray ceiling, where the middle part comes down instead of going up. However, you’ll need a slightly higher ceiling of at least 9 feet.

10 Tray Ceiling Ideas To Inspire Your Home Design

There are many ways to style and customize your tray ceiling. Here are 10 ideas to get the creative process going:

1. Molding And Trim

The trim is any border you put around the tray ceiling, while molding is more decorative and elaborate. Both features can dress up the tray ceiling, conceal accent lights or highlight a chandelier or fan. You can use any type that suits your home style – but more extensive, ornate crown molding will create a more dramatic impact.

You can also buy moldings in interesting shapes or patterns and use them to decorate the upper part of the tray ceiling instead of lining the perimeter.

2. Paint Options

While you can leave your tray ceiling bare for a minimalist look, paint can enhance the design. Make a statement by painting your walls in a light, neutral palette and choosing a bright, contrasting color for the tray ceiling. The combination of colors adds depth and makes the recessed tray appear farther away.

Another option is to use a darker color on the uppermost part of the ceiling and a lighter, contrasting shade on the drop-down border. Dark colors can make a large space feel like a small room, but the darker shade creates a cozy atmosphere with a tray ceiling, especially in bedrooms. For a cohesive look, match the furniture and other home decor items to the tray ceiling colors.

3. Tube Lighting

Tube lighting is a string of small accent lights you can install along the perimeter to frame the tray ceiling, emphasize the layers and highlight the architectural design. You can place these within the recessed tray or entirely outside of the tray.

However, you’ll probably need to combine the tube lighting with other types of lighting – such as a chandelier or floor lamps – for a complete look.

4. Chandeliers, Fans And Lighting Fixtures

A tray ceiling directs your eyes upward, while popular light fixtures like chandeliers, fans and recessed lighting become a focal point in the room. An oversized light fixture will make an even bigger statement.

Choose a new pendant light that works with the decor or update an existing one with a new shade. You can also hide rope lighting fixtures beneath the molding for a gentle, relaxing ambiance.

5. Mirrors

Mirrors can make any room look bigger and brighter – and you’ve got dozens of options, depending on the shape and size of the mirror. Or you can create a glittering effect using mirrored tiles.

6. Tray Shapes

You don’t have to go with a rectangular or square perimeter. Ovals, diamonds and circles also look great as a tray ceiling. You can use the same shape for every tray ceiling in your house or use a different one in each room.

7. Double Trays

A double-tray ceiling has two drop-down borders, which creates a more dramatic appearance. But to install one, you’ll need an even higher ceiling, around 10 – 12 feet.

You have the same decorating options, whether you’re looking to add color, patterns, mirrors or a light fixture to display your home’s distinctive design.

8. Wallpaper

Using wallpaper on the uppermost part of the tray ceiling adds elegance to the room, especially if the wallpaper design has gilded accents. Coordinate the wallpaper color with your wall color and the room decor to pull the room together.

9. Wood Planks Or Panels

Another option is using wood planks or paneling to create a beautiful focal point in your tray. Stained wood will create a rich, traditional feel, while an off-white panel gives the room a lighter cottage approach.

10. Tiles Or Stencils

Ceramic or tin tiles can create a dramatic look, especially in the dining room or living room. For a cheaper approach with the same effect, decorate the ceiling with a stencil.

The Bottom Line: Tray Ceilings Can Showcase Your Creativity

Tray ceilings are an excellent way for homeowners to get creative and play with their design instincts. Once you install a tray ceiling (or buy a house with one), there are several factors to consider before finalizing the decor: which room it’s in, whether you can install lighting and just how much attention you want to draw towards the tray. Tiles, stencils, paint and fixtures are all ways to make your tray ceiling look great. How you use them is up to you.

To find more home design ideas and projects, check out the recent articles in our homeowner’s guide.