Coffered Ceiling Design Ideas

An architectural feature that dates back to ancient Rome is trending now — and installing your own can add serious value to your home. Ready to look up? Read on.

Keep in mind: Price and stock could change after publish date, and we may make money from these affiliate links.

By: Lauren Oster

Related To:

Shop This Look

Photo By: Tiffany Denise Photography

Photo By: Skout

Photo By: Daniel Christopher

Photo By: Baird & Warner, a member of Luxury Portfolio International

Photo By: Hilton & Hyland, a member of Luxury Portfolio International

Photo By: Amy Bartlam

Photo By: Michael Hunter

Photo By: Leslee Mitchell

Photo By: David Livingston

Photo By: Kathe Baker

Photo By: Ryan Garvin

Photo By: Jeff Borts

Photo By: Halstead Real Estate, a member of Luxury Portfolio International

Photo By: Tyler Parker ©Mariah O'Brien Interiors

Ancient Architecture

Don’t let the crisp, contemporary look of this ceiling fool you: Architects have been deploying exposed beams to distribute weight and create dramatic coffers (or indentations) since the Pantheon rose in Rome more than 2,000 years ago. The feature roared back to popularity during the Renaissance and has long been associated with opulent and classically inspired interiors.

From: FORBES + MASTERS

Modern History

The latest coffered ceilings don’t usually perform structural work; they’re now used to disperse sound and reduce echo in rooms with high ceilings and wooden floors, where acoustic quality can be an issue. Their decorative impact, in turn, is practically (and fancifully) limitless.

From: sKout

Angle of Repose

This tone-on-tone white ceiling is rotated 45 degrees to create triangular panels that contrast gorgeously with the right angles on the four-poster bed and dramatic sliding door. Those angles appear again on the upholstered leather bench; clever, no?

From: Thurman Design Studio

Tradition With a Twist

Complementary shades of velvety gray paint update the oh-so-classic, floor-to-ceiling carved details in this masculine study. The coffered ceiling also lends the soaring space a feel of intimacy.

From: Baird & Warner and Luxury Portfolio International®

Sketches of Spain

This Los Angeles foyer’s furnishings are pared back to highlight spectacular original elements of its 1930s Mediterranean design (arched doorways, tessellating tile, a sweeping Spanish staircase and, of course, that coffered ceiling). The Sputnik-style chandelier crowning the space adds luxury to the natural wood like a piece of statement jewelry.

From: Hilton & Hyland and Luxury Portfolio International®

Impeccably Tailored

The crisp, glossy white panels on this dining room’s coffered ceiling echo the menswear-inspired pattern on its darkly dramatic grass cloth wallpaper. Curvaceous pieces like the dining chairs and blown-glass chandelier, in turn, introduce a bit of geometric contrast to the space.

From: Jenn Feldman Designs

That's a Wrap

The sophisticated clay-toned paint in this transitional living room carries up the built-in bookcases and across the graduated panels in its coffered ceiling — and encourages the eye to do the same. The ceiling’s central indentation functions like an inverted mullion for the chandelier it supports.

From: Traci Connell Interiors

Natural Splendor

Stained cedar beams in this coffered ceiling pick up the handsome, weathered tones in the barn wood fireplace surround and lend the neutral room an air of coziness and intimacy. Their deep tone recurs in the oxidized metal table behind the sofa.

From: Kendall Simmons

High-Gloss Drama

This artistically two-toned living room is especially dazzling by virtue of the reflective blue lacquer that carries from the walls, sliding doors and built-in storage unit all the way up and across the white-trimmed coffered ceiling. (The difference between a coffered ceiling and a tray ceiling, by the way, is in the crisscrossing beams that create multiple indentations; a tray ceiling, on the other hand, features a single, uninterrupted indentation.)

From: Coddington Design

Subtle Difference

The coffered ceilings of centuries past tend to draw attention to themselves; while some contemporary versions certainly do likewise, stealthier installations like this one add a hint of texture and visual interest to the room. The creamy panels here also frame no-nonsense recessed lights, which makes them feel just a bit more special.

From: Kathe Baker

Palette Cleanser

From moody wallpaper and darkly fabulous metal chairs to a jewel-toned array of pendants and area rugs, this dining room is saturated with deep colors. Offset by a bright white window seat, chair rail and molding, those dramatic tones are intriguing rather than smothering.

From: Grace Blu Interior Design

Bells and Whistles

The coffered ceiling in this ornate traditional kitchen captures some of its ancestors’ flair for the dramatic: With intricate geometry that culminates in a central indentation for a globe pendant, this space is culinary art.

From: Dave Stimmel

Eat Here

The dark coffered ceiling in this open-plan country kitchen both complements its hardwood floor and, much like an area rug, provides a whisper of separation between this area and the living space beyond it. In this design, a wrought-iron chandelier is suspended outside the coffers rather than in one of their centers.

From: Karr Bick Kitchen & Bath

Deceptively Simple

The accessories in this traditional master bath are craftily luxurious: Custom mosaic tile embellishes the floor and shower, art deco-inspired sconces frame the mirrors and a shallow coffered ceiling creates texture over head. That minimal depth is a canny choice here, as it adds texture without making the room feel cramped.

From: Halstead Real Estate and Luxury Portfolio International®

Old World Extravagance

Paired with barely there blush paint, the intricate Mediterranean ceiling in this living room gives it a warm, artistic feel. Why splash out on big-ticket floors or wall panels when you can install intricate woodwork that's visible from every seat in the house?