When decorating a space, the ceiling is often overlooked. But where others see plain white paint, Emily Winters Posselt, principal interior designer at Peabody’s Interiors, sees opportunities. 

“The ceiling is your fifth surface,” she says. “The last thing you want to do is create a beautiful room and then have it feel unfinished.”  

Wallpaper is Winters Posselt’s favorite method of adding interest to ceilings. In a West Bend kitchen remodel, she selected a pattern that marries ivory and cornflower blue  in an ornate, symmetrical pattern to riff off the floor’s marble tile with classic shapes in black and white. It’s also a nod to the homeowner’s personality. “She’s super high energy, really fun and has this fun fashion sense about her,” says Winters Posselt. “She loves to cook and does massive entertaining. I thought, ‘This can’t be a boring ceiling.’” 

In another project, Winters Posselt sought to carve out a cozy nook in a Shorewood home’s den. There was already a space in the den with built-in shelving on each side and enough room for a mustard-yellow plush sofa. Even after the room’s walls were painted a soft, deep blue, “we needed more texture [in that nook]. That’s how the wallpaper 
came into play. It felt rich and handsome, like the rest of the room,” she says. With a gold background matching the sofa’s hue, the Pierre Frey wallpaper also features blue discs a few shades lighter than the walls.  

A wallpapered entryway dazzles guests the moment they arrive and establishes the vibe for the rest of the home’s design. The ceiling in the foyer of this Tudor was a foot lower than in the rest of the house, making for a less-than-inspiring lead-in. “It was a little dark, so I needed something to reflect the light. We needed to create a warm welcome for this cavernous space,” says Winters Posselt, who chose a wallpaper  with a slight gold metallic sheen.  

If you’re considering making this bold move in your own home, proceed with caution. “You have to be conscious of what you’re doing,” says Winters Posselt. “It needs to play nicely with other things in the room.” 

More Ideas for Updating Ceilings

Reclaimed Beams: Installing wood beams can change the character of a room, lending a cozy, rustic ambience. The effect is particularly dramatic with vaulted ceilings. 

Tongue-and-Groove Boards: Much like shiplap, this style of carpentry using hardwoods offers a way to panel a ceiling that’s more interesting than drywall. 

Paint: Selecting a color other than white for the ceiling is enough to transform the space. Choose a hue that’s already in the room’s decor for synergy.