The ceiling is also known as the 5th wall and most people don’t do anything but slap up a coat of paint. Today I am sharing low-budget ceiling ideas that will make a huge impact on the overall design of your home!
There are so many treatments you can do to your ceiling to create a focal point in your room. By adding to your ceiling you really draw the eye up and make the room feel bigger than it really is.
What are some ceiling ideas you can do that are low-budget and totally DIY friendly?
- Paint – Adding something other than white is a great low-budget way to add style to a space. And it’s probably the easiest way to add interest.
- Wallpaper – This is another tried and true way to add some character to your room. It’s also inexpensive because you will only be doing one wall.
- Add beams – This is a wonderful way to draw the eye up. You can go full-on rustic or very sophisticated, whatever your style is.
- Drop Ceiling Tiles – This is popular in basements. The dropping of the ceiling allows for the ductwork to be hidden and you can really add some character by getting creative with the tiles.
- Add a Tin Ceiling – You don’t need to do a drop ceiling to add tin. You can buy brand new ones and install them, buy new ones and give them an aged look, or go to a salvage company and search for old tin ceiling tiles.
- Add a mural – Murals are great for bedroom ceilings, especially in kid’s rooms. When you lay in bed you can look at the ceiling and it can be very relaxing.
- You can add texture to a ceiling by adding a plaster look. This makes your ceiling look as if it was from a very old house.
- Add a faux finish – Faux Finishes were very popular in the 90s and they have been making a bit of a comeback. Putting a faux finish on the ceiling can really add a lot of character to a room.
- Coffered Ceiling – A coffered ceiling is a process of creating boxes on your ceiling in the form of beams. This is a very craftsman look and very beautiful.
- Add molding – Molding can create a very unique look. There are hundreds of different types of moldings so you can add exactly what you want to get a look all your own.
- Beadboard – Adding beadboard to the ceiling gives it a subtle texture that won’t compete with other focal points in the room. If you want to you can even paint it a different color than white to give it extra pizazz.
- Fabric – You can add fabric directly to the ceiling or you can drape it for a fun look.
- Add tongue and groove boards – The most popular of these types of boards is shiplap. Adding shiplap can give you a modern farmhouse feel which is very on-trend.
Ceiling Ideas in Real Life
Now that we have gone over some ideas of what you can put on your ceiling let’s look at some examples of the 5th wall in real-life homes.
Drop Ceiling Idea For Your Next DIY Basement Project: Ceilume Vinyl Tiles Review
One of the reasons we purchased our home was because the basement was a huge space. We knew this basement space was going to be needed one day with kids. However, even though it was “a finished basement” there was a lot we needed to do to fully makeover our basement space. One thing we did was add a drop ceiling and here we share all the details.
Since wallpapered ceilings are a timeless interior design element, I brought back this fun home improvement idea today. Maybe it will inspire you to try out some ceiling wallpaper variations in your own home!
Want to install a tongue and groove cedar plank ceiling? You’ll love this easy step by step tutorial! We installed this ceiling in our guest bedroom and the results are just stunning!
The DIY coffered ceiling we just put up in our new nursery seriously makes this look like the nicest room in the house. We did another DIY beadboard ceiling in our stairwell and hallway last year, but this one did even better.
Easy DIY Coffered Ceiling – Simple, Low Profile Design – Steps & Video
Stunning! That’s the best way to describe this easy DIY coffered ceiling. I LOVE this simple, low profile trim design using 1x4’s and cove.
You know you’ve hit a home run with a DIY when it becomes the instant star of a room. This DIY Ceiling Makeover is definitely the star now! In fact, when my Mom first saw the update, she said she didn’t even notice we had a vaulted ceiling before. What?!
I have been wanting to tackle my craft room for quite some time and I'm excited that I finally get the chance to do so. Since my craft room is half my assistant's office, I really wanted to make it a fun and colorful space. So I went and picked out several vibrant Behr paint colors to transform my space on both the walls and the ceiling!
Join me for a tour of this fun industrial teen bedroom! As mentioned in the Painting the Perfect Stripe Tutorial I let Mr. G pick out the color scheme for his new room. He chose Kelly Green, Navy, and White. I loved his choice! I thought it would be perfect to use a combination of these classic colors to bring his new room into his teenage years. I wanted to create a space where he could kick back and relax, have space to do his studying, and have it grow with him as he gets older.
Time Saving Simple Mistakes to Avoid Installing a Shiplap Ceiling
Read these time saving tips to avoid simple mistakes while installing a shiplap ceiling.
Can You Have a Black Ceiling? – One Room Challenge Spring 2021 Week 5
If you’ve ever considered painting one of the ceilings in your home black, then you likely have a little hesitation along with A LOT of questions. Find out what a black ceiling can do for a room, and if it’s the right design choice for you.
Learn how to create a stunning statement with this tutorial for a rustic planked ceiling.
How to Make Faux Beams: An Easy DIY project to upgrade your ceiling!
If you need some extra sprucing up in your home – without a huge construction project – faux beams are the way to go! And it isn’t as intimidating as it may sound!
Shiplap Ceiling Tutorial To Cover Textured or Popcorn Ceilings
Other Wall Treatments You Might Like:
- DIY Beadboard Wall
- DIY Picture Frame Molding on the Walls
- How to Create a Focal Wall with a Herringbone Stencil
- 17 Amazing Accent Wall Ideas
- How to DIY A Reclaimed Look Wall
- Inexpensive DIY Board and Batten Wall
- How to Install Shiplap Walls For Cheap
I hope you are inspired to do a special treatment to your ceiling. You can totally DIY it and have it not break the bank! Which one are you going to try?


As a licensed Real Estate Agent and an avid home decorator, I strive to give my clients the very best I can when it comes to staging, selling, and decorating their homes. I have lots of experience with paint color choices and love to DIY my home so I can have everything just the way I want it. I share my ideas and projects with the world in the hopes that I can help others have their homes just the way they want as well.