Soaring ceilings: pros and cons

To create an original interior, designers use various methods, one of which is floating stretch ceilings. This decoration creates an indescribable feeling, as if the ceiling is floating in the air. Recently, designers have developed a floating ceiling system that allows for a stylish and tasteful backlit ceiling covering. In this article we will get acquainted with a description of the design of a floating ceiling and its varieties.

The floating ceiling structure consists of elements such as:

• film or fabric material;
• fixing tools;
• specialized flexible profile;
• translucent masking tape;
• LED Strip Light.

There are 3 methods to carry out the special effect of a soaring ceiling:

• installation of a floating structure, which is carried out on baguettes with grooves for light tape and gaps for the implementation of a scattering special effect;
• installation of a stretch ceiling, which is done using drywall;
• the use of hidden lighting curtain rods, which are made of polyurethane for decorating the ceiling.

The main material of the soaring ceiling is a stretch canvas. Matte, glossy and satin elements have proven themselves perfectly for ceiling finishing work. Modern methods (photo printing and lighting) make it possible to realize any wishes for decorating the ceiling surface.

The frosted glass material is ideal for creating a floating effect. It is made of glass or acrylic in various colors. Looks spectacular in any room, wherever it is installed. The best option is to use optical fiber, under which you can hide the electrical wiring inside the structure. Transparent panels are not mounted, since defects in the ceiling and wires will be visible through such materials.

Shine and shine visually increase the space, they are mainly used in small rooms. When the lighting is on, the broadening effect is enhanced. For large and spacious rooms, matte or semi-matt materials are used, thereby creating coziness and comfort in the room.

The base of the soaring ceiling system is a profile for fasteners, which allows you to create gaps with a height of 10-20 cm between the levels of ceiling coverings. At these intervals, LED or linear lighting is fixed using spotlights and tapes. Their mechanisms are hidden in the contours of the levels, thereby giving the impression of floating.

There is another way to mount a floating decor. In this case, the LEDs hide the canvas, resulting in excellent diffusion of light directed around the perimeter. The only drawback of this installation method is that when replacing electronic mechanisms, the canvas is dismantled.

Profiles that create glowing lines can be installed in any position. To visually enlarge the space of the room, it is necessary to arrange the lines along the horizon.To increase the room, the lines should be fixed vertically. Such lighting is perfect for a corridor, hallway. Also, with the help of glowing lines, it is possible to create geometric shapes.

Suspended soaring ceilings are fabric and film.

• Film materials are made of polyvinyl chloride. The basis of this material is vinyl. Service life is not less than 10 years. The advantages of vinyl are moisture resistance, durability and practicality. The only drawback is susceptibility to mechanical damage. Experts recommend installing PVC films at temperatures above +5 degrees.

• The basis of the fabric ceilings are polyester threads. Such materials are twice as expensive as film coatings. The main advantages of such a coating are high temperature resistance and vapor permeability. The only drawback is low moisture resistance. Fabric surfaces quickly become dirty and absorb foreign odors.

Backlit stretch ceilings are perfectly combined with plasterboard materials. With their help, you can level the base of the ceiling surface.

Advantages of drywall:

• environmental friendliness of the material;
• installation of a rough ceiling for plasterboard material is not performed;
• it is possible to create structures of any complexity;
• drywall can be easily repainted in various colors;
• resistance to mechanical damage is higher than that of film and fabric coverings.

Disadvantages:

• low resistance to moisture, water leakage leads to the destruction of the material;
• to work with drywall, you must have construction skills;
• the ceiling height after installation is reduced by 10 cm.

Also, ceilings are divided into multi-level, single-level and two-level systems.

The simplest option for installing such a coating is a single-level structure. Installation is carried out using a canvas stretched along one plane. These systems are installed using PVC foil or drywall. Multilevel structures are constructed using a complicated method. The main frame is installed first, and the subsequent layers of the coating are mounted on top of it. Levels are fixed using special fasteners. Multilevel systems require additional tools: spotlights, baguettes, decorative inserts.

This method of ceiling decoration has a huge number of varieties that determine the design whims. The greater the number of levels of coatings, the more sophisticated and original the floating ceiling will look.

There are Armstrong ceilings, which are subdivided into types:

• Attached to the base of the ceiling surface with cables. The models of such systems are different.
• Concave and curved. Durable designs, distinguished by originality and unusual designs.
• The panels are manufactured using special technologies. They can be shapes of a circle, quadrangle, triangle. With the help of such installations, you can select some areas. Mirrored coatings are excellent at reflecting light and dampening noise.

Another new invention in decorating the ceiling surface with an airy soaring effect is the use of a hidden curtain rod. Such a curtain creates the impression of unity between the ceiling structure and the horizontal plane of the wall.

The translucent hidden cornice is attached directly to the stretch ceiling profile, thereby not taking up the usable area. In terms of cost, an ordinary cornice is more expensive, taking into account additional decorative elements and technological work. Curtain rods do not need to be selected according to colors and decoration elements, they only require installation.

The advantage of using such structures is that they can be installed not only on flat surfaces, but also on curved, oval, U-shaped ones.

Lighting along the contours of the soaring ceiling is performed using LED strip. LED lamps are manufactured in very small sizes, and the surrounding space does not heat up. Light strips have their own varieties that you need to know when buying lighting fixtures. The tapes are produced in rolls (maximum length up to 5 meters).

The lighting can be controlled using the control panel. The sibling mechanism can simply be turned on and off.

Two-level and multi-level ceilings are adjustable:

• by zonal parameters;
• by the intensity of the glow;
• by color palette;
• by the way of lighting, which can be constant or impulsive.

The LED strip can be used as the main or additional lighting of the room. For small-sized rooms, such a glow is quite enough, and in living rooms and other rooms, it is necessary to additionally install lighting devices. It is recommended to use central lighting in the hall in the form of a large exquisite chandelier and spotlights, which are mounted on a canvas.

The most crucial moment when installing such a decor is the choice of lamps, because they are the ones who produce the entire effect created. LEDs are very popular. Characteristic qualities of LEDs: simple installation, economy, low heating of materials. When choosing certain types, you can stop at purchasing simple tapes that only turn on and off. If the budget allows, you can buy a special lighting kit with a control system.

For rooms with high humidity (kitchens, baths), it is necessary to choose LEDs that are protected from moisture. A classic variation is the use of a white canvas with backlighting of any shade. It is also allowed to use bright colors of the film coating. The result is a play on contrasts.

Experts recommend decorating the soaring ceiling with multi-colored paints. Dark shades cannot be used: such shades will create a feeling of squeezing and discomfort.

The modern generation, after purchasing a floating stretch ceiling system with a special lighting effect, leaves numerous positive reviews.

As a result, the advantages of such finishing works can be noted:

• installation of finishing mechanisms takes a small amount of time (about 2 hours);
• low cost of the LED mechanism;
• the soaring ceiling system perfectly hides defects and flaws in the base surface of the ceiling;
• the special effect of soaring creates coziness and comfort in the room;

• one hundred percent safety of the structure;
• long service life;
• ecological materials;
• it is possible to install it in non-standard rooms (curved or rounded walls);
• resistance to dirt: materials have antistatic properties;
• the floating system creates a solemn mood.

Negative reviews are rare. They usually come from customers who have encountered problems installing a system with the wrong technology.

There are some disadvantages:

• Installation of a ceiling covering reduces the height of the room by a few centimeters. It will be noticeable in small rooms.
• In order not to upset the result obtained, it is necessary to strictly adhere to the installation technology.
• Mechanical damage (punctures, cuts) cannot be repaired. In this case, the entire ceiling or a certain level is replaced.

A floating ceiling is a great way to create space and comfort in an apartment.The varieties of the hovering system described above fit perfectly into the styles of interiors: avant-garde, minimalism, hi-tech, pop art, constructivism, minimalism, techno.

A large spacious room allows you to use a multi-level design of a floating ceiling and divide the room into zones. Some parts of the ceiling can be decorated with photo printing, which is in perfect harmony with satin canvases. Decorating the ceiling with lighting and floating curtains creates a festive mood.

For sleeping quarters, it is recommended to use plain matte or glossy fabrics. It is recommended to create vaping not only with LED strips, but also with additional lighting devices (spotlights).

Decorating the ceiling surface of a child's room can be created in various ways. It is better to choose the base of the coating in soft delicate shades (blue, blue, white). Images of cartoon characters on a colored background will look great. The blue clouds and starry sky will delight little astronauts.

For the kitchen, it is best to use materials for which maintenance does not require special difficulties. It is recommended to use matte or glossy PVC film sheets. Spotlights can be used as an additional finish. If the room is large, then multi-level soaring lighting designs are an excellent option.

For information on how to install soaring ceilings, see the next video.