Stretch ceiling design in the living room: types, materials, texture

Stretch ceilings decorated buildings in Ancient Egypt – damp linen fabric stretched over the top of the room shrank and tightened as it dried, resulting in a smooth surface. Later, silk fabrics began to be used for this purpose, and their color was matched to the color of the walls and furniture. Modern stretch ceilings appeared a little less than half a century ago, and since then have become very popular, as they have a very diverse design and wide application possibilities.

Stretch ceilings can be divided into two types:

Film, made of PVC film. They have seams, since the PVC sheet is small in width, and individual fragments have to be welded together. They have rich expressive possibilities, as any pattern can be applied to them, and, in addition, they can be given any texture: glossy, matte, “fabric”. Minus: afraid of low temperatures and accidental punctures, cuts.
Seamless, made of fabric mesh impregnated with polymer. The material can be soundproof, as well as translucent – and in this case, the lamps placed behind it will give a beautiful diffused light, which opens up new possibilities for interior design. Withstands low temperatures, does not sag over time, provides full gas exchange.

Stretch ceiling design in the kitchen-living room matte white stretch ceiling in the living room

By texture, stretch ceilings are divided into:

Glossy. They have “mirror” properties, reflect light well and are thus able to increase illumination, as well as visually enlarge the living room, which is widely used in design;

glossy black stretch ceiling in the living room glossy stretch ceiling in the living room

Matte. Suitable for most interior styles, as they can be painted in any tone and do not create additional shine.

matte white stretch ceiling in the living room

Satin. They have a surface resembling fabric, which makes the ceiling look stylish and expensive.

satin stretch ceiling in the living room

Important: Glossy canvases increase illumination, and, in addition, “double” the lighting fixtures, which should be taken into account when developing a lighting design.

glossy stretch ceiling in the living room matte stretch ceiling in the living room

In addition, the canvas can be stretched onto the ceiling at different levels. This complicates the design, adds expressiveness and individuality, and also allows you to hide pipes, air ducts, and electrical wiring under the canvas. According to the number of levels, stretch ceilings are divided into:

single-level;
two-level;
multi-level.

Two-level stretch ceilings in the living room are the most common solution. They have the most flexible expressive possibilities without overly complicating the design of the room. In addition, by placing canvases of different patterns and textures on two levels, you can achieve the effect of expanding the space and increasing the height, which is especially desirable in the living room, which is the main room in the house.

Two-level stretch ceiling in the kitchen-living room

Stretch ceilings in the living room interior: styles

Stretch ceilings in the living room can have various design options, so their choice is quite wide, which allows you to choose a suitable solution for any style of living room design.

Classic. The matte surface of the canvas in combination with traditional colors – white, beige, light gray will create a magnificent background for the design of classic living room interiors. It is possible to use two-level structures of stretch ceilings and apply drawings to the higher part, repeating the ceiling frescoes of old interiors.
Modern. Complex “plant” lines, clear boundaries, a combination of active colors – all these features of the style can be reflected in ceiling structures.
Country. Single-level matte ceilings of one tone are the best choice for “folk” styles of interior design.
Ethnic. African, Indian and other exotic interior design options can also use stretch ceilings. In this case, they can be combined with wooden ceiling panels, complemented with national ornaments, complex decors.
Minimalism. Monochrome ceilings, white or light beige, blue, gray tones, located on one level, are the best fit for this laconic style. They can be either matte or glossy, depending on the design tasks when decorating the living room.
High-tech. Glossy canvases, as well as canvases with a “metal” paint finish, will emphasize the chosen style and will look harmonious with other furnishings.

Stretch ceiling in the living room interior in a classic style white stretch ceiling in the living room interior

Stretch ceiling in the kitchen-living room

Quite often in apartments with an open plan, the living room is combined in one volume with the kitchen – this is convenient, visually the living room seems more spacious. In this case, the main task of the design is to visually separate the area where food is prepared and the living room area. Usually this problem is solved with the help of color and texture of finishing materials – paint or wallpaper for the walls, as well as floor and ceiling coverings. Often the floor in the kitchen area is raised onto a podium or, on the contrary, lowered in relation to the floor in the living room.

Stretch ceiling in the kitchen-living room

The use of stretch ceilings will help to emphasize zoning, and this can be done in different ways.

Color. The ceiling can be located at one level, but made in different colors: for example, above the living room “part” it will be traditional white, and above the kitchen – to match the color of the kitchen furniture.
Height. The location of stretch ceilings at different levels will also help to emphasize the zoning in the living room combined with the kitchen. In this case, the highlighted zone can have both a simple geometric shape and a complex, rounded one. The higher level is usually located in the living room area, the lower one – in the kitchen area, which is quite justified, because this is where you usually have to hide air ducts and pipes.

Stretch ceilings in the kitchen-living room are usually made of PVC, since they are easier to care for than fabric ones, and ceilings in those rooms where food is prepared get dirty faster.

white stretch ceiling in the kitchen-living room two-level stretch ceiling in the kitchen-living room

Lighting in the living room with stretch ceilings

The design of the lighting scheme for stretch structures has some features that take into account the properties of the fabric from which the ceilings are made. The PVC film is highly durable, but softens when the temperature rises, which is used during its installation.

However, during operation, heat-emitting lamps can cause deformation of the canvas and its unsightly sagging, so it is recommended to use energy-saving lamps for them, including LED ones. The film does not allow chandeliers and other lighting fixtures to be attached directly to it; fasteners must be equipped before its installation, and a hole must be made in the canvas in the places where these fasteners are located.

Lighting in the living room with stretch ceilings

The following are standard lighting options:

Central. A chandelier in the geometric center of the room provides general lighting. Usually used in design together with floor and wall lamps.

central lighting in the living room with stretch ceilings

Spot. Lamps are placed in different areas of the living room in accordance with the scheme provided by the living room design. They use energy-saving lamps that consume little energy and emit almost no heat that can deform the ceiling covering.

spot lighting in the living room with stretch ceilings

Contour. LED strip lighting can emphasize the contours of a multi-level ceiling or create the impression of a “floating” ceiling if you attach it to the cornice, which will visually make the room higher. The tape provides “cold” light without deforming the canvas, which can also be of any color and change according to the mood of the apartment owners.

contour lighting in the living room with stretch ceilings

Raster. Lamps equipped with reflective plates provide very bright lighting and are appropriate only in large rooms.

lighting in the living room with stretch ceilings

Combining these options in certain combinations allows you to create convenient, functional and beautiful lighting schemes that are individual for each living room.

Lighting in the living room with stretch ceilings

Lamps for stretch ceilings in the living room

The most suitable lamps are spotlights – they provide uniform lighting, practically do not heat up, and allow you to effectively highlight functional areas, while also saving electricity.

Spotlights can be of any shape and size, everything is determined by the design of the room. Chandeliers remain an important decorative element of the living room interior, but their choice in the case of stretch ceilings has its own characteristics. If the lamps in the chandelier are located close to the ceiling, the lampshades should be directed to the side or down to reduce the heat load on the canvas.

Lighting in the living room with stretch ceilings spot lighting in the living room with stretch ceilings