The Benefits of Designing and Constructing a Tray Ceiling for Your Home

tray ceiling
  • 4-8 hours
  • Intermediate
  • 250-400
What You'll Need
1x4-inch lumber
.25-inch plywood
Drywall
Metal corners
Drywall mud and tape
Paint/brushes
Drill
Drywall screws
Measuring tape
Circular saw
Mitre saw
What You'll Need
1x4-inch lumber
.25-inch plywood
Drywall
Metal corners
Drywall mud and tape
Paint/brushes
Drill
Drywall screws
Measuring tape
Circular saw
Mitre saw

Adding a tray ceiling to one of your rooms is a project that can provide your home with instant style and perceived height. A tray ceiling is one in which the middle of the ceiling is recessed and accented with crown molding. This molding can take the form of several levels for more elegance, or it can be just a simple molding that makes the transition from ceiling to recess. Read this article to understand how a tray ceiling can transform your home.

Tray Ceilings Add Depth

Some rooms have low ceilings which much cannot be raised without major renovations. A tray ceiling created perceived height because the slightly lowered edges keep the middle open and higher than the rest.

Some rooms have low ceilings which much cannot be raised without major renovations. A tray ceiling created perceived height because the slightly lowered edges keep the middle open and higher than the rest.

A tray ceiling can add a great decorative element to any room. Dining rooms, living rooms, master bedrooms, and foyers are all rooms that benefit from the formal design of a tray ceiling.

Initial Design

When designing your tray ceiling, think about such things as how deep the recess should be, how far should the soffits extend, and how many levels of crown molding will you need. Once you know these answers, begin planning your tray ceiling.

Build Soffits

To give the ceiling some depth, build rectangular soffits. They are simple boxes that are built to your design specifications. For instance, if you want a 4-inch recess, the box will have a height of 4-inches. You will need at least 4 of these boxes to go all around the room. Attach the soffits to the ceiling with anchor bolts screwed into the ceiling joists.

Cover With Plywood or Drywall

Depending on the desired finish, cover the soffit with either plywood or drywall. Drywall provides the most finished look. Install the drywall, cover the corners, tape the seams, and apply the mud. Finally, sand it smooth.

Add Crown Molding

Cut the crown molding to length carefully in 45-degree miter cuts for a snug wrap around the corners. If you make a mistake, a little wood putty can hide a lot of goof-ups.

Paint to Match

After everything is secured, you are ready to paint. Paint the recessed area a slightly darker shade to create more depth in the recess.

Options

Accent your tray ceiling by adding a tin ceiling in the recessed area. You can also add recessed lighting or a chandelier.