A 19th century ceiling design has come back into style for 21st century residential and commercial applications. In the late 1800s, restaurant and tavern owners in eastern cities such as New York often installed tin ceilings as an affordable alternative to plaster ceilings. Ornate and decorative ceilings were popular in Victorian homes, theaters and hotels. Ceiling tiles and panels have also been used in dropped or suspended false ceilings in commercial buildings to hide things like electrical wiring, pipes, duct work and insulation. Today, many homeowners are embracing the vintage look of tin ceilings and the ornate, carved plaster ceilings of a bygone era.
What types of ceiling tiles are available?
There are a wide variety of ceiling tile options. Ceiling tiles that resemble the vintage tin ceilings are some of the most popular styles used. Ceiling tiles can be made from:
- Tin
- Styrofoam
- Slate
- Copper
- Steel
- Aluminum
- Plastic
In addition to the popular metallic ceiling tiles, plastic and Styrofoam tiles are very light weight and come in a classic white finish to resemble intricate carved plaster. Crown molding can be installed around the perimeter of the ceiling to provide a distinguished barrier between the wall and the ceiling. Tiles can be installed with pre-existing wood crown molding or you can install Styrofoam or tin crown molding.
How are ceiling tiles installed?
There are several different ways to install decorative ceiling tiles. The three most common ways are:
- Glue- An industrial strength adhesive is applied to the ceiling and tile.
- Nails- usually plywood is installed first and then the tiles are nailed into the plywood.
- Drop-in- A suspended ceiling grid must be installed for this method. Once the grid is in place, the ceiling tiles are simply dropped in.
Most ceiling tile companies provide installation instructions for do-it-yourself homeowners. Your other option is to hire a contractor to install the tiles for you.
Creating a new lifestyle with decorative ceiling tiles.
If you’re still uncertain about installing ceiling tiles in your home, the following story may inspire you to reconsider. Trim carpenter Milan Jara, was hired by a Florida homeowner to install Styrofoam ceiling tiles in his home. Jara, who had never installed these ceiling tiles before, was more than a little skeptical about hanging tiles made from Styrofoam.
After researching installation methods, Jara showed up at his job thinking he was about to hang “garbage,” which was his first impression of the tiles before he began painting them. However, once Jara saw how easy the tiles were to install and how fabulous they looked once they were in place, his opinion had changed completely. In fact, Jara was so impressed by the ceiling tiles that a week later, he had secured his own Internet domain, DecorativeCeilingTiles.net, and was on his way to launching his own business selling decorative ceiling tiles. With his wife, Damaris, helping him, Milan’s ceiling tile business quickly grew as word of mouth spread from one satisfied client to the next about how amazing these ceiling tiles looked in their homes. Milan eventually quit his day job as a carpenter to focus full-time on growing his successful ceiling tile business. You can read more about Milan’s story at Decorative Ceiling Tiles.net.
Ceiling tiles can be used on much more than just ceilings.
You may also want to check out the photo gallery, where Milan showcases both residential and commercial projects using Styrofoam, faux tin and metal ceiling tiles. One of the most amazing aspects about decorative ceiling tiles is the ability to use them in a variety of creative, artistic applications such as:
- Walls
- Backsplashes
- Headboards
- Cabinet doors
- Doors
- Tables
- Backdrops
- Framed wall art
Ceiling tiles can be easily cut and applied to almost any surface as a decorative embellishment. You can apply metal ceiling tiles to used wood furniture and create a new, designer piece!
Whether you want the vintage look of a classic Victorian estate or a modern, designer look in your home, ceiling tiles are an easy, affordable way to create a unique look wherever you use them.
