What kind of bathroom ceiling would be best

Let’s start with tips

If finishing materials for living rooms we choose, guided only by aesthetic preferences, in the bathroom we have to combine beauty with practicality. A room with high humidity requires a competent approach, otherwise repeated repairs and emergencies cannot be avoided. Today we will talk about what ceiling is better to make in the bathroom to get stylish, functional, durable and not burdensome for the family budget.

When choosing, you need to take into account the following points:

• Resistance of the material in a humid environment. It is on the ceiling is collected condensate, leaving traces, destroying the coating and provoking the appearance of mold.

• It is desirable to provide for the option of flooding from above. Full protection from such a nuisance gives only stretch PVC-flooring. Other types of finishing are not able to effectively counteract the flood that collapsed on them.

• If the accident suddenly happened, it is important that the ceiling can fully recover. Suspended structures should be easily dismantled and, after drying, attached again. Partially dismantle them and have to prevent mold or to repair the built-in light fixture.

• The hygiene of the material is of great importance. Going over the options for the ceiling in the bathroom, you should pay special attention to this indicator. The coating should be environmentally friendly, do not emit toxic fumes and easy to clean from contaminants.

• Compliance with the general style of the interior. Say, for example, for modern is suitable for almost any finishing material. But the classics, Provence or Art Deco are more «capricious» in this regard: from the panels of plastic or aluminum will have to give up, and stretch fabrics to apply very selectively.

Options for finishing the ceiling in the bathroom

Let’s list the most popular materials and technologies:

• water-based paint
• foam tiles
• aluminum slatted or cassette structures
• PVC panels
• tiles and mosaic panels
• stretch ceilings
• moisture-resistant gypsum plasterboard
• natural wood
• glass panels

Painted ceiling is the most budget-friendly option and therefore needs frequent updates.

Good value for money can be found in slatted, panel, tile and stretch coverings. It is difficult to say which of them is better, much depends on the design of a particular room.

Plasterboard — a material not quite suitable for the bathroom, it is used only in spacious rooms, in the presence of good ventilation. But it allows you to create suspended ceilings of complex shapes, including arched and multilevel. Such design solutions will cost a lot, but the result is worth it. Plasterboard structures are better used in country houses, where there is no threat of being flooded by neighbors.

Unusual and spectacularly looks mirror ceiling in the bathroom. This variety and more stained glass are considered the most expensive and exclusive.

Options for finishing the ceiling in the bathroom further on the photo:

Painting the ceiling in the bathroom

Despite the fact that this method raises many questions, it has its advantages:

• low price of finishing works
• quick application
• environmental safety and hygiene
• breathability of the coating
• preservation of the existing height of the room, which is especially important for small-sized bathrooms
• variety of decorative solutions — the color of the ceiling in the bathroom can be any and if desired, it is easy to change, «refreshing» the whole interior.

The main disadvantage of colorful compositions is low moisture resistance. Even the coating, labeled by the manufacturer as «superwashable», over time is destroyed by water, losing appearance and protective qualities. And constant condensation leads to moldy painted surfaces.

Another disadvantage — with this option of finishing is nowhere to place built-in fixtures, hide wiring or utilities.

Water emulsion paints for the ceiling in the bathroom are divided into:

• acrylic
• latex
• silicone
• silicate

The first two varieties are affordable and have good moisture-repellent properties. They are easy to maintain and last a long time.

Latex compositions are more decorative, as they can give both glossy and matte coating.

All of the above does not apply to silicone coating. It is applied without problems to old paint and plaster, without crumbling in the future. Plastic material fills shallow potholes and cracks, so the stage of leveling the base, in the absence of large defects, can also be skipped. Silicone paints have great resistance to abrasion and are not «afraid» of wet cleaning. Their only disadvantage is their high cost.

Silicate compositions better than others resist the formation of mold. They are recommended in bathrooms with constant high humidity.

On the photo — design of the ceiling in the bathroom, painted with water emulsion compositions.

Decorative foam tiles

Another type of inexpensive finish. Embossed foam tiles are attached with glue directly to the ceiling, having previously pasted it and applied a protective layer of primer.

The coating is lightweight, easy to install and undemanding in maintenance. Tiles are available with different decor and can be colored, so it is suitable for interiors of any style, including classic. When treated with artificial patina, it is quite capable of imitating carved panels.

Of course, foam tiles can not compete with elite materials of coverage. Even a simple, painted ceiling sometimes looks more spectacular. In addition, Styrofoam does not let the ceiling under it fully «breathe», which leads to the appearance of fungus and dampness.

Photo of the ceiling in the bathroom with a coating of decorative tiles:

Tile finishing

Ceramic tile word created for tiling the ceiling in the bathroom and toilet. Her advantages are undeniable:

• the coating does not deteriorate under the influence of water
• resistant to wet cleaning, including the use of household chemicals
• durable
• can have a variety of design

However, tile, as well as its alternative — mosaic panels heavy enough, so it is preferred to leave it for the walls, not for the ceiling. In addition, tile laying requires complex and lengthy preparatory work.

The ideal option — tile or mosaic ceiling above the open shower cabin. The rest of the ceiling, not directly in contact with water, can be painted with water-based emulsion.

Ceramic tiles on the ceiling in the bathroom, a selection of photos:

Aluminum ceiling in the bathroom

This variety of suspended structures — a great choice for bathrooms in a modern style.

Aluminum ceilings are:

• slatted
• cassette

Which one is better to choose?

Both systems are mounted on a supporting profile, which is located along the perimeter of the bathroom.

Slatted ceiling is a narrow aluminum panels with a protective varnish or paint coating. They are inserted into the supporting profile and are additionally supported by longitudinal frame elements — stringers — reinforced on the ceiling.

The laths can be placed close to each other or with gaps. In the second option, the remaining space can be closed with a special inlay. Such a ceiling looks very decorative, and the profile of laths is not only straight, but also wavy.

Photo lath metal ceiling in the bathroom:

Cassette systems are divided into French and type «Armstrong». They consist of aluminum (rarely steel) square plates fixed on the frame. In the «Armstrong» systems, the supporting elements are arranged longitudinally and transversely, forming cells. Decorative plates are placed in them. French ceilings have no transverse rails, and the panels are hung from below, covering the frame.

The advantage of cassette ceilings over lath ceilings is the ease of dismantling. If you need to fix something, it is enough to remove one panel to get access to the interior space. Part of the panels can be replaced with built-in lights.

In general, the aluminum ceiling in the bathroom is very practical. It is waterproof, masks engineering communications, easy to clean and can last up to 20 years.

However, the decorative possibilities of such structures are limited.

PVC panels

Plastic ceilings are a worthy alternative to aluminum. Plastic panels are attached to a wooden or metal frame, and in the case of a flat concrete slab glued directly on it, if it is undesirable to reduce the height of the room. This is one of the most common types of ceiling in the bathroom.

Advantages of polyvinyl chloride panels:

• simple and quick installation, which can be carried out by yourself
• health safety
• like other suspended ceilings, the design of PVC panels helps to hide the deformation of the ceiling, electrical wiring and ventilation
• excellent soundproofing properties
• ability to resist mold and fungi
• wide palette of colors and prints

Produced panels imitating the texture of wood and stone, with a pattern, mirror effect and so on.

Among the disadvantages of the material:

• instability to mechanical influences
• low vapor permeability, resulting in a microclimate between the suspended and supporting ceiling, favorable for the development of mold
• plastic is not suitable for all styles, in particular, it is not recommended for classic, country and loft

Great looks plastic ceiling in a small bathroom, where its glossy, well reflecting light surface, visually expands the space. In addition, the material does not deteriorate from high humidity and temperature fluctuations, which are particularly acute in small rooms.

Plasterboard ceiling in the bathroom

Gypsum is known for its hygroscopicity, so materials based on it traditionally try not to use in bathrooms. Even the so-called water-resistant gypsum board (labeled GKLV) does not feel best in a humid environment, over time deforming and losing strength.

On the other hand, this material allows you to realize the most creative design ideas, including ceilings of complex shapes with unusual lighting. Thanks to easy to work and inexpensive plasterboard, an ordinary bathroom is easily transformed into a fairy-tale palace with exquisite decor. In the simplest variant we get a perfectly flat ceiling with built-in lighting, safely hidden communications and the possibility of finishing in any style.

Is it worth refusing plasterboard, fearing that it will not last long? No, as long as the following conditions are met:

• An exhaust fan should be installed in the room to remove moist air as needed.

• Plasterboard should be additionally protected with a water-resistant paint coating. It should withstand wet cleaning, preferably with the use of mild detergents.

• In addition to painting, the sheets are covered with PVC membrane and impregnated on both sides with special compounds that provide reliable waterproofing.

• For the frame is recommended galvanized metal profile, not wooden, used in dry rooms.

Next on the photo — the ceiling in the bathroom from plasterboard:

Stretch ceiling

To the question: «What to finish the ceiling in the bathroom?», experts most often answer — PVC-ceiling. This is the only technology that can fully protect the room from water in case of flooding from above.

Stretch PVC canvas is very elastic, which allows it to stretch without tearing, holding a large volume of liquid inside. After the water is drained, the vinyl coating restores its former shape and with proper care is able to serve for many years.

In addition to the main advantage of PVC-film ceilings, there are others:

• The high quality canvas is considered environmentally friendly and harmless to health.
• The ceiling can be easily cleaned from dirt with ordinary water.
• It is possible to install built-in lights and ducting.
• Spectacular design, contributing to the visual expansion of space. Especially beautiful ceiling with photo printing in the bathroom — no other material, except PVC-tiles does not allow to realize such a solution.
• The design assumes several options for illumination, which increases its decorative value.

To the disadvantages of PVC-tiles should be attributed:

• Specific fastening conditions that do not allow you to carry it out by yourself.
• Instability to mechanical influences, too high or low temperatures.
• Vinyl is poorly permeable to air, which threatens the appearance of mold not on the film itself, but on the concrete slab under it.

Beautiful ceiling in the bathroom with the use of PVC-tiles, photo:

Glossy PVC ceilingin the bathroom due to good reflectivity, visually increases the height of the room. It looks great in small modern or art deco bathrooms (see photo):

Matte ceiling in the bathroom looks almost indistinguishable from plaster or paint layer. This is a suitable solution for interiors of the classical direction.

Want originality, reaching the epatage? Then a black stretch ceiling in the bathroom — just the right solution. Usually this ambiguous color is chosen by creative natures, seeking to depart from tradition and standard methods of finishing.

Note that the dark ceiling in the bathroom with a large height does not look shocking at all, it helps to correct the proportions of the room. If the room does not resemble a well, PVC canvas should be glossy or mirrored, so as not to cause psychological discomfort.

Two-level ceiling in the bathroom

A very successful combination of plasterboard construction with PVC-floor. Suitable for spacious bathrooms with a ceiling height of 3 meters.

The advantages are the same as those of other suspended ceilings plus a unique, impressive design. Among the disadvantages: high cost, complexity and duration of installation work, a noticeable decrease in the height of the room.

Multilevel ceilings are made and fully plasterboard, but for the bathroom is still better combined with vinyl film, increasing the water resistance of the structure as a whole.

Wooden ceiling in the bathroom

Thinking about what is better to make a ceiling in the bathroom, rarely anyone stops their choice on natural wood.

But this is an excellent option for country houses in the style of country or rustic. Such modern trends as loft and minimalism, too, will benefit from the use of wood in the interior with its warm colors and pleasant texture.

To finish the bathrooms use high quality wagon, without knots, cracks and other defects that reduce the life of its service.

Carpentry from the array refers to expensive types of finishing. Much more democratic in price its glued (jointed) analog, which is made from treated pieces of wood. Such lamellas not only look aesthetically pleasing, but also have greater strength, as well as better water repellent properties than an array.

Additionally, any type of wagons are treated with antirotnikovyh compositions, and then covered with varnish, wax, oil or painted.

On the photo — variants of ceilings made of wagon:

Finishing with glass slabs

Glass is one of the most expensive finishing materials for the ceiling. It has a lot of weight, so the installation of a suspended structure, despite its simplicity, requires professional skills.

Glass ceiling for the bathroom can be:

• matte — transparent or colored
• stained glass
• mirrored

The last variety is the most popular because of its stylish look and ability to visually add height to the room.

Stained glass is very beautiful, but their cost is many times higher than all other types of finishing.

Hopefully, now we have fully answered the question: what is better to finish the ceiling in the bathroom, what material to choose and what are the advantages or disadvantages of the most popular types of coating. In conclusion, we offer a selection of unusual design solutions on the topic.

Inspire and create!