Ideas for a Drop Ceiling in a Basement
A finished basement adds more usable square footage to a house and increases the resale value of a house. Although a basement's finishes should be durable and resistant to water damage and heat fluctuations, there are many drop ceiling options to consider.
Acoustical Tile Ceiling
The classic acoustical ceiling is modular and easily repairable. Although it is unattractive, the ceiling tiles allow quick access to pipes and conduit. The acoustical tile is not very durable, but the low cost allows inexpensive repair and replacement. Acoustical tile ceilings are available at any home improvement center or hardware store, and there are now many other design options for ceiling tile.
Gypsum Board
Many people overlook gypsum board because it is harder to install than acoustical ceiling tile; however, it can be cut to fit any surface and is very attractive. The price of materials is comparable to acoustical ceilings, but the time to install and finish the gypsum ceiling is much greater than acoustical tile ceilings. Gypsum board and the supplies to finish the gypsum ceiling are available at any home improvement center or hardware store. Although repairing the ceiling is more labor intensive than acoustical ceilings, gypsum board is inexpensive to repair and refinish. The gypsum board can be painted with any interior paints.
Install Acoustical Ceiling Grid without Tiles
A popular commercial solution to the drop ceiling is painting black all pipes and structure and installing an acoustical ceiling grid without acoustical ceiling tiles. The eye ignores the pipes and structure and assumes the plane of the grid is the ceiling. This type of ceiling is quick and inexpensive to install, but the ceiling grid can be damaged if struck. Nevertheless, the ceiling grid and paint can be purchased at any home improvement center or hardware store, and the modularity of the grid makes it easy to repair.
Paint Every Surface White
A contrasting option to the empty acoustical ceiling grid is to paint every ceiling surface white. The monotone allows the eye to perceive the texture differentiation of the ceiling. This is the easiest option, requiring only paint and a paint sprayer. A variation is to include a drop ceiling grid, such as the option above. The combination of the undulating texture of the pipes and structure and the grid creates depth to the ceiling adding three-dimensionality to an oft overlooked surface.
Fabric Drop Ceiling
A fabric drop ceiling creates a billowing plane above your head. The fabric can be fastened to the floor structure above, with hanging wire. Unfortunately, the fabric drop ceiling cannot accommodate typical ceiling lighting, so sconces and floor lamps are required. Another option is to have low wattage lighting, such as multiple LED fixtures, above the fabric drop ceiling. This option doesn't provide much light, but it will give visual interest.
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