DECORATIVE CEILINGS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXII, Issue 19437, 24 October 1925, Page 22 (Supplement)

DECORATIVE CEILINGS

The decorative possibilities of ceilings arc only just being rediscovered, but instead of the floridly painted af fairs of old Italian palaces, house decorators are turning their attention to mure subtle ways of modern decorations.

The main point is that the ceiling must not be brought into undue prominence by any very outstanding decorat’.on. It must, with the walls, form a background for the furniture in the room and, perhaps, give just a sense of atmosphere. The first method of decorating a ceiling is by covering it with a single wash of colour. This colour must be very carefully chosen and the he’glit and breadtii of the room taken into consideration. Blue, for instance, would give a sense of distance and would be excellent for the room that is a little too low. One of the most successful and original ceilings was buttercup yellow. With brown-flecked paper on the walls, and stained floor, it formed an ideal combination and showed the polished dining table to perfection. The lampshades were yellow, too, and yellow dinner mats completed the scheme. A yellow ceiling, however, -would only suit a room facing south. For a very sunny room a ceiling—and the walls above the picture rail can be brought into it, too—that is faintly tinged with blue is wonderfully restful. One favoured small person had the ceiling of her night nursery painted blue with two or three stars it it. The lampshade Was in the shape of the moon, and the effect at night was delightful and original. Orange ceilings have in very rare cases —and in very bizarre rooms —been successful, but the effect if anything but restful. Vivid colours should he avoided, or you may share the fate of the young musician who decorated his room in black and scarlet (the ceiling, too) and then had to go away for a rest cure.

Some modern houses have ceilings with curves where they join the walls, and rounded corners. Apart from being decorative, this is a great boon to housewives, as they are exceptionally easy to keep clean. Perhaps the most charming treatment—although not strictly 'a house decoration—was that of a father who had a pond made in the garden so that when the sun shone the ripples reflected on his small son’s ceiling.