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Writer's pictureThe Burrow Interior

Types & Designs of False Ceiling

Updated: Apr 13, 2023


The false ceiling, also known as drop ceiling or suspended ceiling, has gone way beyond the white paint, and has become the focal point of a residential and commercial building.

Besides providing protection, the bottom of the roof serves as a place where occupants of a building can exhibit their aesthetic sense by creating attractive false ceilings using decorative ceiling panels that can please the eye. In addition to aesthetics, false ceilings also offer functional features that enhance their utility in more ways than one. For instance, false ceilings provide good acoustics where required sounds can be enhanced and at the same time unwanted sounds can be minimized. They provide space for housing electric wires, pipes, and air-conditioning ducts. False ceilings can reflect and diffuse light obviating the need for unnecessary artificial lighting thus lowering energy consumption. These ceiling offer fire safety and moisture resistance features as well.

Thus, a well-planned false ceiling provides both functional and aesthetic features that can enhance the working environment manifold.

Different materials help make a beautiful false ceiling and, here, we look at a list of them:

  • Gypsum false ceilings

  • Plaster of Paris (POP) false ceilings

  • Wood false ceilings

  • Fiber false ceilings

  • Metal false ceilings

  • Glass false ceilings

  • PVC false ceilings

  • Fabric and synthetic leather false ceilings

A combination of any two or more materials can offer both functional and aesthetic features.



Gypsum false ceilings

Gypsum false ceiling is a hydrated sulfate of calcium. This type of false ceiling are lightweight, sound insulated, fire resistance, soft and thermally insulated. It is one of the Popular material used for false partitions & Ceiling. Gypsum boards can be screwed from an wood/iron/aluminum framework. The aesthetic looks of gypsum boards can be enhanced by finishing them with laminates and paints. Gypsum boards are also amenable to wallpaper and texture finishes.


Plaster of Paris (POP) false ceilings

POP is the most popular materials used in a variety of commercial as well as residential roofing applications. It gives a smooth finish and one can mold it to suit any design innovation on the ceiling. POP is basically gypsum sans, (created by heating gypsum to a temperature when water evaporates) available in powdered form. It hardens when water is added. POP is maintenance free and highly durable besides being good insulators of cold and heat.

This versatile material suits modern homes the best where warm cove lighting brightens the house. Use it along with another false ceiling material like wood or glass for an unmatched, contemporary appeal. The major drawback of POP is its tendency to crack over time.


Let's discuss some types of design which can be used for false ceiling. As said earlier, we can use any 2 or more types of materials for any of these designs.


  • Single-layered False Ceiling - You can choose to leave it white on a white ceiling, as this adds dimension without necessarily overwhelming the space. However, if you’d like to go out with a bang, you could choose from a variety of colors, shapes, textures and lighting options to draw the eye upwards immediately. This is a great trick to distract from a small space or one that doesn’t do much in terms of décor.



  • Layered Tray Design - Tray ceilings are basically recessed ceilings, or look like inverted trays, with lower outer edges. This particular false ceiling though has a ‘layered’ tray design, which brings visual interest.







  • Simple Cove - Want to keep it basic, this design, simple false ceiling, which covers the length and breadth of the bedroom. A cove false ceiling like this accommodates lighting through recessed lights along the edges and through LED strips inside the cove.





  • Coffered - Coffered ceilings are essentially crisscrossing beams that form a grid-like pattern. In fact, these are very versatile as they can be made of gypsum, POP (Plaster of Paris) and even wood.




  • Extended Panel - If you’re not content with the design getting restricted to your ceiling, you can opt for this false ceiling style.






  • Circular - A circular shape cut out from the false ceiling not only makes for an ideal place to fix your fan or chandelier, but also puts the focus on both the ceiling. While this is a minimal look, you can also opt for multiple circles cut out from the ceiling and install a recessed light in each.




  • Floating Island - If you want to highlight an area — like your bed or Dining table or your Drawing area — a floating island works perfectly. It’s floating because it’s suspended from the ceiling with a gap between the two and light in between. And it’s an island because it is placed independently to bring focus on a subject below.


To know more about False Ceiling Designs Click here



Wood false ceilings

Wood is a good material to work with. The natural patterns and textures please the eye and natural beauty and serenity outside of their four walls. This is best achieved when the ceiling has wooden beams that give the house a warm, rustic look. One can arrange these wooden panels to create various patterns on the ceiling to give it a modern appeal. Wooden panels can come in the form of hollow blocks, boards or panels. They are easy to install often with just screws and nails.

Paint or Polish are the best way to give a final finish. But as Wood is more expensive to install and maintain its not too favorite to all people.


Fiber false ceilings

Also known as acoustic or soundproofing ceilings for their sound and heat insulation properties which are achieved by mixing natural and synthetic materials such as bitumen, tars, vegetable fiber, wood and stone. Because of the reinforcements, fiber ceiling tiles acquire toughness, hardness and resistance to fire making them highly suitable for commercial applications in noisy places such as shopping malls, retail showrooms and offices. It gain popularity in commercial applications because they are available at low costs, can be installed easily and offer many functional benefits. However, fiber ceiling panels are not suitable for residential applications because they lack aesthetic appeal.


Metal false ceilings

Though galvanized iron and aluminum are industrial-looking materials, when polished and used as a false ceiling, they can be a visual treat. Needless to say, metal ceilings are the most durable with easy installation and low labor cost. Metal ceiling panels can be finished in innovative ways to increase the aesthetic appeal of the ceiling.














Glass false ceilings

Glass is a good material to work with for improving the aesthetics of a false ceiling. Due to its brittle nature, it has limited uses but the brittleness can be reduced by adding suitable additives. Their transparency can be used effectively to make small spaces look bigger. Glass is susceptible to design elements such as coloring, laminating and patterning. Besides, glass is a good heat insulator.


PVC false ceilings

Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) can be used in garages, basements, kitchens, toilets and bathrooms. PVC ceiling panels are a highly cost-effective alternative to other costlier panels. These panels are easy to install and maintain. They are lightweight and resistant to moisture and termites. They do not get affected by UV light and hence are color fast. They can also be finished in a variety of ways giving flexibility in design.


Fabric and synthetic leather false ceilings

These are more as ornamental than functional. They can create a special ambience because they can be created in many intricate designs to match with the rest of the interiors. Since they are functionally weak but aesthetically strong, they are useful in temporary situations such as exhibitions or events.



There are many more Design of False Ceiling, all of them are difficult to write about. We will be happy to discuss if you want more design/styles of false ceiling.


We will be happy to see your idea, which you can post on any of our pages linked below.

You can post your idea, suggestions or comments on our

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