Unique Porch Ceiling Ideas

Porch ceilings are often forgotten about until you come out to sweep down the cobwebs. That's when you notice how bad the ceiling actually looks. The wood is solid, in good shape, but it just looks old and boring.

So how about some unique ideas to cover up that tired old porch ceiling? Of course, you could just slap a fresh coat of paint on it and even that would be a great improvement. But how about something different and even unexpected?

Plan a trip to your local home improvement center, but be sure to measure the ceiling before you go. The length times the width will give you the square footage you will be covering. Then head on out to the store and look for different and unusual materials to use to cover the ceiling. Here's a few ideas to get you started.

Tin ceiling tiles look great just about everywhere. They are stylish and easy to install. Use the shiny silver squares or look for copper colored tiles for a more muted look. You can purchase these tiles in different sizes, including twelve and twenty-four inch squares. Cost usually starts at around five dollars and goes up. Look for discounted or discontinued patterns for even more savings.

Beadboard gives an old fashioned look to a porch. It comes in four by eight sheets for faster installation and is priced reasonable. The beadboard can be painted or stained. If you choose to stain it, a coat of polyurethane will help protect the color.

Pine boards in varying lengths and widths can create an unusual and unique design on a porch ceiling. These are easy to put up and when stained and coated with a coat of polyurethane will lend a feeling of warmth and richness to your porch.

One last idea is to purchase four by eight sheets of one quarter inch thick oak. Cut the sheets into two by two squares. Stain them a rich color or simply leave them natural. When applying them to the ceiling, create a checkerboard pattern by turning the grain of the wood opposite ways. Then apply a top coat of polyurethane and let dry for an unusual and beautiful ceiling.

These are just a few suggestions. For more ideas, simply take a stroll through your local home improvement store and look at different materials. Forget about the original purpose of the material and let your imagination picture that material on your ceiling. Just one final word of caution: stay away from any materials that cannot handle moisture.