One of the trends in home interiors that have fast caught up with many homeowners here is false ceilings also known as POP ceilings.
More about false ceilings
False or suspended ceilings, as the name suggests, is an additional ceiling in your room below the actual one. It is more of a square panel, made from different materials including wood and metals, supported by a grid. It is suspended from the main ceiling with the help of tie wires. Though the panels are available in different sizes, the most popular sizes are 2 ft. X 2 ft. and 2 ft. X 4 ft.
The grid is installed first, and it comprises T-shaped main runners with perforations. There are 16-gauge wires that utilise these perforations. The panels are then fixed into the grid. Aluminium strips are used to make the grids, and nowadays gypsum is used for the panels because it is tough, moisture-resistant, flexible and lightweight. Plaster of Paris is still popular and but gypsum is proving to be a great replacement for POP.
Advantages of false ceilings
Besides enhancing a room’s look, the false ceilings offer more other benefits. These ceilings act as great service lines for air-conditioning units and electrical wirings. They also offer excellent thermal insulation and a sound-proof mechanism to rooms. For this reason, conference rooms, meetings rooms, and other vital spaces in offices are fashioned with elegant false ceilings. In addition to this, the other great advantages of false ceiling are:
Hide excess wiring – You will agree that a room looks cluttered with wires peeping out of surfaces and near furniture and so on. The greatest benefitof a false ceiling is that it hides extra wires, but you can easily access it if they need repairs. In homes where wirings and plumbing are permanently hidden inside walls, it is difficult to reach them when in case of urgent and sudden repairs.
Offer Great Acoustics – False ceilings can absorb sound rather well and hence can help soundproof the room. Nowadays, even soundproofing ceiling tiles are available.
- False ceiling has great moisture-resistant properties – False ceilings are especially advantageous for apartments where there is high humidity as these ceilings resistant moisture and bacterial formation. Even bathrooms can benefit with the installation of false ceiling.
- Increases energy efficiency – False ceilings can also help reduce your electric bills as it helps your rooms remain cool by resisting heat. Because of the height difference between both ceilings, the room remains cooler.
New trends in false ceilings
Drywall ceiling: Drywall ceiling is a simple design in false ceiling and is widely popular. With a height of 8 feet, it is a plain flat surface which can be done by the homeowners easily.
Wooden ceilings: Today homes are designed as per a specific theme. Wooden false ceilings are preferred by those who have a retro or rustic theme for their homes. Such ceilings add to the visual appeal, and it is quite functional too as it can also carry lighting accessories such as chandeliers and pendant lightings as well.
Tray ceilings: As the name says, it is a false ceiling that takes the shape of a tray, and it is apt for urban flats in India because these ceilings help the room look bigger. Since it also supports accent lighting systems well, it is great for the dining room and the kitchen to add a design element to the interiors.
Coffered Ceilings: These are ready-to-to-fit ceilings that are constructed in the form of coffered panels, which can be fit into the ceiling structure. People can choose for intricate patterns or for contemporary designs as according to their room décor. Incorporating shadow lights with these ceilings can truly make a room look beautiful. These ceilings possess great grandeur and hence are ideal for those who wish to create luxury in their spacious rooms.
Securing a false ceiling maybe quite expensive, but the fact is that it offers users with numerous functional benefits. Moreover, false ceilings can add great zeal and enhance the overall aesthetics of a room. For such reasons, not only interior designers but even urban home owners are looking forward to different forms of false ceilings for their homes.
