Friday, January 14, 2011

Ceiling Domes Styles

Ceiling domes recreate the architectural domes of churches and cathedrals.


Ceilings are a primarily functional element of interior design, so adding decorative flair to you ceiling is challenging. Ceiling domes are a budget-friendly ceiling accessory that add visual depth and texture to an otherwise simple element of your space. Ceiling domes are concave bowls that typically accompany hanging lights like chandeliers, but several decorative styles of ceiling domes stand alone as distinctive design pieces.


Round Domes


Symmetrical round domes are the standard shape for ceiling domes. Round domes are available in a range of sizes to complement the surface area of your ceiling. Slightly more elliptical oval-shaped domes are also common choices for ceiling domes. Depending on your budget and the structural needs of your ceiling, you can choose between an installed dome and a surface-mounted dome. Installed domes must be cut into the ceiling and the edges lay flush with the ceiling, whereas surface mounted domes install against the ceiling and jut out slightly. Both styles of round domes may feature scalloping or other flourishes that add decorative detail, but simple, modern domes are also options.


Lighted Domes


Pairing a dome ceiling with a chandelier is one of the more classic options for incorporating a dome into your interior design. Domes that pair with chandeliers come equipped with an additional center medallion that supports the chandelier's wiring and cable or chain. A more modern twist on the traditional lighted dome involves lights installed directly into the dome. Some manufacturers create domes with fiber optic lights or LED lights sprinkled throughout the dome surface to create a night skyscape. The domes may be painted black or navy blue to create a more realistic scene; the domes are suitable options for children's bedrooms and nurseries.


Painted Domes


Domes in the same color as the ceiling add texture and depth without being distracting, but painted domes bring additional visual interest through color to the design element. One of the traditional options for a painted dome is a small-scale recreation of a Renaissance painting like Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel. Domes featuring recreated artwork are reminiscent of the chapels and cathedrals which popularized architectural domes. More contemporary styles of painted domes may include a series of domes in various solid colors like green, yellow or blue. Another option is a painted sky or space scene for a children's bedroom or playroom.

Tags: architectural domes, Ceiling domes, ceiling domes, domes also, interior design, painted domes, round domes