Discover the different types of basement ceilings that are available, see what they look like, and consider their features to find the best ceiling type for your basement.
When it comes to finishing the basement ceiling, most homeowners think of two options, drywall or dropped ceiling. The latter is a cheaper option and is easy to install since it doesn’t require a lot of tools. On the other hand, you will need help to install a drywall ceiling.
With the popularity of the Industrial look, some opt to go bare-bones with their basement ceiling. It’s a viable option, especially when dealing with a limited ceiling height and budget.
But these are not the only options to consider for your basement ceiling. Since this is a casual area of the house, you can let yourself loose and experiment with unique decorating ideas and go with the one that matches your vision.
Table of Contents
1. Stretch Ceiling
A stretch ceiling is actually going to be one of the more expensive options that you can consider. It winds up costing a good bit of money to get everything set up, but the look of a nice stretch ceiling is hard to deny. If you want to have a ceiling that is going to look absolutely amazing, then you will want to consider this option. It’s going to provide your basement with a great amount of visual appeal.
This type of ceiling works really well in basements, too. Many basements wind up having a problem with humidity and become very damp. This isn’t going to bother the stretch ceiling at all, and you will be able to move forward without worries. If you want to install this type of ceiling, you’ll just have to be willing to fit it into your budget.
A good stretch ceiling will be easy to install, too. You don’t even need to move your furniture or other items to install this type of ceiling. It doesn’t create a mess and is something that you can finish up in a timely fashion. The only real barrier is that it can cost a bit more than something like a suspended ceiling. Decide whether or not you are willing to pay the price, and then move forward if it looks good to you.
2. Suspended Ceiling
Suspended ceilings are one of the most common options that you will see in finished basements. You are going to need to make a metal frame that is going to hang from the ceiling joists. You’ll then be able to install tiles and it will look really good. There will be a bit of initial work, such as getting the metal frame in place, but after this, the tiles should be relatively easy to install.
Many people wind up choosing this option due to it being easy to pull off. If you want to have a ceiling that will look fantastic, then suspended ceilings are one of the best decisions you can make. You can truly create a stunning ceiling in your basement without having to spend too much money. It isn’t overly difficult to accomplish, and the results are very worthwhile.
The product being shown here is a ceiling suspension system main tee. Once you get this setup and completely align your ceiling grid, you will be ready to move forward. It shouldn’t be too arduous, and you will have the ceiling you have been dreaming of before too long.
3. Acoustic Tile Ceiling
One of the biggest problems that you will encounter when using a basement area is that things can get noisy. The basement is going to be a place where you can hear people stomping around upstairs, and this can get rather distracting. If you want to use your basement as a guest room or space where you can spend some quiet time, this simply isn’t going to do. You can solve this problem by deciding to install acoustic ceiling tiles.
Acoustic ceiling tiles are designed to dampen sound. You will be able to eliminate much of the sound that is coming from upstairs. You will also not have sound traveling from the basement towards the upstairs. This makes acoustic tile ceilings a highly sought-after option for musicians.
There are many musicians who decide to turn their basement areas into music rooms. This can give you a place to play music without feeling like you are disturbing the other members of your household. Acoustic ceiling tiles are really useful, and you’ll love not having to worry quite as much about noise. Installing them is just like installing normal ceiling tiles, too, so it shouldn’t take too much effort to get this set up properly.
4. Decorative Tile Ceiling
Ceiling tiles also have the potential to be very decorative. When you want your basement to serve as a fun area where people can hang out, it makes sense to want things to look really good. Adding some decorative tiles to the ceiling can really make the room stand out. Putting up ceiling tiles isn’t too difficult, but it may be a bit pricey.
Depending on the type of ceiling tiles that you decide to go with, this method could wind up costing you a fair bit of money. Even so, the overall look of your ceiling may be worth it to you. There are many amazing decorative ceiling tile options on the market. Sometimes people like to go with tiles that have a simple design, and other times people look for more opulent options that come across as really grandiose.
Whatever your desires are for your ceiling tiles, you’ll be able to find a good fit. The ceiling tiles being shown here are really nice and will look good in just about any basement. There is a nice decorative nature to these tiles that provides a bit of extra aesthetic appeal. If you want a solid decorative tile option that isn’t overly pricey, this one will work perfectly.
5. Drywall Ceiling
If you are trying to make a ceiling for your basement on a budget, then you should look into drywall. Drywall is actually very affordable to purchase and it isn’t too tough to work with. Admittedly, hanging drywall can be a bit of a process. It can be somewhat time-consuming, but it is definitely going to be worth the effort.
When you want to have a ceiling that looks really natural, making a drywall ceiling is going to be the way to go. You can wind up making your basement area look like just another room of the house. The drywall will pretty much blend in with the walls, and everything will look uniform. This makes it simple to create a nice guest room in your basement.
If your intention is to use the basement as a guest room area, then this is likely the ceiling choice that you should go with. It won’t cost you too much money to implement this plan and it will look good. You will be able to make a room that seems less like a basement and more like an extension of your home. For some people, this is the ideal solution for basement ceilings.
6. Wooden Plank Ceiling
Another easy option that you could try out is to use wooden planks for the ceiling. A wooden plank ceiling looks really great in most basements. If you have support beams in your basement already, then this method will be very easy to pull off. You just need to buy wooden planks, cut them to the right size, and then place them where they need to go.
You will be able to create a tight ceiling that will look visually appealing. Anyone who comes to hang out in your basement will be impressed by how good everything looks if you did things properly. Buying a little bit of lumber from a local hardware store will be enough to completely alter the look of your basement ceiling. It will feel like a completely different space by the time that you are finished.
If you like the natural look of wood, then this is going to work out great. You’ll be able to buy the wooden planks that you need at an affordable price. A bit of know-how when it comes to DIY projects will be necessary, but this won’t take a herculean effort or anything. This is a practical basement ceiling solution that will appeal to most people.