Skip to Content Subscribe My Account Manage My Subscriptions FAQ Newsletters Canada Canadian True Crime Canadian Politics Health World Israel & Middle East Financial Post NP Comment Longreads Puzzmo Diversions Comics NP News Quiz New York Times Crossword Horoscopes Modern Life Eating & Drinking Style Sponsored Play for Ontario Travel Travel Canada Travel USA Travel International Cruises Travel Essentials Culture Books Celebrity Movies Music Theatre Television Business Essentials Advice Lives Told Tails Told Shopping Buy Canadian Home Living Outdoor Living Kitchen & Dining Tech Style & Beauty Personal Care Entertainment & Hobbies Gift Guide Travel Guide Deals Savings National Post Store More Sports Hockey Baseball Basketball Football Soccer Golf Tennis Driving Vehicle Research Reviews News Gear Guide Obituaries Place an Obituary Place an In Memoriam Classifieds Place an Ad Celebrations Working Business Ads Archives Healthing Epaper Manage Print Subscription Profile Settings My Subscriptions My Offers Newsletters Customer Service FAQ Newsletters Canada World Financial Post NP Comment Longreads Puzzmo Diversions Modern Life Shopping Epaper Manage Print Subscription HomeHomesInterior design: The new crown jewel of the roomNo longer relegated to a builder's white or popcorn finish, the ceiling is taking centre stageLast updated 3 hours ago Toronto muralist Jasmin Pannu steps up on a ladder to create this piece of art, covering the ceiling in oversized hand-painted flowers in blues and pinks that spill down onto the mouldings below. Photo by Jasmin Pannu Art Studio Ceiling MuralsWe independently select everything we recommend. Buying through us may earn us a commission, which supports our work.When Lori Lievonen and her husband moved into their new condo in Stouffville, Ont., they wanted to make it their own. Yes, they could personalize the furniture, the cabinetry, the wall colour, the decor, but what about… the ceiling? The condo had a large open-concept kitchen, dining and living space that was mostly black and white. Lievonen began browsing the work of muralists online, when she was struck by a photo of a bathroom with elaborate painted flowers flowing from the ceiling down the walls. Enjoy the latest local, national and international news.Exclusive articles by Conrad Black, Barbara Kay and others. Plus, special edition NP Platformed and First Reading newsletters and virtual events.Unlimited online access to National Post.National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.Support local journalism.Enjoy the latest local, national and international news.Exclusive articles by Conrad Black, Barbara Kay and others. Plus, special edition NP Platformed and First Reading newsletters and virtual events.Unlimited online access to National Post.National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.Support local journalism.Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one account.Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.Enjoy additional articles per month.Get email updates from your favourite authors.Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one accountShare your thoughts and join the conversation in the commentsEnjoy additional articles per monthGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorThe artist was Toronto muralist Jasmin Pannu, and soon Pannu was up a ladder in Lievonen’s home, covering the ceiling in oversized, hand-painted flowers in blues and pinks that spilled down onto the mouldings below. Today, the ceiling is the centrepiece of Lievonen’s home. “I tell everyone that they just have to come and see my ceiling,” says Lievonen. “It’s a real piece of art that brings joy to me and my husband. I could never move — I couldn’t take it with me.” Lievonen’s ceiling is just one whimsical example of a growing trend. No longer relegated to a builder’s white or popcorn finish, the ceiling is taking centre stage. “The ceiling is the crown,” says Toronto designer Lori Morris, whose maximalist, “no rules” approach saw her named to the Interior Design Review’s list of the world’s top 100 designers. “It’s the crown jewel of the room. I don’t view any part of a room — the walls, the coverings, the decorations — as more important than any other. We design the floor, the walls, the archways and the ceiling all with the same intensity and purpose.” For Morris, giving the ceiling the royal treatment can mean deep coffered mouldings, hand-leafed gold detailing, or a richly patterned wallpaper applied overhead. The one rule she won’t break is proportion. “For example, a ceiling medallion that’s too small for the chandelier — once you understand scale and proportion, there are no rules for design,” she says. “But the math has to be right first.” Designer Lori Morris believes in giving ceilings the royal treatment. “I don’t view any part of a room – the walls, the coverings, the decorations as more important than any other. We design the floor the walls, the archways and the ceiling all with the same intensity and purpose.” Photo by Lori Morris DesignHouzz’s Fall 2025 design report named statement ceilings as a trend to watch, grouping them with jewel-toned paint and bold wallpaper as part of a broader move away from safe, resale-driven decorating and toward homes that feel unmistakably personal. In 2026, Houzz found searches for wooden ceilings up 275 per cent in the first three quarters, while Pinterest clocked a 40 per cent jump in searches for striped ceilings heading into 2026, part of a maximalist circus-inspired wave the platform is calling “FunHaus.” That appetite for drama overhead has a distinctly local flavour, according to Arnie Popov, a Toronto finish carpenter who has been building custom crown mouldings and waffle ceilings since the mid-2000s. “Go to Halifax or Vancouver and search for waffle ceilings — you won’t find much,” Popov says. “In Toronto, you’ll find fifty people doing it. It’s a Toronto thing.” As an early ceiling specialist, Popov has watched the trend take off: “Neighbours see it, real estate agents see it, and it spreads.” Though some designs can be pricey – custom medallions and chandeliers don’t come cheap – not every ceiling has to break the bank. For the budget-conscious, Popov suggests starting with crown moulding or a flat-stock version of the waffle look, which creates the same graphic effect, but is far simpler and cheaper to construct. “There are a lot of options, depending on the room,” he says. “A coffered box built above a kitchen island can become the centrepiece for the whole space.” And for those ready to really make a splash, there’s always paint. Toronto muralist Jasmin Pannu has painted close to a dozen ceilings since she saw demand begin to increase in 2020. “It coincides with a societal shift,” she says. “We’re saying no to minimalism. We don’t need our homes to look like institutions. Everyone wants to express their individuality.” Designing for a ceiling, she says, is nothing like designing for a wall — the sightlines change, colour overhead is perceived differently, and the goal is usually the opposite of what you’d expect: not to close a room in, but to open it up. “It elongates the whole spaced,” she says. “It doesn’t compress it — it makes it look more spacious.” She’s painted florals, cloud-filled skies with “a Renaissance vibe,” even a galaxy scene in a Mississauga home. The job is not always glamorous: plastic sheeting over every surface, hours on a ladder with her neck craned back, goggles for drips, and a stretch break built in every 45 minutes. A small bathroom might take an afternoon, while a full room can take three to five days. As for Lievonen, she has zero regrets about going big with the space overhead: “You have to see my ceiling, I tell people. And when they do, they can’t believe it.” Join the Conversation This website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. Read more about cookies here. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.