The fifth wall
The start of a new year normally brings resolutions, a clear-out and plans for the future. But this year, in a weird twist, we could be about to enter a time warp. In a nod to the Seventies and Eighties, one of the major interior design trends for 2018 is the statement ceiling.
The elaborate decoration of the “fifth wall” – or ceiling, as we used to call it – with paint, patterns, tiles, wood and embossing is back in a big way.
Interest in statement ceilings was on the rise last year, with the number of people searching for inspiration on Pinterest increasing 310 per cent.
According to the website, “a statement ceiling, with bold paint, striking wallpaper or intricate texture, can transform a room from the top down”.
On hearing the news, all we could think was Artex swirls and garish carpets. To top it off, terrazzo flooring, the patterned and polished concrete from the Seventies, also made the top trends list.
Together, such interior flourishes could turn a room into a seriously heady space – and not in a good way. But, if executed well – and in the right environment – the outcome could be intimate and striking. Only some rooms are fit for making a focal point of your fifth wall: those with high aspects, lots of light and not too much clutter.
Decorating the ceiling will be a step too far for many houses, however. To avoid having to call DIY
SOS, it might be safer to stick with some of the more disposable trends – statement doors, patterned plants and some terrazzo bookends – rather than coming over all Michelangelo and attempting a Sistine Chapel recreation in a suburban semi.