How to Make Your Own Decorative Plastic Ceiling Panels

A customized, decorative ceiling made with plastic ceiling panels can make all the difference in the world in terms of how your domestic space is perceived. Decorative plastic ceiling panels can brighten a room, add visual interest and depth, and tie formal decorative aspects throughout the house together. Even beyond their aesthetic value, plastic ceiling panels are also a great way to conserve heat and energy in your home. Read below to learn how you can customize your own plastic ceiling panels to perfectly suit your needs.

Step 1 – Purchase Your Panels

First, if you don’t know the dimensions of your ceiling, grab your measuring tape and measure the dimensions of the room you’ll be decorating so that you know how much square footage of ceiling panels you’ll need. Run to your local hardware store to buy the panels, or order them online. They are often available for purchase in 2x2 feet or 2x4 feet rolls. Be sure to order tiles made of extruded polystyrene plastic, which you can paint; this way, you can customize them to your tastes.

Step 2 – Decorate

To decorate your plastic ceiling panels, you’ll need emulsion or acrylic paints. Determine the look you’re going for before you get started. Are you intending on a solid block of color, or a geometric design? Keep in mind that any fine artistic details might not be very visible from down below, so you might want to stick with a simple, yet bold statement. Use your roller brush to give the panels a first coat of paint and then a hand brush to do any detail work. Let the panels dry.

Step 3 – Install the Panels

Get up on your step ladder and thoroughly clean the ceiling to prepare it for the installation. You may want an extra pair of hands for this step, at least to hold the ladder as you sweep, scrape and scrub.

Next, apply the adhesive that should have been supplied with the plastic panels at the time of purchase. As a general rule of thumb, apply one measure of adhesive (usually supplied in small tubes, like paint) per 8 feet of plastic ceiling panel.

After having determined where on the ceiling each panel will go, press the entire panel one by one against the ceiling firmly against the adhesive. If you have ceiling light or fan sockets, you’ll need to go back after the installation and cut out parts of the panel to allow for those sockets to still be usable.