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A Guide To Coved Ceilings Designs: Elegance in Simplicity

coved-ceilings-elegance-in-simplicity

With interior design, every decision carries some weight. Since it is above eye level it might not seem important, but it makes a big contribution to the décor. Coved ceilings add a touch of flair, and they can suit a variety of design themes. A coved ceiling is a marvelous thing. It breaks boundaries that have been set by the standard building methods. When other ceilings jig, the cove jags. It doesn’t play by the rules. It doesn’t have to; it makes its own.

WHAT IS A COVED CEILING?

A coved ceiling is a rounded curved framing detail located where your wall and ceiling join together. The concept involves using coving where the ceiling and wall meet. Unlike typical crown molding, it has a rounded look, with a radius connecting the ceiling and wall. This particular ceiling will eliminate those hard 90 degree angles by creating a soft, smooth and rounded finish. Not to mention, coved ceilings often replace the need for expensive crown moulding or can be used together to create a more elegant finish. You can also find this ceiling used widely in various countries.

Guide to understanding the different coved ceiling designs

But even though you’ve decided to install a cove ceiling (congratulations on your decision, by the way), you’ve still got choices. That’s right. The cove is more than just another pretty curve. Just one look at these coved ceiling designs and you’ll agree. Did you know that you have four options for your cove even before you put up the drywall? And when it’s time to apply paint and molding, the options are almost endless.  If you want to make your design stand out, here's the four installation methods available for cove ceilings options to consider.

1) Coving with top reveal

Coving that has an opulent touch can give the home’s interior a timeless and luxurious feel. The coving does not have to blend seamlessly with the ceiling for it to be effective. You can easily add a top reveal that will further accent the ceiling of your room.

Just by adding an additional step to the ceiling (by adding another piece of wood, also known as a fur down), you can create a simple yet stunning architectural element to your room. In this case, the wall appears to flow into the ceiling, and then it is met with a sharp edge. The edge can give the appearance that your ceiling has been lifted. Of course, it hasn’t been lifted, but it sure can look that way.

coved-ceilings-top-reveal

2) Coved ceiling with bottom reveal

You can use coving to separate the ceiling and the wall by adding a bottom reveal along the wall. In this case, the additional “step” is added to the wall where the arch  gets attached. It is the exact opposite of a top reveal in that the curve seems to extend from the ceiling and is “cut off” when it reaches the wall.

In some cases, designers will add molding here to complete the look. Then you can paint it a completely different color and draw attention to a piece of art or a mural. In this way the coving accents the wall further adding to the room's design.

cove ceilings with bottom reveal

3) Coving with top and bottom reveal

You can also do both, top and bottom reveal,  and as you might have guessed, is created by adding an extra “step” (or fur down) to the wall  and  ceiling where the cove pieces are attached. With this cove ceiling installation method,  the coved ceiling itself becomes the focus. This creates an effect that looks most like crown moulding; well, an exaggerated and completely curved crown moulding. 

The top and bottom reveal is the most popular of our coved ceiling designs. This installation method is prefect for remodels, as you don't even have to remove the drywall.

coved-ceilings-reveals

4) Seamless coved ceilings (no reveal)

A cove without a reveal means it’s flush with the wall and the ceiling, i.e. seamless . If your main goal is to eliminate all sharp edges, then this is the cove for you. It goes straight from the wall to the ceiling without any interception, so you can just think of it as smoothing out the lines.

A seamless cove ceiling is actually your standard coved ceiling, but that certainly doesn’t mean it’s ordinary. With this installation method, your goal is to seamlessly blend the cove with wall. Because you're essentially removing all the hard corners of your ceiling it softens the overall feel of the room, which is probably why it's the most popular of the four options. 

seamless-coved-ceilings-system

For further clarification, here's a great side by side comparison of the aforementioned cove ceiling designs:

Four cover ceiling design options

So you see, all coved ceiling designs aren’t created equal. Still, they’re all equally stunning. The one you choose for your space will depend on your personal taste and the look you’re trying to achieve for the room. Choose no reveal, top reveal, bottom reveal or top and bottom reveal. Regardless of which one you make your own, rest assured that it’ll be an architectural masterpiece.

Reasons to Consider Coved Ceilings

Some people may be unfamiliar with the concept, but many of them may have seen it before without realizing what it was. Many coved ceilings have a dramatic impact without being overstated. Here are some reasons why coved ceilings may be right for your next project.
  1. Finishing the room. If you are looking for attractive finishing methods, this is one worth considering. Coved ceilings give rooms a look of elegance even without a big budget.
  2. Both traditional and modern. Whether the design of your home is traditional or modern, this feature can make the right statement. With so many installation methods, it is easy to find something to suit your tastes.
  3. Quick installation. We make it easy and fast.
  4. Curve Appeal. The style and beauty of coved ceilings can add to the value to your homes. Give your home the curve appeal and make them stand out from competition.

Cove Ceiling Kit From Archways & Ceilings

From design to completion of your custom ceiling, Archways & Ceilings can do it all. We are here to help our customers visualize their dream ceiling design and aid them by creating a prefabricated framing kit making it easier for them to achieve the ceiling they are looking for. Take a look at the pictures below to see how we transformed a living space with a simple cove ceiling kit.

The customer supplied us with the necessary measurements and from there, we created a CAD to help the customer visualize what a cove ceiling would look like when it was finished. From there, we prefabricated all the cove ceiling pieces and shipped them to the home with detailed installation instructions. We make this process super simple, super easy. This cove ceiling is definitely one of a kind and we are grateful for being part of this project.

custom cove ceiling kit 3D rendering

finished custom cove ceiling kit

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