Ceilings are getting more star treatment in homes nowadays. In the roaring '20s, stamped ceilings dressed up a home's fifth wall. Ceilings were plated with copper or tin decorative sheets, using floral patterns or corniced ceiling roses. They were painted white to give a hand-carved look.

Now, the statement ceiling is making a comeback, but this time it relies on paint, wallpaper, or wood moldings. A statement ceiling can brighten up a space and make it memorable, says Katie Skoloff, principal designer and founder of In Site Designs, an interior design firm in Greenville, S.C. 

Photo credit: Getz Creative; Design by In Site Designs

"We find the interest on a ceiling draws the eye up, and you cannot help but feel the space is there to 'wow' you," Skoloff says. For example, using metallic wallpaper in gold or silver offers up a historical take on the tin ceiling that can make a space feel more luxurious at a lower cost, she adds. 

Coffered ceilings are another way to make a statement. On high ceilings, the extra detailing provides a dramatic focal point for a space. 

This dining room was staged by Anthea Click, lead designer at Fresh Perspectives Staging & Design in Nashville, Tenn. She carefully plotted out her staging for the space to make sure the focus stayed on the room's dramatic ceiling. She added in greenery, with three plants as the centerpiece on the dining table to balance out the room's coffered ceilings. 

"The three plants mimic the three squares directly above them, allowing the buyer's eyes to rest when viewing the room," Click says. 

Photo courtesy FP Staging & Design