Lacquer Ceilings Are A Luxurious Touch To Make Any Room Feel Sumptuous

Nov 26, 2023

For years, homeowners have coated the accents and focal points of their houses' interiors with high-gloss paint and varnish, creating a distinguished look that catches eyes and adds dimension to a space. Now, another design trend is gaining mainstream appeal, earning the attention of designers and columnists alike: lacquered ceilings.

Lacquer, a clear substance slightly thinner in consistency than varnish and gloss paint, was first recorded to be used by the Chinese in the second millennium B.C, produced from tree sap in order to coat trinket boxes, vases, and other pieces of furniture and décor. Now, the product is gaining popularity among homeowners, as they use it to add a signature pop of color to their ceilings and walls. Lacquer can usher an air of sophistication into your home by coating the major surfaces of your house's interior, as the substance's reflective properties help open up a space while making a bold design statement in the process. Though, using lacquer to alter your home's aesthetic is no easy feat and certainly isn't a task that a novice DIY enthusiast should pursue single-handedly. If you're considering painting your ceiling as an upcoming renovation project, here's how lacquer could change your space for the better, along with how to incorporate it into your home properly.

When applied, lacquer produces an uber-shiny effect that reflects the contents of a room positioned beneath it. Because of its ability to reflect and refract light that pours into a room from the outside, lacquer, when added to a ceiling, can brighten up a space, all while adding an extravagant flair. Homeowners should avoid adding lacquer to rooms that receive overwhelming amounts of natural light because of this. Though, lacquered ceilings can produce just as pleasing an effect at night if paired with the right candles to spread a warm ambiance throughout a space.

Lacquer, similar to gloss paint, also shows imperfections, like scratches and dents, fairly easily. So, if you plan on applying lacquer to your home's walls, as well, opt for doing so in a room with minimal foot traffic and activity. But, if implemented correctly, lacquers and glossy paint can make a room seem larger and make ceilings themselves appear higher. This effect comes through strongest with lighter colors, like creams and shades of white, while walls are better suited for jewel tones and other bold hues.

While painting may seem like a simple DIY activity to accomplish on a weekend off, applying lacquer to your ceiling is a difficult and time-consuming job that should probably be handled by a professional. Lacquer, unlike traditional paint, dries hard and forms a protective barrier atop the surfaces it covers. Because lacquer's texture allows imperfections to shine through the solution easily, it can appear uneven and sloppy from the ground if applied carelessly, and pieces of dust and other miscellaneous particles can stick to the substance's surface, distracting from the opulent illusion even more. These imperfections become even more noticeable once the lacquer comes into direct contact with a light source.

A paint job can also appear shoddy if using a cheaper formula. Investing in a high-quality lacquer can make all the difference in your ceiling's overall appearance following the project's completion. Some lacquer projects may take multiple weeks to finish since the solution needs ample time to dry in between multiple coats. While each formula is different, a coat of lacquer paint can take anywhere from two to five hours to dry completely. Lacquer can be applied with a brush or a spray gun, but the latter offers a better chance at an even, more uniform coating. If using lacquer seems like too bold a choice for your ceiling, opt for a high-gloss paint instead for a similar yet less dramatic effect.