DESIGN DICTIONARY: Tray Ceiling and Coffered Ceiling

If you are going to walk the walk, you should talk the talk.

What is the difference between a tray ceiling and coffered ceiling?

The tray ceiling is one large recess in a ceiling while the coffered ceiling has a series of sunken panels.

TRAY CEILING: a recess in a ceiling that resembles an inverted tray. Often rectangular, though it can be other shapes, the tray ceiling is used to create architectural interest by breaking up a flat ceiling line.

COFFERED CEILING: A coffer is a sunken panel in the shape of a rectangle, octagon or square found in a ceiling, including ceilings in domes or vaults.A series of these sunken panels creates a coffered ceiling. Also called a "caisson ceiling" or "crossed beamed" ceiling.

Examples of tray ceilings.

Paint in a accent color or a mural often decorate a tray ceiling. This first example is further embellished with molding.

Tray ceiling embellished with added molding.

Examples of coffered ceilings

Many architectural icons have a coffered ceiling. Here are some examples.

Coffered ceilings clockwise: at Mir Castle, Belarus, the dome at Museum of Asian art of Corfu, Greece, at Elahbel tower tomb, Palmyra, Syria, at the Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore, Rome.

Photo credits: First image from how to decorate. Second image fromhome bunch. Plain tray ceiling via houzz. Tray ceiling embellished with molding from janelockhart.Tray ceiling collage: foyer via design chic, other tray ceiling images via houzz. Kitchen with coffered ceiling from bhg. Mint coffered ceiling for beneathmyheart. Coffered ceiling collage from Wikipedia and Wikicommons

Architecture, Design Dictionary, Interior DesignLynn ByrneFebruary 2, 2015accent colors, coffered ceiling, design dictionary, tray ceiling