Two designers debate whether dressing up the “fifth wall” elevates a room or takes it over the top.

Cherry on Top
Michelle Gage
Michelle Gage Interiors, Philadelphia

I’ve been thinking about the fifth wall for most of my design career. I saw other designers take a daring approach with paint or wallpaper, and I realized that the ceiling is just another vehicle for layering color and pattern into a space. For the right room, it adds an important layer of coziness. Adding something to the ceiling also works well for rooms that need a little more character to bring them to life.