Soundproofing your ceiling is a very wise idea, especially for two-story homes. A soundproofed first-floor ceiling will lessen the impact of footsteps, exercise movements and rambunctious kids being heard when you are below. Add some soundproofing to the walls of a room planned for kids or a home theater or if someone in the family is a musician.
Adding skylights to a new ceiling allows the house to be lit naturally with sunlight, which can cut down on electrical use during daylight hours and provide a breathtaking view at night. A skylight over the kitchen can provide better illumination of the food you are preparing. A dormer window is perfect for an artist's studio you plan to locate in the attic. If you suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder, consider placing a tubular skylight in your ceiling plans. Tubular skylights are a new technology that allows sunlight to be distributed more evenly through the house.
When building a new home, you have the choice of creating a ceiling with exposed beams or installing false beams. The choice of real or false beams is determined by the style of your roof. A false beam made of wood can be shaped, stained or painted for added decorative effect. If the style of your furnishings and decor refers back to a more rustic era, your false beam can be stained to give the ceiling an aged effect.
Most people building a new home should at least consider installing ceiling fan outlets and wiring even if you don't immediately add the fan. If you decide later on that you want to add a ceiling fan, having the house prewired for it makes installation much easier.
Building a new home offers the perfect opportunity to install a secret hiding place in the ceiling. A secret compartment concealed by the ceiling is the ideal place to store valuables that might otherwise be lost in a burglary, or to hide presents from the kids during the holiday season.
A tin ceiling over the dining area lends your home a sense of the opulence of the 19th century, when the dining table was the centerpiece for conversation as well as eating. You could install a metal ceiling anywhere and everywhere, but try to visit a home or establishment that has metal ceilings before you make the decision, so you'll know what to expect. Metal tiles come in a vast array of geometric patterns and you also have control over the size of the panels to be installed.