Ideas for Fluorescent Lighting Boxes & Getting Rid of a Drop Down Ceiling

Diner Look

• The diner look is perfect for contemporary kitchens, and giving attention to the ceiling completes the look. Any style fluorescent box works here; open ring-style fixtures add a particularly authentic touch. You can use these fixtures with or without a cover, showing as either a porthole-type disc or an exposed fluorescent ring. If your ceiling is rough and unfinished, lining it with pressed tin or thermoplastic panels adds even more authenticity.

Industrial Chic

• Converted factory lofts practically beg for industrial chic decor. You can also co-opt the look for a home gym or utility room in any home. Leave the ceiling unfinished and install bare-bones fluorescent boxes at regular intervals. Opt for the narrow double-tube designs for a look that's less "office" and more "warehouse." If your ceiling is finished, scuff it up with sandpaper or texture it with plaster and stamps for a grittier feel, but avoid popcorn and knock-down textures, which are too suburban-contemporary to work.

Minimalist

• If you would rather the ceiling be just a lid to the room rather than a decor element, keep everything clean, neat and sleek. Finish the ceiling smooth and paint it matte white to allow it to pass unnoticed. Look for recessible fluorescent light boxes -- they do exist, but you may have to search a bit further than your local home improvement store. This type of fixture allows you to sink the light into the existing ceiling for the same low profile the drop ceiling provided. There must be ample room between the ceiling and the upstairs floor for the box to fit properly.

Futuristic

• A futuristic look is fun for kids' rooms, or to provide an unexpected element in a totally grown-up media room or family room. It's important to achieve a smooth finish on the ceiling because you're trying to mimic the velvety blackness of space. Use a skim coat of patching compound to smooth out irregularities. Don't paint the ceiling black unless it is very high or the room is very large. Most rooms tolerate a deep navy blue much better. Install square recessed fluorescent boxes in a staggered pattern, or use round boxes and paint the covers to resemble planets.