How to Make a Dropped Ceiling Look Better

Paint the ceiling with a stain-blocking primer to cover up any stains such as those from smoke or water. Wait until the primer is dry to paint over it with the ceiling paint. Consider choosing a color other than white to paint the ceiling. Covering a drop-ceiling panel with chalkboard paint could add a fun and unique option to your ceiling.

Spray tissue paper lightly with adhesive spray and carefully place on the ceiling. Gently bunch up the tissue paper once it encounters the ceiling to give it a textured effect. Remember that tissue paper is fragile and can easily tear if handled too roughly.

Create a patchwork-quilt look on your ceiling with decorative scrapbooking paper. Start by choosing a wide array of scrapbooking papers that complement each other. For example, choose various designs that feature the same colors. Make sure to have several of the same design. Apply craft glue or spray adhesive on the back of the paper and carefully stick it directly in the middle of the ceiling. Continue in this manner while working out from the middle until you have covered the entire drop ceiling.

Cover the ceiling with fabric. Keep the fabric tight by gluing it to the wall. For a draped look, use several different colors or patterns of fabric and attach to the wall at the ends and in the middle. Lightweight fabric works best, as it won't be too heavy for the glue or the ceiling tiles.

Purchase faux tin ceiling tiles and glue them on top of the drop ceiling with contact cement. Before attaching the faux tin tiles, spray-paint the drop-ceiling grids with copper paint to match the new tiles.