Niche for curtains in a suspended ceiling, advantages of the ceiling part, design options for a hidden cornice

Stretch ceiling remains the most popular finishing option; it is valued for its practicality and budget, and is used for all rooms. One of the installation options is to install a niche for curtains in a suspended ceiling. It is suitable if you need to hide the ceiling mount of curtains. Let’s figure out what advantages this solution has and how different types of eaves niches differ.

Curtains behind a suspended ceiling Source m-files-new.cdnvideo.ru

Pros and cons of masking curtains

A niche formed in a suspended ceiling has the following advantages:

Mechanism and fastening parts are securely hidden inside the structure; Only the surface of the canvas and textiles appear to the eye - everything looks elegant and harmonious.
Using a niche eliminates the need to choose cornices and fixtures that match the style of the interior. You save time and money.
If the canvas is glossy, an interesting effect is obtained. Curtains are reflected in the ceiling and look longer; this makes the room visually higher, which is always nice.

Bedroom with a disguised cornice Source wp.com

A niche is a structural element that can be used in any style; the final result depends only on the choice of textiles.
A niche is a suitable place to install decorative lighting. Hidden lighting looks charming and is completely safe: LEDs are used, which do not heat up, and therefore can be placed close to textiles.

The disadvantage of the design is the need to foresee it in advance and include it in the design project before installation work begins. Once the canvas is stretched over the profile, no additions can be made. Installing a ceiling cornice without a niche is risky, as there is a possibility of damage to the decorative coating.

With soft LED backlight Source nevapotolok.ru

Useful tips

Niches made of plasterboard for curtains are structures that are almost impossible to modify during operation. Therefore, even at the planning stage it is necessary to make them universal. That is, it should not only be a box covering the cornice, it should be an element of the design of the ceiling and the room as a whole. For example, decorate it with lamps. In this regard, it is difficult to decorate a narrow niche under a plasterboard cornice with point light sources, so it is better to use LED strips.
From the first council comes the second. A niche for a plasterboard curtain does not have to be a rectilinear structure. When decorating the ceiling, you need to take into account the configuration. Typically, this technique is used when constructing a two-tier structure. For example, as in the photo below.
The wider the plasterboard niche itself for the curtain, the easier it is to carry out the work. A narrow opening means it is impossible to insert a screwdriver into it to tighten screws. To do this, you will have to purchase an angle-type tool, which is an additional expense.
Based on the budget for the renovation, you can choose a plasterboard curtain rod design that will be cheap, aesthetic and practical. The main thing is to set priorities.
If the ceiling is sheathed with a suspended plasterboard structure, then you must immediately take into account the place to install the cornice in the niche.
If the plasterboard niche for the curtain is not lined with anything inside, this does not mean that there is no need to repair the part of the open ceiling to which the cornice will be attached. It must be repaired: primed and puttied. The reason is to prevent loose particles of the concrete structure from falling from above. In addition, the cornice itself should only be attached to a flat surface to avoid distortions.

Niche and cornice parameters

The dimensions of a niche in the ceiling for curtains are calculated using several initial data. First of all, you need to decide which cornice will hold the textiles. Since decorative qualities do not play a role, the cornice is chosen taking into account the complexity (multi-layers) of the drapery and its weight.

For example, if the window will be decorated with light cotton curtains and tulle, you can limit yourself to a string cornice, and the width of the technological gap will be minimal. If the decor is heavy curtains in combination with transparent muslin and a lambrequin, the niche will be much wider.

Finished niche for a hidden cornice Source paslaugos.lt

See also: Catalog of companies that specialize in interior redevelopment

Designers recommend choosing a cornice that covers the entire width of the wall, and not just the window opening, and setting the size of the niche accordingly. This forethought will allow you to beautifully drape the curtains along the wall, rather than pressing them around the window when you want to let the sun into the room. When choosing a cornice, you can use the following recommendations:

If the textiles are too heavy (corduroy, velor, velvet), it is better to choose an aluminum cornice. In other cases, the best option would be a durable and budget model made of plastic.
The width of the niche depends on the width of the cornice, and that, in turn, on the number of rows of textiles. Standard models are two-row, but a three- or four-row option may be required.

Sectional design Source severdv.ru

In order for the curtains to drape beautifully, the calculations must include the width of the heating radiator or window sill (depending on what protrudes further). If the window sill protrudes too far, do not go to extremes and move the cornice 30 cm from the window - the space of the room is more important than impeccable drapery.
For mounting in a niche, a ceiling cornice is usually chosen. This is technologically more justified; moreover, with this method of fastening, another dust collector surface is not formed.
If the installation of the cornice is not carried out close to the wall, the place where it will be installed is puttied and painted with white paint. A bare concrete surface is not something you want to see after the renovation is complete.
If you plan to install an LED strip, it is convenient to switch it on separately; the second option is on the remote control.

Finished design Source potolok495.ru

Positive aspects of the products

The main advantage of this type of cornices is increased aesthetics. “Floating” curtains and curtains going directly from above the room look much more attractive.

There are other advantages to installing hidden curtain rods:

the ability to hide an ugly section of the wall, as well as the side parts of the window;
Suitable for any curtains, including very heavy ones;
applicability for all types of ceilings;
profitability - hidden cornices made of the same material are cheaper than conventional ones;
versatility, suitability for all rooms in the house;
advantageously emphasizing the texture of the fabric, focusing on the additional decor of the curtains;
eliminating the problem of choosing a cornice with a specific design;
the possibility of additional arrangement of hidden wiring, Internet cables, lighting, ventilation;
suitability for windows of non-standard shapes, including U-shaped and semicircular;
doing the work yourself.

Among other advantages, hidden cornices will be an ideal solution for windows with a wide window sill, because the depth of the niche can be adjusted independently.

Calculation of niche dimensions

The width of the structure (from the wall) is determined by adding the following parameters:

Determine the amount of extension of the window sill or radiator (depending on what protrudes further from the plane of the wall). On average, the offset is within 15-18 cm.
Measure the distance between the guides of the cornice if it is double-row. If there are more rows, take the distance between the outer guides.
A correction is introduced into the calculations on the side of the curtain. The amendment (not to be confused with the assembly factor, which affects the number of folds) depends on the length of the cornice, and usually does not exceed 10-15 cm.

Curtains behind the ceiling cornice Source wp.com

Photo: Beautiful examples in the interior

Previous
CurtainsDescription of electric curtain rods with automatic drive

CurtainsDescription of cornice for Roman blinds: components, fastening

Types of niches for hidden cornices

Sometimes, for some reason, it is impossible to organize a recess under the curtains (for example, the communications running along the ceiling interfere with screwing the cornice). In this case, the cornice is mounted directly on the suspended ceiling, on a base, which can be a beam placed 5 mm above the canvas. From the outside (from the side of the room) the structure is covered with a decorative overlay.

Hidden built-in cornice Source vsezdesklub.rus

In other cases, a niche is formed in the structure of the stretch ceiling. Stretch ceilings with a niche for curtains can be made in several ways. Technical solutions vary in degree of complexity, which affects production time and cost. The following options for cornice recesses are possible (in order of increasing cost):

Budget niche. The low-cost method mentioned above, in which a niche is formed using a beam that takes on the main load (it is attached to a concrete base). From the side of the room there is a smooth canvas trimmed with decorative edging. The advantages are ease of installation. There are two disadvantages - a visible edging, which does not always look decent, and also the opportunity to get acquainted with the design by looking at it from the side of the window.

The canvas hides the presence of the beam and cornice Source nevapotolok.ru

How to hide hangers with a ceiling plinth: photos, examples

You can cover some shortcomings in wall decoration and hide the suspension using a regular ceiling plinth. However, this requires basic skills in installing skirting boards on the ceiling. First you need to choose the baseboard itself. It should be wide and have a flat surface on top so that it can be fixed to the ceiling.

If the curtains are suspended from a ceiling cornice, it is quite easy to create the illusion of a hidden cornice using an ordinary baseboard

Products made from polyurethane foam, polystyrene foam or duropolymer are suitable for this purpose.

Note! Ceiling plinth plays an important decorative role in the interior. Its design, color, and ornament must be in harmony with the overall style of the room.

In order for the baseboard to hold securely, you will need to install a vertical base in the form of a plank.

The design must completely hide the curtain fastening elements

Next, you should purchase glue for attaching polyurethane products. It must be applied to the baseboard and the canvas pressed tightly against the ceiling. The glue sets quickly enough to securely fix the product. The plinth is attached at a short distance from the cornice. The same skirting boards should be placed around the entire perimeter of the room. Then its design will look solid and harmonious.

You can see photo examples of such methods of masking suspensions below.

Briefly about the main thing

When installing a stretch ceiling, you cannot do without arranging the mounting location for the cornice. To do this, create a niche that will allow you to effectively secure the curtains, save on purchasing a cornice to match the style of your interior, and arrange decorative lighting.

The dimensions of the eaves niche are calculated before the start of repair work. Its dimensions are influenced by the model of the cornice, as well as the width of the radiator or window sill, the pomp of the curtains and some adjustments.

Several methods are used to create a niche. It is popular to use an aluminum profile with a bend, a plasterboard box, a floating ceiling, or bending a PVC sheet (or fabric) to the ceiling.

Design disadvantages

If you decide to use a special niche to hide the cornice, the cost of its manufacture will be added to the total costs. They can be minimized if all the work is done by hand. Replacing a cornice is considered more difficult than removing a classic curtain - in some cases, after dismantling it will be necessary to repair the ceiling.

Important! A hidden cornice is suitable for all interior styles, and yet in some styles it is better to use standard curtains or baguettes.

Curtains for curtains in Provence style

How to make lighting in a niche with the effect of floating curtains

To illuminate the curtains, an LED strip is glued into the niche on the side of the room. If you choose the option with a profile for two-level ceilings, purchase a baguette with special recesses.

This creates the impression of a higher room. The LED strip can be mounted independently or combined with hidden lighting around the perimeter of the entire ceiling.

Some tips:

Tapes are available in different colors and even with the ability to change lighting, the latter option allows you to give the interior of your home a different mood;
for curtain lighting, it is better to mount a separate switch;
Tapes with a remote control are available for sale, which allows you not only to conveniently turn the light on and off, but also to change the color of the lighting.