The way to decorate ceilings with mirror materials can be called relatively new and even innovative. And these materials have earned popularity, since they are, in fact, multifunctional. On the one hand, they open up wide design possibilities, on the other hand, they mask surface imperfections, and on the third hand, they create unique optical and visual effects. That is why mirrored ceilings can be found today in bedrooms, bathrooms, living rooms and even offices. Interior designers love to work with mirrors, as they are perfectly combined with other materials - panels, mosaics, natural stone, various inlays, lighting fixtures. The possibilities of mirrors are not limited in the same way as their infinite ability to reflect is not limited.
"Abilities" of mirror surfaces
The most important and unique "ability" of a mirror surface is the reflection and, therefore, the deprivation of space of its boundaries. Therefore, this material is perfect for small apartments with low ceilings and a narrowed, elongated perimeter. Mirror makes any room "shine". Moreover, in the literal sense, since, together with objects, it also reflects light rays, multiplying them many times. And this ability makes their presence desirable in those rooms where there is no natural light. For example, a mirrored ceiling in a bathroom, even the smallest one, looks great, because, almost literally, it pushes the spatial boundaries.
Mirrors are good soundproofing material.
Therefore, they are used with pleasure in living rooms, halls, other rooms where a large number of people are expected. The moisture resistance of the mirror is also widely recognized. Therefore, it can be safely mounted in bathrooms, toilets, restrooms. The reflective surface does not require special attention to itself in terms of maintenance: the same tools and methods are suitable for it as for most materials. Therefore, having a mirrored, multi-level ceiling, the owner will not multiply his own efforts.
Varieties of ceilings
As a material, many perceive the mirror too unambiguously. However, the classification of this finish is very, very extensive. And you should start talking about it directly from the reflective materials themselves. So, it could be:
If we take the design of the ceiling as a basis, then it can be solid, panel, tiled. A continuous stretch ceiling that does not have joints. The panel structure is made up of rectangular fragments, large enough in size. And tiled ceilings are called cassette ceilings in another way.
If we put the method of fastening the structure at the forefront, then the ceilings are hemmed, suspended, stretched. The first type of material is attached by hemming to the ceiling, which has an adhesive base. For the suspended structure, a special frame is used, mounted just below the main level. For tension structures, a special canvas is used, which is stretched between walls or inside other multi-level structures. But it is worth talking about some designs of mirrored ceilings in more detail.
Classic glass ceiling with mirrored surface
The most difficult and expensive to install is the classic glass ceiling. The word "classic" means that the material is made of glass and has a real mirror layer of amalgam. On the one hand, such a ceiling will cost several times more, but on the other hand, it will have one hundred percent reflectivity and clarity with a minimum percentage of distortion. No other cheaper analogue has such indicators.
Real glass ceilings are slabs attached to perfectly flat surfaces with liquid nails.
Therefore, before installation, the original ceiling will need to be carefully leveled. But mirror tiles can be, judging by the numerous collectible photos on sites dedicated to interior design, any, even the most bizarre geometric shape. If desired and the availability of funds, you can order them according to individual sizes from any master working with mirrors. It will be great if he owns such a tile processing technique as facet. This is when the edges of the specular material are cut off at an angle of forty-five degrees. At the moment light hits them, the rays will be refracted in several directions at once, creating a stunningly beautiful visual effect. Most of the author's, designer mirrored ceilings are made of precisely such slabs with cut corners.
Tension structures
The technological essence of a stretch ceiling structure is known to the majority: an elastic material is stretched between the walls on a specially mounted frame. This design has two advantages: the finish surface of perfect evenness and texture and color variety.
Stretch-type mirrored ceilings can be made of mirror or glossy film. The mirror film has a 95 percent reflectivity, which is almost identical to a real mirror. But there are significant difficulties in working with it, which is why not many companies undertake to perform such ceilings.
Such a film stretches very poorly and has a roll width of a meter with a small. It is impossible to sew or glue the edges of such material, therefore the film is no longer suitable for large ceilings, but only for small mirror fragments.
Glossy film is an ordinary but varnished PVC material.
It has the lowest reflectivity, so it cannot be fully called specular. But glossy ceilings are popular due to the possibility of seamless execution and a variety of colors. And in order to "increase" their reflectivity, you need to choose a material in a color with the prevailing interior. And then it will seem that the ceiling is almost mirrored.
Plastic mirrored ceilings
It is unlikely that any other material can compete with plastic in popularity and variety of types. Almost everything is made of plastic today, including mirrors. More precisely, their analogues are quite high in quality. Plastic mirrored ceilings are of the frame-cassette type. This means that their installation is carried out on a frame previously built under the original ceiling, and the ceiling itself consists of cassette modules of the same type and size.
The reflective plastic sheets are made from polystyrene, on which the film is glued, or from plexiglass. The second version of the plastic analogue is the closest to the original, since real amalgam is applied to its surface, as is the case with real glass. That is why it is almost impossible for a visually non-professional to distinguish one material from another. But he has a lot of advantages. Plastic mirrors:
These are the virtues that made plastic mirrors the leaders in design and decoration. Today they can be found in almost any room: in the bedroom, bathroom, living room, hall. And easy compatibility with other materials has significantly expanded this list.
Aluminum mirror structures
Aluminum completes the list of materials analogous to the original mirror. Since initially this metal could not boast of a high reflectivity, a physicochemical method of processing was applied to it. As a result, it was possible to obtain anodized type aluminum, that is, with a mirror surface that can withstand any aggressive influences.
In living quarters, aluminum ceiling-mirrors of two types are installed: rack and modular-cassette. The first type is more popular. In this case, the aluminum panels (rails) are attached to the pre-assembled frame. As a result, not a solid mirror surface is obtained, but broken into identical rectangular fragments. This is ideal, for example, in bathrooms where solid reflections are not entirely acceptable.
Cassette aluminum ceilings with mirrored surfaces allow you to create original panels with unusual, spectacular geometric patterns. The thing is that aluminum mirror cassettes are easily combined with other materials of the same shape, but different colors and textures. Therefore, such a ceiling can be considered not functional, but rather decorative.
