by Sarah Schmidt
June 13, 2017
Tiny houses. Micro-units. An average Manhattan studio apartment. Chances are, if you’ve watched HGTV or read a home magazine within the last year, you’re familiar with (or baffled by) the recent pint-sized housing craze.
As prices per square foot drive ever higher, home buyers and renters alike might think it appealing to forgo suburban developments in favor of living rooms that split time as bedrooms. But with decorative wall space and legroom at a premium, consumers may find themselves looking to the heavens for solutions to their aesthetic and storage needs when they need only look up at the ceiling.
The ceiling, a space that mostly brings to mind neutral drywall and stucco, has over time evolved into a focal point for the thrifty and aesthetically concerned. While the majority of the ceilings market encompasses more traditional products for commercial buildings (offices, schools, hospitals, etc.), residential demand is also rising in part due to customers’ increasing awareness of the types of ceiling products available to maximize both style and space. Through 2021, The Freedonia Group projects that residential demand for ceilings will rise just under 4% annually.
Most cost-minded consumers might simply rely on a quick coat of paint to cheaply and easily freshen up a bland ceiling. However, more prodigious spenders can choose from a range of customization options, including drop ceilings with faux crown molding and tiles fashioned to mimic the appearance of wood or tin.
Additionally, specialty products -- among them stretch ceilings, which are newer to the US market and comprise wall-to-wall fabric or plastic ceiling coverings pulled tightly over a frame -- are experiencing a boost in popularity. Per The Freedonia Group, specialty products are expected to achieve the fastest level of growth over all other ceiling products through 2021, at just over 6% per year. Though the majority of demand for these products is nonresidential, stretch ceilings in particular have seen a significant uptick in home usage.
Couch appeal isn’t the only reason to carefully consider your choice in ceiling. For occupants of tiny homes, micro-units (apartments that are 400 square feet or less), or any other space-constrained dwelling, a high ceiling goes a long way toward creating the illusion of more space.
And ceilings can serve as more than just pretty faces. With just a few hooks and anchors, a sturdy ceiling can easily transform into a versatile storage hub, hosting shelving, cookware, decorative hangings, and even furniture, supported by ongoing interest in using home organization products for storage in plain sight in small spaces.
So the next time you find yourself lamenting a lack of closet space, never fear. An answer just might come from above.
To find out more about the US ceilings market, check out The Freedonia Group’s industry study Ceilings Market in the US. Topics covered in the study include:
Alecia Mouhanna is a Corporate Analyst at The Freedonia Group, where she researches and writes about a diverse range of topics, including construction and building materials, chemicals, packaging, and more.
Provide the following details to subscribe.