Since the minimalist, paired down style of 1990s interior design, there has been a shift to people choosing more romantic, grander looks for their homes, looking to the past for inspiration. This does make sense when you consider how many British properties are not modern builds and do still possess traditional features, like high ceilings and plaster work. If you are lucky enough to own a property with high ceilings, and you wish to create a historic, theatrical look to the room, a ceiling rose could be the flourish you need to finish it off.



There are some really stylish and beautiful designs of ceiling roses on the market, and they don't need to be put up by a professional either, with a little know how and a good quality product, anyone can do it!

Ceiling roses are available to buy made from either plaster, which is beautiful and looks authentic, but can be extremely heavy and difficult to work with, polystyrene, which is the cheapest (and can look it) or a new product, polyurethane Duropolymer, which is light, hard-wearing and easy to work with.

There are many different shapes and sizes of ceiling roses to be found, ranging in style from Regency to Art Deco. They are particularly effective for tying together an expanse of ceiling with a large chandelier light, for example, but you must be careful that the intricacy of one doesn't detract from the other. Also, if you already have cornicing or coving in the room from a particular period, you will need to choose a ceiling rose in keeping with that style. The larger the room, the larger you can go, but think very carefully about whether your room is wide enough to take a large circular rose. You might find a smaller star or diamond shape works better.

If you are intending to put your ceiling rose underneath an existing light fitting, be sure to turn off the electricity before you start and make sure you are confidant about re-wiring the electrical ceiling rose once you have finished attaching the moulding. A junction box system is the most straightforward method when it comes to re-wiring, but if you are at all unsure, it is always worth paying a professional electrician

You will need to fill any uneven surfaces before sticking the ceiling rose and it is also worth priming the surface beforehand as well, so that painting is easier afterwards. PVA bonding painted on to the ceiling as well as the rose will make for a smoother purchase when you come to sticking, but make sure it is dry before applying the adhesive.

Obviously the heavier the rose, the stronger glue you will need. I would suggest using plasterboard screws to attach it to the ceiling (you will need to remove and fill in the holes afterwards), to save you taking all the weight when it comes to sticking the rose down. Specialist coving glue is probably the best adhesive to use as it can be mixed to the right consistency. Spread the glue about 5mm thick, using a spatula. Once the ceiling rose is stuck, it is a good idea to wait for a day before painting and removing any screws. Job done! A little patience and effort is all that is required.