Which came first, the roof of the shed or the ceiling of the shed? The latter wouldn’t exist without the former, as the outer dimensions of a structure create the interior space. While slanted roofs are not a new concept, the shed style of modernist architecture that we now know originated in the 1960s on the rugged West Coast of California in Sonoma County. The design of the shed roofs in the Sea Ranch renovation project was inspired by the style of the barns they replaced and served the purpose of redirecting the strong winds from the Pacific Ocean. Architects and interior designers have encountered various design challenges when working with shed ceilings over the years. To provide you with some inspiration for your own project, we have curated a gallery of unique designs.
1. Illuminate the Space with Pendant Lights Suspended at Varying Lengths
In the kitchen, a pendant light fixture hangs from the shed ceiling over a large central island with a breakfast bar. While pendant lighting is commonly used for slanted ceilings, this particular fixture takes it to another level. It consists of sixteen candle-shaped lights, each set at a different length to align with the space.
2. Incorporate a Widescreen TV and Fireplace into the Gable Wall
The spacious kitchen boasts a double-height shed ceiling adorned with skylights and recessed lighting. The gray gable accent wall features a widescreen TV and a linear fireplace. The room is complete with marble tile flooring and a generously sized central island with a marble countertop.
3. Integrate Corrugated Metal into the Design of the Shed Ceiling
An industrial-style kitchen embraces dark tones and showcases a shed ceiling made of corrugated metal. Two dome pendant lights hang from the ceiling, which is also equipped with skylights to bring in natural light.
4. Blend Interior and Exterior Spaces in a Mid-Century Modern Home
Similar to the iconic Sea Ranch project from the 1960s, this mid-century modern space features cedar elements throughout the shed ceiling, walls, and furnishings. The marble tile flooring extends seamlessly into the backyard through a long area rug, creating a harmonious transition between indoor and outdoor spaces. The Sea Ranch project was known for its forward-thinking design and environmental consciousness, and this room captures the same essence.
5. Allow Natural Light to Stream In Through Glass Panels
The kitchen boasts a shed ceiling consisting mostly of exposed beams and glass panel skylights, offering a unique design that allows ample natural light to fill the space. Additionally, the room features a large island, marble tile flooring, and wooden furnishings.
6. Embrace the Rural Setting with a White Cedar Shed Ceiling
A modern home nestled in rural Quebec showcases a great room with glass walls and windows that provide expansive views of the surrounding landscape. The room features track and pendant light fixtures suspended from a shed ceiling made of white cedar. A massive linear fireplace, contemporary furnishings, and polished concrete flooring complete the space.
7. Create Rustic Sophistication with a Combination of Stone, Marble, and Exposed Beams
The spacious primary bedroom exhibits a stone wall, marble flooring, and a shed ceiling adorned with rustic exposed beams. A pendant light fixture illuminates the room, which includes a king-size bed and bench, a large area rug, a widescreen TV, and two separate doorways leading to outdoor areas.
8. Bathe the Room in Sunlight Through Clerestory Windows
The expansive living room boasts a tall shed ceiling surrounded by glass walls and doors. Clerestory windows positioned at the top of the ceiling allow even more natural light to fill the space. The combination of polished concrete and tiled flooring, along with leather furniture and wooden furnishings, enhances the room’s aesthetic. The open-floor plan seamlessly connects the interior of the house with the exterior landscape.
9. Integrate Kitchen Appliances and Cabinets into the Gable Wall
In the kitchen, a long central island with a marble countertop sits atop hardwood flooring. A rectangular pendant light fixture hangs from the shed ceiling, which is also equipped with recessed lighting. The kitchen appliances and cabinetry are cleverly incorporated into the gable accent wall.
10. Experience an Open Floor Plan in a Spacious Great Room
The great room offers a vast kitchen area with a central island, ample wood cabinetry for storage, and light hardwood flooring. French doors lead to a back patio that overlooks waterfront views. The shed ceiling includes skylights, recessed lighting, and pendant light fixtures.
11. Draw Light into the Great Room with Clerestory Windows
Globe pendant light fixtures are suspended from the shed ceiling in this impressive great room. The space features a dining area with seating for 12 and a living room furnished with a sofa and chair facing a fireplace and widescreen TV mounted on a gable wall. Sliding glass doors and clerestory windows adorn the double-height wall, offering stunning views of the backyard pool area.
12. Illuminate the Space Above the Second-Floor Balcony with Skylights
An indoor swimming pool features a shed ceiling equipped with skylights that open onto a second-floor balcony. The room is adorned with wall-mounted lamps, arched doors, and windows, all complemented by marble slab flooring.
13. Create a Stylish Walk-In Closet with Wooden Cabinetry
A chic walk-in closet showcases elegant wooden cabinetry, carpet flooring, and a shed ceiling equipped with skylights and recessed lighting.
14. Match Hardwood Flooring with Wood Paneling in the Shed Ceiling
In this formal living room, a sliding glass door and a fireplace adorn a gable wall. The space includes a sofa set with chairs and a coffee table facing a TV, as well as storage cabinets. The hardwood flooring perfectly complements the wood paneling used in the shed ceiling.
15. Achieve a Cool and Calm Bedroom Ambiance with a Balance of Light and Dark Tones
The bedroom features a white shed ceiling with exposed beams and French doors adorned with wooden shutters. The serene space also includes a dark wood four-poster bed and furnishings set on top of red oak hardwood floors.
16. Contrast Light Wooden Cabinetry with Black Appliances and Flooring in the Kitchen
A contemporary kitchen showcases a shed ceiling equipped with skylights and track lighting. The space beautifully contrasts light wooden cabinetry with black appliances and flooring.
17. Combine Wood and Brick for a Rustic Kitchen Décor
A rustic kitchen features a wooden shed ceiling with exposed beams, a gourmet oven nestled within a brick wall alcove, light hardwood flooring, and marble countertops. The ceiling is equipped with track lighting, which is further enhanced by abundant natural light flowing through side windows.
18. Augment Pendant Fixtures and Skylights with Recessed Lighting
This spacious kitchen incorporates a central island and kitchen counters with marble countertops, beautifully illuminated by pendant lights hanging from the shed ceiling. The room features extensive cherry wood cabinetry and light hardwood flooring.
19. Showcase Wood Craftsmanship in a Second-Floor Kitchen
A second-floor kitchen exhibits wood craftsmanship throughout the shed ceiling, cabinetry, and hardwood flooring. Transom windows above a sliding glass door open up to a deck.
20. Fill the Kitchen and Dining Room with Natural Light Through Skylights
The kitchen boasts wooden cabinetry and a large central island with a white marble countertop. The shed ceiling is adorned with globe pendant lights positioned above the dining table, while skylights invite natural light into the space.
21. Pair Cherry Wood Cabinetry with Black Marble Countertops in the Kitchen
The kitchen features cherry wood cabinetry and counters with black granite countertops. The shed ceiling, supported by exposed beams, is accentuated with clerestory windows.
22. Illuminate a Rustic Kitchen with Pendant Lights Hanging from a Wooden Shed Ceiling
In a rustic kitchen setup, pendant lights hang from a wooden shed ceiling, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere. The central island with a breakfast bar becomes a focal point in the space.
23. Embrace Wood and Stone for Garden Shed Décor
A garden shed boasts a shed ceiling with exposed beams, stone flooring, and wooden elements throughout. A pendant light fixture suspended from the ceiling provides ample illumination, while the cabinetry offers practical storage solutions.