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I LOVE this Beautiful DIY Vaulted Tray Ceiling Idea (Using Trim & Molding)

Turn that BORING ceiling into the BEAUTIFUL feature it should be! This DIY Vaulted Tray Ceiling idea gave our Master Bedroom instant style.

This Vaulted Tray Ceiling Was Damaged & Boring

You know you’ve hit a home run with a DIY when it becomes the instant star of a room. This DIY Vaulted Tray Ceiling is definitely the star of or Master Bedroom now!

In fact, when my Mom first saw the update, she said she didn’t even notice we had a vaulted ceiling before. What?! Something like a vaulted ceiling should always be the eye-catcher in a room.

DIY Tray Ceiling Molding and Paneling Feature Steps. If you're wondering how you can turn your boring tray ceiling into a feature, I have the how-to steps for adding trim moulding and panels. Here's a DIY Tray Ceiling Idea you can do. With easy to follow steps. #TrayCeiling #CeilingFeature #CeilingIdeas
You can see the bad drywall tape job in this picture.

But ours had some problems. The drywall tape job had bubbled and cracked in quite a few spots. So, that needed to be fixed.

And we made the mistake of painting the ceiling with the untinted paint sold in the stores. It was a stark white, cold paint color that looked terrible. Definitely pick a shade of white instead of buying the default.

DIY Tray Ceiling Molding and Paneling Feature Steps. If you're wondering how you can turn your boring tray ceiling into a feature, I have the how-to steps for adding trim moulding and panels. Here's a DIY Tray Ceiling Idea you can do. With easy to follow steps. #TrayCeiling #CeilingFeature #CeilingIdeas
Before updating the vaulted ceiling in our Master Bedroom. The stark white ceiling clashed with our creamy crown molding. See more of my room makeovers here.

Is This Angled Tray Ceiling Makeover Hard?

The install work for this vaulted tray ceiling design idea was relatively straight-forward. I install trim and molding around here all the time. So, I had a pretty good idea what I was getting into.

The most challenging part of this angled tray ceiling makeover is just the fact that you have to go up and down ladders over and over and over. And you are working over your head the whole time. Which can be pretty tough on your arms and neck!

But just keep reminding yourself that it’ll look awesome when you’re done. And you’re getting a decent workout in too. Win win! So, let’s get this vaulted ceiling makeover started. 🙂

Image of a DIY Vaulted Tray Ceiling design idea. For a post about DIY vaulted ceiling trim design and crown molding.
Don’t forget to save this DIY Vaulted Tray Ceiling design idea.

RECOMMENDED: 25 Best Tray Ceiling Ideas & Vaulted Tray Ceiling Ideas (Molding, Trim, & Paint)

How To Install This Vaulted Tray Ceiling Trim

Supplies Needed

Tools Needed

  • Circular Saw and a Cutting Guide (see photo below for example)
  • Miter Saw for the 45-degree cuts on the base board molding and lattice
  • Brad Nailer & Brad Nails
    • I used 2 1/4″ Brad Nails to attach the plywood and base board to the studs in the ceiling, then 3/4″ for the lattice
  • Caulking Gun
  • Additional: 2 ladders, pencil, tape measure, spirit level, stud finder
DIY Tray Ceiling Molding and Paneling Feature Steps. If you're wondering how you can turn your boring tray ceiling into a feature, I have the how-to steps for adding trim moulding and panels. Here's a DIY Tray Ceiling Idea you can do. With easy to follow steps. #TrayCeiling #CeilingFeature #CeilingIdeas
Bedroom furniture covered for the big ceiling update and paint job. Check out that bench in the front. I built that Chunky Leg Farmhouse bench last summer. You can get the full DIY steps for that bench here.

PLEASE NOTE: I only used the plywood panels because I wanted to cover the textured ceiling for a finished look. If your ceiling is already smooth, skip the plywood steps. You won’t need to do them to get the same look. Lucky you!

Step One

Start by carefully measuring the length of each wall where the wall and ceiling meet and the length of the wall where the angled tray ceiling and the flat center meet. Then draw up a quick sketch with these.

Making a diagram of the ceiling will help you plan how many sections you’ll need, visually check that the layout will look balanced, and easily track the measurements of each section for your cuts.

Based on the length of my walls, I went with 4 sections on the long walls and 3 on the short walls. I was able to reduce cuts by sticking with the default 48″ width panels on the 6 center sections.

DIY Tray Ceiling Molding and Paneling Feature Steps. If you're wondering how you can turn your boring tray ceiling into a feature, I have the how-to steps for adding trim moulding and panels. Here's a DIY Tray Ceiling Idea you can do. With easy to follow steps. #TrayCeiling #CeilingFeature #CeilingIdeas
This is the diagram I drew up and used while making my cuts for this DIY Vaulted Ceiling.

Step Two

Now, that you’ve double-checked your measurements and made a diagram, you can cut your panels. I used my Circular Saw and a cutting guide to cut each panel. I find it easier to cut all of the panels at once, so that I save time and only get covered in sawdust once. 🙂

Make sure the primed or smoother side of the panels will face out when you’re marking and making your cuts. Brush all of the sawdust off of the panels before carrying them inside.

DIY Tray Ceiling Molding and Paneling Feature Steps. If you're wondering how you can turn your boring tray ceiling into a feature, I have the how-to steps for adding trim moulding and panels. Here's a DIY Tray Ceiling Idea you can do. With easy to follow steps. #TrayCeiling #CeilingFeature #CeilingIdeas
I used my Empire cutting guide with my Circular Saw to make sure I always had straight cuts.

Step Three

Use your stud finder to mark the location of the studs in the wall where you are attaching the panels. I marked those studs on the crown molding and the ceiling so that I could see the marks after the panel was in place.

Step Four

Now you can install those wood panels in the vaulted ceiling. Since I knew my crown molding was level, I used that as the base for each panel.

As long as I had it perfectly pressed against that crown, it would be square. If you don’t have crown molding already, you’ll need to install that before the panels to get the same vaulted ceiling trim makeover look.

DIY Tray Ceiling Molding and Paneling Feature Steps. If you're wondering how you can turn your boring tray ceiling into a feature, I have the how-to steps for adding trim moulding and panels. Here's a DIY Tray Ceiling Idea you can do. With easy to follow steps. #TrayCeiling #CeilingFeature #CeilingIdeas
Adhesive is on, ready to carry these guys up the ladder and nail them to the wall. Big thanks to my husband for being my partner for measuring and attaching the panels and boards. It’s definitely a 2 person job.

Step Five

I used quite a bit of adhesive on each panel, as you can see above. And also tons of brad nails. Those panels will never budge!

When you’re gluing them up, don’t worry about up to a 1/2″ gap between panels, the molding will cover that. Just make sure that the panels don’t overlap!!

Step Six

Once all of the panels are glued and nailed into place, use that wood filler on the nail holes. Caulk will shrink and isn’t sandable, so wood filler or spackling is best for this job.

After all holes are filled and sanded smooth, I primed the panels. I primed my old crown molding too. It was due for a new coat of paint too.

DIY Tray Ceiling Molding and Paneling Feature Steps. If you're wondering how you can turn your boring tray ceiling into a feature, I have the how-to steps for adding trim moulding and panels. Here's a DIY Tray Ceiling Idea you can do. With easy to follow steps. #TrayCeiling #CeilingFeature #CeilingIdeas
You can see here how many nails we used along each stud. Better safe than sorry, right? See my tips for When to Use Caulk or Wood Filler on Trim in a previous post.

Step Seven

Next up for this DIY Vaulted Tray Ceiling Makeover, I marked the studs in the ceiling so that I could attach the base board to the ceiling. Be sure to put those marks where you can still see them once the molding is up.

Then I marked a straight line, with my spirit level, across the top of the paneling. This was my guide for the edge of the base molding along the panels.

I used the already level crown molding as my reference point here. For my ceiling, I marked 38″ from the crown molding to the top of the panels across the boards, then connected those marks with my 4′ long spirit level.

Sorry I didn’t get a picture of this, but this line was very close to the top end of the panels. I wanted the base board to sit on top of the edge of the panels to hide any uneven lines along the panels.

Each panel was slightly longer or shorter at the top, due to natural cutting and measuring differences. BUT the bottoms were perfect since I pressed them up to the edge of the crown.

DIY Tray Ceiling Molding and Paneling Feature Steps. If you're wondering how you can turn your boring tray ceiling into a feature, I have the how-to steps for adding trim moulding and panels. Here's a DIY Tray Ceiling Idea you can do. With easy to follow steps. #TrayCeiling #CeilingFeature #CeilingIdeas
You can see where I marked the studs for the base molding on the ceiling here.

Step Eight

Attach the baseboard to the ceiling with nails at the studs. It’s so lightweight, I skipped the glue. Just be sure to nail it in at every stud. You’ll need to make angled cuts here.

Make sure everything lines up perfectly before nailing. You want those corners to look as perfect as possible. If you have to move off of that straight line you just marked (a little bit) to make that corner perfect, then do it.

Your eye will always notice a bad corner before a 1/4″ difference in height. Also, I bought 20′ long pieces of base board for this ceiling. That way I could use 1 single board for each of the 4 sides.

If you can avoid using 2 pieces, it gives a nicer look and you don’t have to go through all of the work hiding the seam with caulk or wood filler.

DIY Tray Ceiling Molding and Paneling Feature Steps. If you're wondering how you can turn your boring tray ceiling into a feature, I have the how-to steps for adding trim moulding and panels. Here's a DIY Tray Ceiling Idea you can do. With easy to follow steps. #TrayCeiling #CeilingFeature #CeilingIdeas
One piece of lattice up! It’s looking great already. You may have noticed that I also painted the walls and tray ceiling. They are both Behr’s Sandstone Cove.

Step Nine

Now that all of the baseboard is attached, you can add the lattice trim between the plywood panels.

The measurements for each should be very close to the others, but I checked the measurement at each spot to get the best fit possible. I brad nailed the lattice into place.

You can use 1/2″ nails here, if you used plywood panels. If you already had a smooth drywall ceiling, then use 1 1/2″ long brad nails at a slight angle to hold that trim tightly against the ceiling.

For the 4 corners, I used 2 pieces of lattice butted up against each other. No need to calculate angles. I started by cutting the lattice piece about 4″ longer than I needed. Since, lattice is flexible I could hold up the lattice in the corner to mark the cut points.

Just remember that you want the inside edges where the two lattices meet to make a line from exactly the corner of the new base molding on the ceiling and the corner of the crown molding at the bottom. I used my Circular saw for this cut.

DIY Tray Ceiling Molding and Paneling Feature Steps. If you're wondering how you can turn your boring tray ceiling into a feature, I have the how-to steps for adding trim moulding and panels. Here's a DIY Tray Ceiling Idea you can do. With easy to follow steps. #TrayCeiling #CeilingFeature #CeilingIdeas
A closer look at the line where the 2 corner lattice pieces meet for this DIY Vaulted Ceiling Makeover.

Step Ten

Now, on to the boring but kind of the most important part…caulking. Caulk along the top and bottom of the panel where it meets the molding. Caulk either side of each piece of lattice too. And fill the holes in the base board on the ceiling with wood filler.

When those dry, sand them smooth. Getting the caulk and wood filler looking great is the key to a professional looking job. Remember, caulk can’t be sanded. So, you need to have it looking great before it dries.

Trim and crown molding on vaulted ceiling with a tray (flat) top.
Update 2024: This room is all white now with picture frame trim and a DIY Framed Wallpaper Mural.

If you’re new to DIY trim projects check out this post for tips on where to use caulk or wood filler on wood trim. Once dry, paint with 2 or 3 coats of your latex and you’re ready to show off your hard work!

RECOMMENDED: 36 Great DIY Ceiling Makeover Ideas: Designs From Easy To Just WOW!

The Finished Vaulted Tray Ceiling Trim

And, here’s the big reveal, guys! I love how this paneling and extra trim transformed our Vaulted Ceiling into a feature. It draws the eyes up and makes the whole room feel bigger with higher ceilings.

Crown Molding on vaulted ceiling with trim and plywood panels painted white. DIY vaulted tray ceiling idea.
You might also like 25 Scenic Landscape Wallpaper Murals on Amazon and Etsy.

Painting the walls and ceiling recently made this room look even better. I love the fresh, bright, clean look of white paint these days.

An example of 
 DIY vaulted tray ceiling molding ideas in a bedroom painted white.
You can find those pretty and budget-friendly curtains on Amazon. That soft and cozy quilt set is also available on Amazon.
Image of a DIY Vaulted Tray Ceiling design idea. For a post about DIY vaulted ceiling trim design and crown molding.
Don’t forget to save this DIY Vaulted Tray Ceiling trim idea with crown molding.

That’s it for this vaulted tray ceiling molding idea. I hope that helped to inspire your design. Good luck!

More DIY Ceiling Ideas For You


Looking for more DIY Ceiling inspiration? Check out this DIY Simple Coffered Ceiling Makeover.

Try this Simple DIY Coffered Ceiling Design I used to give my Dining Room ceiling a beautiful new look. Includes lots of pictures and a how to video. DIY Ceiling Design Ideas. DIY Ceiling Makeover Ideas.

Or, get the DIY Steps to add Board & Batten Molding to your walls. You can see more of my DIY Home Remodeling tutorials here.

A Fun Photo Canvas Bedroom Decor Idea that gives warm, personalized style to the room. You can find cute decor for any room in your files. Just pick a great, high-quality print that brings back fun memories and have it printed on a Canvas. I had mine done by the Canvas Factory and the quality and look is as amazing as I'd hoped.

I love, love, love this DIY Over Washer and Dryer Laundry Table. It’s a Laundry Room game changer!

This easy DIY Table Over Washer and Dryer hides that ugly gap behind your washer and dryer, adds style, and gives you a great folding table!

This tutorial for how to cut and hang drywall is great for beginners.

15+ beginner tips for how to cut drywall and hang drywall, by yourself. This DIY is easy if you know the rules and have the right tools! How to hang drywall on walls by yourself. Beginner steps for how to drywall your home.

That’s it for this DIY Vaulted Ceiling Makeover. Follow the links above to get the things you’ll need. Have fun and let me know if you have questions.

Gilmer Gal

Thursday 3rd of May 2018

Looks way better! Just a little note...you have what is called a 'coffered' ceiling. Tray ceilings actually have a ledge, or tray, around the top.

Stephanie

Thursday 3rd of May 2018

Thanks! So glad you liked it. :)

Leanna

Tuesday 6th of February 2018

So much work and planning Stephanie but the results are really amazing. You bedroom looks stunning and your ceiling makes such an architectural statement. I love what you did here, beautifully well done.

Stephanie

Tuesday 6th of February 2018

Thanks so much, Leanna!

Mary

Wednesday 24th of January 2018

That is really impressive. I bet it was a hard job to do up there so high, but not only did you finish it but it turned out really great!

Stephanie

Thursday 25th of January 2018

Thanks so much, Mary! It was a little challenging, but I've done worse. ;)

playdatesparties

Friday 19th of January 2018

What a huge transformation! Don't feel bad about living with your ceiling that way for so long. We lived with a settlement crack in our kitchen ceiling (and it was HUGE) for the better part of a decade. Thanks so much for sharing at the #happynowlinkup!

Stephanie

Friday 19th of January 2018

Thanks! It's easy to ignore things for years when you have kids keeping you busy. :)

K.Rupp

Friday 19th of January 2018

WOW...I was seeing your progress on instagram! Now seeing the final result is so incredible! That was a ton of work I know. My husband put up wainscoting in our dining room years ago but that was near the ground and eye level. I can't imagine how challenging that would have been above your head on the ceiling. Not to mention sore arms! ha. Great job! Love it. pinned this:)

Stephanie

Friday 19th of January 2018

Thanks so much. I just saw all of the ladder climbing and sore arms as bonus workouts. ;) So glad I finally did it!