Asked on Oct 18, 2015

Need clever "cover" for the spot in middle of kitchen ceiling

Jane Chappell
by Jane Chappell
We removed old kitchen lighting, replaced with canned lighting. Now my husband will need to patch and repair the hole left behind. Looking for a clever decoration that would cover the hole without having to sheetrock and spray the popcorn coating to match. Yes it is time to paint too but want to do something with this before we paint.
  58 answers
  • Cathy Cathy on Oct 18, 2015
    You could have put a can light in it's place. But since your electrical is already done, maybe put a starburst mirror as a decorative piece.
  • Lisa Lisa on Oct 18, 2015
    Maybe just patch hole & either try to match popcorn texture, or just scrap off texture ceiling , and just paint, smooth ceiling. Lots of work but you will be glad you did.
  • B. Enne B. Enne on Oct 18, 2015
    a ceiling medallion
  • Leslie Erickson Leslie Erickson on Oct 18, 2015
    without seeing the rest of the room, I'd probably bite the bullet and tear out the popcorn (be careful its not from the asbestos era, then hire a pro to take it out) put up a shiplap ceiling and paint -- the whole room will pop
  • Jody H Jody H on Oct 18, 2015
    I glued copper platters I found at thrift stores to my ceiling.
  • Pete Sakes Pete Sakes on Oct 19, 2015
    I'd insert a matching canned light bone until I decided what to do with the ceiling. You can probably pick one up at a thrift store that doesn't work, paint it white and be done for the time being. If you want you can also pick up a battery operated candle to put in it. I have them that I turn on when I want them to come on each evening and they stay on for x hours, turn off automatically then turn on the next evening automatically at the same time. I love them.
  • Deb Deb on Oct 19, 2015
    I would mount a picture frame of clouds or tree leaves to make it look like a skylight. You could even just put some white paper behind a pain of glass to give it that look.Help answer this question...
  • Joffler Joffler on Oct 19, 2015
    I would just put a nice light fixture up there. It doesn't have to be connected and used as lighting. It can just function as a faux fixture (housing only) until you're ready to patch and paint. And make it big enough to conceal the "ring" that's been left on the ceiling. And, of course, there's always a disco ball. LOL
  • Shelley Shelley on Oct 19, 2015
    Home Depot and lowes sell medallions....they are usually resin or plastic and paintable....they are round...and decorative....many sizes....that might be an option
  • Hereisjunebug Hereisjunebug on Oct 19, 2015
    We had the same issue. We took a thin piece of plywood an covered it. In the kitchen we used a square 36x36, framed it with molding. In the Dinning room we used the whole sheet, added bigger molding to frame it. I then put embossed wallpaper and painted.
  • Tammy Sea Tammy Sea on Oct 19, 2015
    I would go with a lightweight medallion. You can get just as plain or ornate as you wish. If you can't find what you want in a store, shop online.
  • Carolyn Carolyn on Oct 19, 2015
    Would it be too late to just install another canned light there?
  • Annadele Annadele on Oct 19, 2015
    If you don't want to spend the money on a medallion, why not use one of the ideas seen on Hometalk. Get a serving tray (Dollar Tree has them) in plastic or (faux) silver the size you wish and just spay paint it. Easy - no muss, no fuss, all for a dollar and some paint. You could even paint it a bright color like yellow, and pretend it's the sun!!!
  • Johnchip Johnchip on Oct 19, 2015
    hang pots from a tray
  • Patty S Patty S on Oct 19, 2015
    I also covered the holes with framed out wood as did "Hereisjunebug" only I used tongue and groove wainscoting and put over the baking table too. It defines the areas beautifully and covers the ugly holes in the ceiling.
  • Pat whitmus Pat whitmus on Oct 19, 2015
    Friend framed a stained glass window and covered hers. Very pretty too! ;)
  • Lquam59 Lquam59 on Oct 19, 2015
    Use one of those door knob protectors abd stick to ceiling
  • HouseLogic.com HouseLogic.com on Oct 19, 2015
    You can use foam ceiling tiles. They are inexpensive and a cinch to install. You can see how one HomeTalk user used them to hide her ugly ceiling here: http://goo.gl/YJfpWV
  • C C on Oct 19, 2015
    Why not just put another can light in the hole? Or perhaps you can add a nice new accent ceiling light in that space, like a mini chandelier or a small hanging stain glass light (can lights were designed to work with other lighting)? You can get decorative rings to add around smaller lights to cover the previous larger shadow. I have mine on two separate switches so the solo decorative light could be used when I didn't need to light up the whole kitchen for cooking. It adds a nice ambiance to the room at night.
  • Nancy Mundy Nancy Mundy on Oct 19, 2015
    Get some spray can insulation ,spray some in hole. Do not over fill, then drywall mud and run a textured roller over it before dry ,will look like popcorn ceiling
  • I would take out that popcorn ceiling and paint, time for a update on that ceiling!
  • Olga dawson Olga dawson on Oct 19, 2015
    You could attach a decorative medalion and fill in the small hole for wires in the middle with alabaster.
  • Cindy Ptak Cindy Ptak on Oct 19, 2015
    Medallion idea for short term.
  • Blair Chris Blair Chris on Oct 19, 2015
    Assuming this is central, I would try to find or make a cut out of a 8 point nautical star, (that's probably not the proper name) the thing that points to north, south, east and west etc with the N, S, E and W slightly more embossed. You could even download a picture and cut it out of cardboard, once painted no one could tell the difference. Hope you know what I mean.
  • Gayle Gayle on Oct 19, 2015
    If you can hang art on the wall, you can hang it on the ceiling. I suggest maybe a starburst design. Something with a shallow relief design. Could be a nice conversation starter.
    • Kathy Bitzan Kathy Bitzan on Oct 20, 2015
      @Gayle I like the idea of a conversation starter. I had a small hole in my kitchen floor because they had the cabinet to close the oven door didn't open, I glued a quarter over the hole and it has brought many laughs and good times... never expected that.
  • Kincaid99 Kincaid99 on Oct 19, 2015
    Try a hang down chandelier with candles and a medallion to cover the larger part of circle
  • Buster Evans Buster Evans on Oct 19, 2015
    cut out a piece of sheetrock to fill the hole, use sheetrock mud to seal the lines and the try sponge mudding over the area to to try to match the popcorn effect.. if you fade outward as you go people probably wouldnt notice it unless they Know its there... Worth a try
  • Sue Sanders Sue Sanders on Oct 19, 2015
    You can buy large circle medalians that can be used as is or can cut holes in center to hang a light. I have one in my dining room that a chandelier hangs from. Bought mine at Lowe's...near lighting section. If hole is in the medalian you can cover with something on ceiling side and paint it white to match medalian.
  • Kristy Ussery Kristy Ussery on Oct 20, 2015
    What about some cut out medallions of something you like such as birds , flowers, maybe coffee cups. Maybe a hanging light or if it is off to the side maybe take a round or square piece of glass or mirror for a suspended plant hangar.
  • Sherry  B. Sherry B. on Oct 20, 2015
    Put in a pot light.....even if it doesn't work.
  • Paula Palmer Paula Palmer on Oct 20, 2015
    Sky light they are size of that circle-but then you have to cut hole in roof - tempest put ip a medallion & just leave it! About $25
  • Paula Palmer Paula Palmer on Oct 20, 2015
    Sky light they are size of that circle-but then you have to cut hole in roof - tempest put ip a medallion & just leave it! About $25
  • Paula Palmer Paula Palmer on Oct 20, 2015
    Sky light they are size of that circle-but then you have to cut hole in roof - tempest put ip a medallion & just leave it! About $25
  • Liliana Wells Liliana Wells on Oct 21, 2015
    A medallion or do the whole ceiling with ceiling tiles. These come in several different styles. Google the possibilities.
  • Ricki forman Ricki forman on Oct 21, 2015
    Another can light or fan if the area is centered
  • Starla Green Starla Green on Oct 21, 2015
    Buy faux "tin" ceiling tiles from a home improvement store. Paint them a coordinating color that will work in your kitchen, even a distressed silver or copper. The entire kitchen ceiling can be covered, or if you're on a budget, center them as a decorative element in the center of the ceiling and "frame" with wooden chair rail molding.
  • Pat Pat on Oct 22, 2015
    You can mount a picture up there. Just saw this in a restaurant - actually hanging a bit!
  • Jo Newton Jo Newton on Oct 22, 2015
    What about a pot hanger? Mounted close to the ceiling.
  • Laurie Laurie on Oct 22, 2015
    A register plate as a heating /cooling vent painted to match the ceiling works great!
  • Lissa Lissa on Oct 23, 2015
    They do sell pretty round medallions similar to old tin ceiling tiles someone else mentioned, Good luck!
  • Patricia Patricia on Oct 23, 2015
    What about spackling the hole, then adding some sand into primer, stipple it over the repair. Then wash and repaint the whole ceiling.
  • Vel1629730 Vel1629730 on Oct 23, 2015
    In most areas, when you remove an electric fixture you are required to put a metal plate over the electrical box. Not doing so could result in an electrical fire. Check with an local electrician.
  • Jane Chappell Jane Chappell on Oct 24, 2015
    Thanks to everyone that shared their thoughts on the ceiling. We bought a Medallion & held it up to the ceiling but it doesn't "speak " to me as I had hoped. I am liking the tin tile idea, though not as a full ceiling. My husband custom built the cabinets, our kitchen flows into dining area with a bar dividing the two areas. We have a ceiling fan over the bar. Thinking that it might work with the tin tiles in framed space might be the compliment to the cabinets I am lookin for! So thank you for all suggestions.
  • Kincaid99 Kincaid99 on Oct 25, 2015
    Please post and let us see the finished product, close up and away, thanks for asking
  • Susan Bechamp Susan Bechamp on Oct 26, 2015
    If the tin ceiling idea doesn't pan out, how about a faux built-in speaker? The grill and frame is larger than your existing hole, but not by a lot. They are designed to be unobtrusive.
  • Terra Gazelle Terra Gazelle on Oct 26, 2015
    How about a chandelier? I know you had a light there and took it out for the canned lights, but maybe a bit of bling can be put in?
  • Lori T Lori T on Oct 30, 2015
    There are these plastic medallions at the hardware store.
  • Lori T Lori T on Oct 30, 2015
    You can paint them any color or just a matte finish of the color in you kitchen.
  • Peg penater Peg penater on Oct 30, 2015
    We put up a piece of headboard with trim . Painted it the ceiling color. Looks great!
  • Sheryl Sumpter Sheryl Sumpter on Sep 02, 2016
    fill in the hole with joint compound or something similar. it will sink in as it dries, then use popcorn patch. Zinsser makes a 1 quart tub for about $5. When you do the popcorn patch, put on the ceiling, then hold the brush straight and dab/poke at the brush lines to make it look like the rest of the ceiling.
  • Jac8935677 Jac8935677 on Oct 21, 2016
    Put a canned light there that isn't electrified. That is what I would do. No one needs to know it is not functional or add the electric to it if you can do that yourself. Was there electric there originally?
  • Jac8935677 Jac8935677 on Oct 21, 2016
    You can pull that drywall down and screw a wooden shim behind it (long enough to catch the piece and the drywall down with the screw head and it will secure the thing for patching. You have to screw it tight then patch the hole all around with compound. Repaint and done.
  • Pg Pg on Sep 18, 2018

    Look for one of those ceiling medallions. It would be perfect. You may be able to find them at Habitat for Humanity Restore, and they should be pretty reasonable.

  • Holmes Holmes on Nov 02, 2022

    Use the curtain as a decorative cover for the hole in the wall. You can cover the entire surface with this method, so I imagine it would be ideal for areas with a lot of cracks and dents. Compared to other ideas, hanging curtains can completely change the look of a room without painting or remodeling everything. As long as the fabric complements the interior, it makes a great addition to your decorative accessories.

  • Mogie Mogie on Nov 04, 2022

    Just add another light like the others in your kitchen. it doesn't need to work just look like it does.