Whitney Houston once famously said “crack is whack.” She probably wasn’t talking about the ceiling in Clara’s room, but the phrase fits: Clara’s aqua capiz chandelier was highlighting an unsightly crack where the old ceiling fan had been. It wasn’t obvious in photos or at a glance, but when we installed Clara’s light fixture (we picked it up for $50) the flaw became impossible to ignore. Rather than patching it and walking away, we chose a decorative solution that would also hide the damage: a $19 ceiling medallion from Home Depot. Quick, inexpensive, and effective—exactly the kind of project that doesn’t snowball into a renovation nightmare.
We could have spackled the cracks, but we’ve long considered adding a medallion to Clara’s room—especially since we plan to paint the ceiling and add crown molding later. Choosing a medallion now felt both decorative and practical, so we decided to move forward. We went with a simple, beaded border design rather than something ornate; it suits the slightly feminine, slightly modern feel of the room. A 16″ diameter felt proportionate to the fixture, and the installation proved to be straightforward.
Installation was basically a three-step process. First, remove the light fixture—this clearly revealed the crack that had been hiding under the old fan. Next, thread the fixture’s wires through the hole in the medallion and position the medallion against the ceiling. Finally, reattach the light fixture, using it to secure the medallion in place. The medallion itself is lightweight plastic that convincingly mimics carved wood, so it doesn’t need extra screws or glue; the fixture holds everything together.
All told the job took about 15 minutes. We might paint the small metal ring white so it blends better, but even as-is the medallion cleans up the ceiling and makes the light fixture look more finished. When the light is on, the ceiling reflections play off the medallion, giving the whole fixture a bit more presence and a slightly more stately feel.
The medallion is paintable, but for now we think keeping it white will help it pop against whatever soft ceiling color we choose when we finally paint and add crown molding. For now, Ms. Houston would probably approve of our crack-free ceiling. Have you used ceiling medallions in your home—did you add one for looks, to hide damage, or both?