plafond

Plafond is the term used in French and Dutch to denote the ceiling, the upper interior surface of a room. In English-language architectural writing, plafond is encountered mainly in discussions of French or Dutch terminology or in translations, while everyday English uses “ceiling.”

Ceilings are constructed from a variety of materials, including plaster, gypsum board, wood, metal, or concrete, and they can be flat, vaulted, coffered, or suspended. Modern ceilings often integrate lighting, HVAC plenums, and acoustic panels, and may be finished with paint, wallpaper, tiles, or decorative plaster.

Decorative ceilings, or plafond, may feature ornamental plasterwork, frescoes, or trompe l’oeil effects. In art and architectural history, the term is associated with ceiling paintings, such as Renaissance and Baroque masterpieces. In many cultures, the ceiling forms a key element of interior spatial experience and acoustics.

In Dutch and some modern usage, plafond also means a maximum limit or cap, as in budget or wage ceilings, and the phrase to reach the plafond can mean to hit the upper limit.