False ceilings started being used in homes and offices for some very practical reasons. They were fire resistant, you could hide exposed cables, wires and ducts inside, and you could cover up ugly ceiling spots. Besides all this, false ceilings give sound-proofing to the room and add thermal insulation. Insulation is made possible because of the air-filled gap between the two layers of ceilings, which cools the room down. This means lower air-conditioning bills.Starting from such very practical uses, false ceilings started becoming style statements. Today, they are as much a design element as a practical addition. The only thing is, you have to ensure your room has enough height (at least 11 feet) to accommodate the false ceiling, or else you will end up making the room claustrophobic and closed. Second, false ceilings have to be installed impeccably. The least gap or breakage can result in the space above the false layer becoming a haven for mould, rats and dirt. This ends up making the
false ceiling a hazard rather than a benefit.