Decorating Rooms with High Ceilings

High ceilings are a joy to look at and they spearhead feelings of elation in the hearts of people living in such houses. The beauty of a coffered, vaulted or two-story ceiling can be quite mesmerizing, however, creating a comfortable and welcoming feeling to the space beneath it, can prove to be quite a challenge. Though the elegance, drama and opulence added to the house by the high ceilings are phenomenal, decorating rooms with high ceilings has to be done skillfully. If the decoration has not been properly planned, it can make the room feel like an empty cave or auditorium.

High Ceiling Decorating Ideas

Choosing Right Color and Texture
Avoid painting the high ceilings white. This is because, white paint will cause the room to feel like an auditorium, thereby lacking the cohesiveness and warmth that a house should contain. Preferably use colors that are same as the walls to paint the ceilings. This will give the room a calming and inviting appeal. You could even use a new neutral to keep the room looking bright, however, add a wash of color to the high ceilings. Using warm, rose based gray, rustic terracotta, mellow yellow and other such colors will look good.

Flooring
We often underestimate the role of the floor in making the rooms look cozy and inviting. Placing a large rug on wood floorings in high ceiling rooms can help reduce its cavernous feel. Choose a rug that complements the color scheme and place it in such a way that it creates a sense of coziness. Read more on flooring.

Right Amount of Light
It's always best to consider the illumination plan while the house is being built. Homeowners should actually visualize their furniture settings, etc. during the construction phase so that they along with the electrician can work out the best wiring setup for the most appropriate lighting system of the room. Ensure that the electrician puts in general lighting, accent, task lighting and dimmers as well. In rooms with high ceilings, it is best to stick to taller table lamps that will fill more of the vertical space. Moreover, adding 24-26 inch wall scones can give the room a dramatic effect.

Temperature Control
To keep the high ceilinged room from drawing the heat in, one should choose draperies with high insulation value. This makes it easier to manage cooling for the entire house. Moreover, for windows that are tough to handle thermally, one can opt for window films. These films eliminate the glare and also reduce solar heat gain. Window films come in various styles and purposes. Adding plush fabrics to any surface in such rooms are also a great idea, as they manage the temperature. Thick-pile Persian rugs, dense upholstery and hand-knotted Tibetans will reduce heat loss and maintain warmth in high ceiling rooms. During the summer months, it's wise to shift to lighter pieces like silk, cotton or lightweight linen slipcovers, which will make the space feel cooler.

Wall Coverings and Windows
In high ceilinged rooms, sometimes windows go all the way up to the ceiling. However, even if they don't, it's better to hang the draperies high. This is because the room will look more balanced and will feel more comfortable. As far as wall coverings like art frames, etc. are concerned, it is wise to limit the number of frames being put up. The frames should preferably be few, but larger in size. Moreover, these frames should be placed at eye level. Read more on interior decorating.

Choosing and Arranging the Right Furniture
Furnishings play a major role in creating a sense of cohesiveness when it comes to decorating with high ceilings. Purchasing furniture pieces with taller backs, massive legs and arms, adequate cushioning, etc. help make the furniture gel better with the room. Small pieces of furniture will just be swallowed in such high ceilinged rooms. Moreover, the height of the walls will cause low-slung chairs to look dwarfed. Besides choosing the furniture, arranging them appropriately is also important. In such rooms, it is best to group furniture pieces together in different areas of the room, thereby, creating smaller seating areas which help alleviate the cavernous feel.

Read more on:

• Home Decorating
• Living Room Decorating

Decorating rooms with high ceilings can prove to be quite a challenge. However, focusing on the color, texture, furniture, temperature, wall coverings, etc. one at a time can help reduce the challenge. Creating a stylish ambiance in high ceiling rooms will make the house more appealing and inviting.