10 Ways to Make the Most of Your High Ceilings

10 Ways to Make the Most of Your High Ceilings

Who doesn’t love cathedral ceilings? Their lofty heights bring an air of majesty to a home. But making a room with high ceilings look beautiful can be a bit difficult. 

Of course, there are a few design pitfalls you should avoid for an outstanding room. Play with heights and proportions to create visual interest. You can do this is one of two ways: either mass decorative objects at the bottom of the wall or utilize every towering square inch. Interior designers have their own tips and tricks to make a high ceiling the star of the show. Here are10!

1- An Oversized Mirror

An enormous mirror can look great on a wall that stretches upward. You can choose a model with a minimalist border or hang one with an eye-catching frame—of solid wood for example—and make it the focal point of the room. Purchase a quality mirror that won’t buckle; otherwise, you might be disappointed in the long run.

2- Touches of Colour

A punch of colour is an effective way of livening a spacious room with high ceilings. Apply the paint over the entire walls or as an accent to perk things up. If the room has unique architectural features (sloped ceilings, moulding, etc.), use the paint to make them stand out.  

3- Floor to Ceiling Sheers

The window dressing par excellence for open-concept rooms, white sheers are an ideal way of covering an extra tall wall with windows without creating a heavy atmosphere. In fact, because the light is diffused over the fabric’s entire surface, the effect is soft and glowing. 

4- One or More Textured Walls

Add texture to the walls for a discrete and minimalist look that still has lots of personality. You can use decorative panels or rustic materials such as brick or fieldstone (real or artificial). There are many companies in Quebec that sell these simple to install products.

5- A Gigantic Chandelier

It can be daunting to choose the right light fixtures for a room with cathedral ceilings. And yet, in many cases, a single chandelier will be all the space needs to impress. However, take care to select an appropriately sized chandelier: if it is too small it will get lost in all that empty space! For a truly oversized room, a group of several identical light fixtures (ideally an odd number)—in a row, and at different heights—will look spectacular.

6- A Built-In Bookcase

For a nerd chic decor, there is nothing better than rows of bookcases. You can build your own by attaching planks to the wall. If you want something less traditional in style, divide them into asymmetrical sections. You can also purchase several prefabricated bookcases and install them side-by-side along an entire wall.

7- A Mezzanine

Both practical and beautiful, a mezzanine can become the star of your high-ceiling design. Consider selecting trendy materials for its visible components, such as a ramp made of solid wood or modern stainless steel.

8- A Hanging Chair

Make sure everyone will notice your magnificent high ceilings by installing a hanging chair. If needed, its long rope can be embellished with accessories such as ribbons or artificial leaves. Take care to screw it securely to the ceiling or to a beam to avoid accidents!

9- A Glass-Enclosed Room

One of the top trends this year in interior design is to enclose a space in glass. It is a stunning way of delineating an area in an open-concept room without obstructing the sightline. Glass dividing walls give a room with exceptionally high ceilings a restful and balanced atmosphere. 

10- Storage

Does your house not offer enough closed storage? Floor to ceiling cabinets will help keep you organized. Be aware that this tip is not recommended for cramped rooms as you may feel that the wall is looming over you. Of course, this is not a problem with cathedral ceilings.

There are many other ways of bringing out the beauty of a home’s high ceilings. The important thing is to create a harmonious look overall by ensuring that all the items—accessories and furniture—in your decor are in proportion with each other and the room.

RE/MAX Québec

By RE/MAX Québec

By RE/MAX Québec

A leader in the real estate industry since 1982, the RE/MAX network brings together the most efficient brokers.