How to Decorate Rooms with High Ceilings

A large living room with large windows overlooking the ocean. (Keywords: large windows)

The sky is the limit when decorating rooms with high ceilings.  Let your creativity soar in the abundance of space that a high ceiling offers.  Don’t let that additional empty space intimidate you.  By adding architectural elements, using large furniture and implementing a few other tricks, you can tame a high ceiling or make it the standout feature of the room.

A large living room with vaulted ceilings and a fireplace that showcases how to decorate rooms with high ceilings.

A living room with bookshelves and a fireplace in a room with high ceilings.
Photo, home-designing.com

When faced with an endless void of space over your head, where do you begin?  Adding architectural elements can greatly enhance a high ceiling.  Installing wood beams, adding bold moldings or building in floor to ceiling bookcases ground high ceilings to integrate them with the room.

A living room with high wood ceilings and a chandelier.
dandsfurniture.net
A living room with a fireplace and a chandelier in a room with high ceilings.
Photo, houzz.com

Paint the ceiling a bold color, install wood or even paint a mural.  Painting the ceiling a dark color or installing wood will bring the ceiling down visually, making the room cozier.  If you place wood on the ceiling, it is best to repeat the same on the floor for a cohesive look.

A room with a bed and chairs, suitable for decorating rooms with high ceilings.
Design by Godrich Interiors via Houzz.com
A glass chandelier hangs over a dining table in a modern living room with high ceilings.
Photo, home-designing.com

High ceilings are the perfect canvas for hanging sculptural art and dramatic lighting.  Create a wow factor in the room by hanging a large piece of sculpture from the ceiling.  Hang a cluster of pendant lights or a single chandelier to illuminate the space and give the room a powerful punch of style.

A living room with couches, a fireplace, and high ceilings.
Photo, vizimac.com

When furnishing a room with a high ceiling, use large pieces of furniture and bold accessories.  Filling the room with lots of small items only makes it look disjointed.  Large pieces keep the room in proportion and won’t become lost in the space.

A living room with a stone fireplace and hardwood floors in a room with high ceilings.
HGTV Dream Home 2012
A modern living room with wooden walls, showcasing how to decorate rooms with high ceilings.
Photo, homeandofficedecors.com

Create a focal point with a floor to ceiling fireplace surround of stone or create a room divider with a dramatic free-standing fireplace.  With the absence of a fireplace, display large paintings for maximum impact.

Related:
Using a Chalkboard in your Home
A large living room with a fireplace and large windows, ideal for decorating rooms with high ceilings.
Design Mary Cook Associates via Houzz.com
A large living room with wood beams and a stone fireplace - How to decorate rooms with high ceilings and wood beams.
Photo, gomodus.com

Keep windows bare or use long panels mounted above the window casing for visual consistency.  If privacy or bright mid-day light is an issue, install custom shades.  Shades also give the windows a finished look and soften the space.

How to decorate a modern living room.
Photo, decoist.com

A living room with wood beams and a fireplace.

High ceilings may seem like a challenge at first, but playing up the extra space lets you explore creative options for decorating.  The end result is a room with maximum impact and grand style.

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