How to Work With a High Ceiling

If you want your high-ceiling room to have a cozy feel, bring some elements down into the volume to break up the cavernous space. This approach, together with added attention to the walls, will help it better relate to human scale. Here’s how to do it.

First of all, consider yourself lucky. Many homeowners would be thrilled to have a decorating dilemma like high ceilings. But I get it. Rooms with enough headroom for an ogre require special attention (as if they didn’t already get enough).

Sure, monuments, cathedrals and statues work on a grand scale to create a sense of awe and respect. But in our homes, overly high ceilings can make us feel dwarfed. And if not treated properly, they can create anything but a cozy feeling.