Interior Design Information
Large Rooms and High Ceilings

We are looking at the clever interior design techniques that real designers use to get their rooms to feel comfortably sized...

Large rooms and high ceilings can easily feel badly proportioned and too tall, or just cold, unwelcoming and unfriendly.

But if you learn some professional interior design tips and tricks, you needn't be left out in the cold...

You can use this page together with your free How to Design Checklist to help you work through all this interior design information to get the best results.

Decorated well, your room can look dramatic and spacious...

...as well as comforting and warm on a chilly winter evening.

Personally, I would love to have high Victorian ceilings...

...my last house had such low ceilings it was like living in a cave... and it soon got quite oppressive!

So rejoice in all that lovely space and height...

I'll help you to turn your over-large room into a spacious, cozy comfort room, that you long to spend time in...

All you need is this easy interior design information...

Make your cold room cozy!

Here is my top interior design information for coping with tall ceilings and large rooms:

• Use a darker color on the ceiling than on the walls
• Use a darker color on the ceiling, and bring it down to picture rail level






This blue makes the ceiling feel lower
But it isn't over-bearing



• Use large scale, bold patterns
• Use lots of interesting, rough or fluffy textures
• If your walls are a dark color already, try using a paler color on the ceiling - but make sure you bring this down to picture rail level
• Fit lower hanging lights and down-lighters
• Use dark colors on the walls
• Use warm colors - reds, pinks, oranges, yellows, some purples, some greens
• Use a darker color flooring
• Match the scale of your furniture to the size of your room
• Make sure you include lots of your favourite accessories

Colors for Big and Tall Rooms

In large and cold-feeling rooms, we use warm colors (colors with reds and oranges in), as these make the walls visually 'advance' (come closer)...

Dark Colors

Dark colors also have this effect - they also absorb light - and as lots of light reflecting around a room makes it appear larger...

A lack of light makes the room feel a bit darker and a bit smaller.

This all gives the effect of a slightly smaller room.

You can use warm and dark colors on the ceiling to make this feel visually closer. So this makes the ceiling feel lower, and the room feel less expansive.

Cozy Colors

The warm colors also affect us emotionally - they are called 'warm' because they give us a 'warm' and 'cozy' feeling inside...

They appear warm and welcoming to our eyes and minds - and make the room appear 'friendly'.

Even in very small rooms, (which need lots of cool and pale colors to create a larger room feel, which you already have!) - you should still use some warm colors, (even in tiny amounts)...

...so that the room doesn't feel too cold, sterile or stark.

Patterns for Big and Tall Rooms

Using patterns can also help the room feel a bit smaller, and more 'full', as well as adding visual interest.

Bold Patterns

You can go for bold patterns if you like - the size of your room can surely take it. Do take care not to go for bold patterns all over though.

You can have too much of a good thing - and the large size of the room will amplify the bold pattern, and could make it seem overwhelming.

For the best results stick to bold patterns on one or two feature walls, only.

Small Patterns

Small patterns can seem very fussy in a large room - and definitely look out-of-scale.

Small patterns can particularly look old-fashioned in large rooms.

Stripes

If you are trying to hide tall ceilings, don't use vertical stripes - this will only emphasise the height of the room.

Add 'Depth' with Textures

Textures work in the same way as patterns - to add visual interest and a 'depth' to the room. This helps it to feel more welcoming, used and 'homely'.

Look for 'rough' or fluffy textures to add 'bulk' - and avoid too many glossy and smooth textures, as these reflect light, and don't 'soften' the look of the room.

How to Use Furniture in Large Rooms

This interior design information is all about how to arrange furniture in large rooms, and what kind of furniture you should use...

Bring furniture into the center of the room to help fill larger floor spaces.

This concentrates attention on what's going on in the center of the room...

Rather than letting the eye be automatically drawn right to the walls.

Keep to Scale

Use larger scale and chunky furniture to fit in well with the size of a large room.

You don't want to use dainty furniture that looks like dolls-house furniture in your large space.

Instead, make the most of having a large room and go for that big comfy sofa and large dining table.

Balance the Bulk

Try to arrange furniture in your room so that the layout is balanced.

Don't group everything in one corner, leaving the rest of the room looking too empty... fill your whole space - enjoy every inch.

Lighting for High Ceilings

For high ceilings you need to pull attention back from sailing up to the highest heights...

So use low-hanging pendant lights and chandeliers to make a feature out of lighting a bit lower down in the room.

Window Treatments for High Ceilings and Large Rooms

Your window treatments can be more extravagant and more of a feature in the room.

Draw attention to these attractive elements, rather than allowing the eye to travel up to the high ceilings.

Ornate curtains are also good for adding texture and bulk to walls.

For tall ceilings you can position your curtain rail a little above the window to make the most of the height.

It is also a good idea to widen your curtain rail a little, so that the curtains take up a wider space in the room, and look more in proportion.

Interior Design Information for Large Expanses of Wall

You can also break up large expanses of wall by using:

• patterns
• artwork
• dado rails (chair rails) and picture rails

In large rooms it can be a good idea to paint the section of wall above or below chair rails and picture rails a different color...

This breaks up the wall expanse or bulk.

In rooms with high ceilings, paint the warm or dark color higher up. This can help bring the ceiling height down, visually.

Beams and False Ceilings

If you don't have these already, consider having them fitted - you must consult a structural engineer for this.

In rooms with really high ceilings, you might even consider creating a false ceiling, or a hanging framework (like a lattice work) lower down.

You can hang lights off this - for a more visually pleasing, as well as a more practical approach!

I hope some of this interior design information helps you make the most of your larger rooms...

...remember, this really is a very lucky position to be in - (I'm soo jealous, with my little house and tiny rooms!) - and you can really do a lot with your rooms.

Reader, Bon, wants some help to make a large living room feel more homely

Read more free decorating ideas for cold and unwelcoming rooms...

Click here to learn useful principles of interior design for dealing with narrow or wide problem rooms

Are you still stuck?

Get more interior design information for your own problems - Ask a question about your own too-large rooms, here...

Don't forget

Make notes on your free How to Design Checklist about any of this interior design information which you want to use for your own design.

Check Your Progress

Check how you are doing, and where to go next on the main How to Design page

Lots more interior design information to help you with your own projects...

Where to Go Next

If you are happy that you've got all your room proportion pages sorted, you are ready to move on to looking at your layout...

Layout and Arranging Furniture

You can also check out the sections on decorating with color and home interior lighting for more information.

Return to the main interior decorating information page on Room Proportion

Return from this page on interior design information for large spaces and high ceilings to the Home Page

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