How to Decorate Rooms with High Ceilings – Designer Tips

Ever walked into a room and found yourself gazing upwards, marveling at the seemingly endless height of the ceiling? High ceilings are impressive, majestic, but just a little bit tricky to take care of. It can be daunting to figure out how to decorate rooms with high ceilings. Too often, we find ourselves overwhelmed by all that extra space, wondering how on earth we’re going to make it feel cozy, balanced, and stylish.

Don’t worry—I’m here to help you harness the potential of your soaring ceilings and turn that vast vertical space into a design dream. Whether you’re working with a high-ceilinged living room, a vaulted dining room, or a kitchen that feels like it’s tall enough to fit a basketball court, I’ve got all the top tips and tricks to make your space feel both grand and inviting.

What Qualifies as a High Ceiling Room?

Before we dive into the nitty-gritty of decorating, let’s define what actually qualifies as a high-ceilinged room. Typically, a room is considered to have high ceilings if the ceiling height is over 9 feet. If you’re lucky enough to have ceilings that are 12 feet or higher, you’ve officially entered the realm of “tall rooms.” These spaces offer ample opportunities for creativity but can also present challenges when it comes to making the room feel cozy and well-proportioned.

High ceilings can be found in a variety of spaces, from older homes with architectural features like coffered ceilings and exposed beams to modern builds with a more minimalist vibe. The key to decorating these rooms is to embrace the height of the room while ensuring that your design feels cohesive and inviting. My house has a 20′ ceiling living room space and most rooms have 10′ high walls – so trust me when I say this – I’ve tried every trick in the book!

10 Tips for Decorating Rooms With High Ceilings

Coffered Ceilings: Adding Architectural Details

If you’re blessed with a coffered ceiling, congratulations—you’ve already got a built-in focal point. A coffered ceiling features a grid of recessed panels, often with molding or other decorative elements that add texture and depth to the ceiling. This architectural detail can be a great way to add visual interest to a large space without overwhelming it with too many decorative objects. It adds as an accent wall but for the ceiling!

To make the most of a coffered ceiling, I would actually paint it the same as the rest of the room. This creates a seamless look and emphasizes the ceiling’s design without making the room feel too closed in. Alternatively, you can highlight the molding with stained wood for a bold statement that adds a touch of drama to your space.

Exposed Beams: Embrace the Rustic Charm

Wooden beams are another architectural feature that can make a high-ceilinged room stand out. Exposed wood beams add warmth and character to a space, especially when paired with other natural elements like stone fireplaces or hardwood floors. They’re a perfect example of how a little bit of rustic charm can go a long way in making a room feel cozy and inviting.

If you have exposed beams, consider highlighting them by painting the rest of the ceiling a solid color. A white ceiling paired with dark wooden beams creates a striking contrast that’s timeless. You can also enhance the look by adding pendant lights or other statement light fixtures that draw attention to the beams and create a cozy atmosphere. I added faux wood beams to my bedroom to balance out the tray ceiling. It makes the tray ceiling look intentional rather than an awkward feature with tall walls.

A vaulted ceiling with beams also looks magical! If your house is blessed with one, embrace it as part of the design and it makes the room look so cozy.

Hanging Curtains Higher: Elevate Your Space

When it comes to decorating a room with tall ceilings, one of the best tips is to hang your window treatments higher. By placing the curtain rod closer to the ceiling (even if your windows aren’t that tall), you create the illusion of extra height and make the room feel more grand and open. However, I would still leave at least a few inches from the ceiling, depending on how tall your walls are.

Long curtains that cascade down from a high point not only emphasize the height of the room but also add a touch of elegance to your living space. This technique works particularly well in living rooms and bedrooms with large windows or clerestory windows that allow natural light to flood in.

For added drama, opt for long curtains in bold colors or patterns that contrast with the rest of the room. This creates a focal point and helps to break up the vertical space, making the room feel more balanced. Interior designers love using tailored curtains to add more elegance – think pinch pleat or curtains with a box valance.

Painting the Ceiling Darker: Add Depth and Drama

One of the biggest mistakes people make when decorating rooms with high ceilings is assuming that they have to keep everything light and bright. In reality, painting the ceiling a darker color can be a great way to add depth and drama to your space.

Dark ceilings draw the eye upward, creating a sense of coziness and intimacy in a room that might otherwise feel too open and airy. This technique works especially well in large spaces like living rooms and dining rooms, where you want to create a more intimate atmosphere.

When choosing the right paint color for your ceiling, consider the overall color scheme of the room. If you have neutral walls, a dark ceiling in a rich color like deep blue or deep brown can add a sophisticated touch. For rooms with bold colors, a dark ceiling in a complementary shade can create a striking contrast that enhances the overall design. I used this trick in my younger son’s nursery by painting the ceiling a hunter green to complement the blue walls and wallpaper. It adds so much drama to the higher ceilings!

Adding Wallpaper to the Ceiling: A Bold Statement

If you’re feeling adventurous, why not add wallpaper to your ceiling? It’s a bold statement that can transform your room from drab to fab in no time. Wallpapering the ceiling is a great way to add pattern and texture to a space without overwhelming the walls. It’s also a perfect opportunity to play with bold colors and designs that might be too much for the rest of the room.

When choosing wallpaper for your ceiling, consider the scale of the pattern and how it will interact with the rest of the room. Large patterns work well in big rooms with tall ceilings, while smaller patterns are better suited to smaller spaces. In my son Zaki’s room I added a gorgeous tropical inspired wallpaper on the ceiling which is a great example for this technique. It gives the illusion of a slightly lower ceiling and the bedroom feels cozy instead of cold and uninviting.

Appropriately Sized Furniture: Balance is Key

In a room with high ceilings, scale is everything. One of the best ways to make a room feel balanced is to choose appropriately sized furniture that fits the scale of the space. Small items can get lost in a large room, making the space feel empty and unfinished.

To create a cohesive look, opt for wider furniture pieces like long sofas, oversized armchairs, or longer daybeds that anchor the room and provide ample seating. A large coffee table or dining table can also help to ground the space and make it feel more connected.

When it comes to decorating tall rooms, think about the height of the room as well. Tall bookshelves, floor lamps, and oversized art are your best bet for filling up vertical space and making the room feel complete. These pieces draw the eye upward and create a sense of balance between the height of the room and the furniture.

Hanging Artwork at Eye Level: The Golden Rule

When it comes to wall decor, one of the top tips is to hang artwork at eye level. This might seem like a no-brainer, but in rooms with tall ceilings, it can be tempting to hang artwork higher to fill up wall space. Resist the urge! Hanging artwork at eye level creates a more comfortable and natural viewing experience, making the room feel more inviting.

Another tip for decorating a huge wall is creating a gallery wall with multiple pieces of art. Gallery walls allow you to fill up the ample space without looking strange. Remember to leave some negative space between pieces to prevent the decorated wall from feeling too cluttered. I created an asymmetrical gallery feature wall in my bedroom which draws the eye up. White walls with a soft lime wash finish allow the wall art to shine without looking crowded.

Not Filling Up Every Inch of the Wall: Embrace Negative Space

Speaking of negative space, one of the best ways to make a room feel balanced and inviting is to embrace it. In a room with tall ceilings, it can be tempting to fill up every inch of the wall with art, decor, or furniture. But sometimes, less is more.

Leaving some areas of the wall bare allows the room to breathe and prevents it from feeling too crowded. This is especially important in a small living room or other spaces where you want to create an airy feel. By strategically placing decorative items and leaving some space empty, you can create a more relaxing environment. In my living room I have 20′ tall walls and instead of hanging artwork higher I’ve embraced the open space and kept most of it empty. The massive fireplace wall allows the eye to rest and makes the room feel intimate.

Appropriately Sized Chandelier: The Crown Jewel

No high-ceilinged room is complete without a statement light fixture, and a chandelier is often the crown jewel of the space. When choosing a chandelier for a room with tall ceilings, size matters. A small chandelier can get lost in the space and you shouldn’t hang it too high either.

To find the perfect balance, consider the height of the room and the size of the chandelier. As a general rule, the larger the room, the larger the chandelier should be. A statement light fixture that’s appropriately sized will not only provide ample light but also serve as a focal point that ties the oversized space together.

The Final Touches: Pulling It All Together

Now that you’ve got all the top tips for decorating a room with high ceilings, it’s time to pull it all together. Remember, the key to creating a cohesive and inviting space is to balance the height of the room with the rest of the decor. Embrace the extra height by choosing furniture, decor, and lighting that fits the scale of the space, and don’t be afraid to make a bold statement with colors, patterns, and textures.

Whether you’re working with a living room, dining room, or bedroom, these tips will help you make the most of your tall ceilings and create a space that’s both stylish and functional. So go ahead and transform your high-ceilinged room into the living space of your dreams!