Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Decorate A Home With Vaulted Ceilings







Modern vaulted ceiling


Vaulted ceilings add a sense of drama to a space. However, they also present special design challenges for homeowners who are fortunate enough to have them. When decorating a home with this type of ceiling, you must carefully consider the paint shade and best light the space. Even selecting furniture is a different process than for space with a flat ceiling. Your choices can either enhance your unusual ceiling plane or make the space feel awkward.


Instructions


1. Choose a paint color. Since vaulted ceilings angle directly from the wall plane, the easiest option is to paint the walls and ceiling the same color. White or light neutrals like beige and gray will reflect plenty of light, keeping the space feeling airy. If you want to take a bolder approach, paint the walls a rich shade or use wall paper to differentiate the surfaces from the ceiling plane.


2. Enhance the drama with lighting. Install light fixtures that are carefully placed to illuminate the sloped surfaces of your vaulted ceiling. Hang a chandelier from the high point for general lighting or install wall sconces to wash the wall and ceiling surfaces with light. A popular choice is to install recessed can fixtures into the slope or use track lighting to achieve directional illumination.


3. Select the right furniture for the scale of the space. Avoid furniture that is too small or low in a room with a vaulted ceiling. Consider pulling lower pieces like chairs and sofas away from the wall surface and creating a lounge area towards the center of the room. Use taller pieces such as bookshelves, plants on stands or floor lamps at the perimeter of the room to draw the eye upward.

Tags: vaulted ceiling, ceiling plane, from wall, paint walls