Area rugs make vaulted ceilings cozier.
Soaring, vaulted ceilings can give the impression of spaciousness and grandeur. However, they can also make a room feel cold and cavernous, lacking any sense of intimacy. Furniture arrangement, warm colors, assorted textures and suitable furnishings can transform a cold room with vaulted ceilings into a cozy, inviting space.
Instructions
1. Paint the ceiling a darker color -- burgundy, gold, forest green, warm purple, deep pumpkin, gold -- than the walls; this visually lowers the ceiling, making the room appear smaller and cozier. Dark paint colors with a matte finish absorb light, giving the illusion of a more intimate space. Make the ceiling look even lower by continuing the ceiling color down the walls about a foot. Painting a wide band of contrasting color at the bottom of the walls visually shrinks the room.
2. Place a large area rug over wood floors, effectively breaking up the space and adding texture and cozy warmth to the room. Area rugs also soften the echo-like acoustics in vaulted-ceiling rooms.
3. Furnish the room with large furniture pieces that carry a lot of visual weight. Substantial, dark wooden tables and high-backed sofas and chairs with massive arms, legs and cushions keep the room in harmony, creating an intimate environment. Avoid small furniture that is dwarfed by the expansive scale of the vaulted-ceiling, making it feel out of proportion.
4. Arrange the furniture into two conversation areas, breaking up one large, vaulted space into two cozy, intimate arrangements.
5. Install curtain rods and hang draperies close to the ceiling and let them cascade all the way down to the floor. Even if your windows don't reach the ceiling, hanging draperies near the ceiling creates balance in the room and imparts a cozy feeling.
6. Position an over-sized mirror, piece of art or clock on the walls, keeping it in scale with the rest of the room and breaking up the expansive walls. Create unity and style by hanging an arrangement of several pieces of artwork that use the same style of frame. Hang wall decor at eye level, keeping your focus away from looking up at the vaulted ceilings.
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