Friday, March 19, 2010

Cool Decor Ideas For Living Rooms With Cathedral Ceilings

A dramatic chandelier can complement a cathedral ceiling.


Cathedral ceilings can create a decorating challenge as you try to find decor and furniture that makes the most of the room's height without seeming small in comparison. As you plan a decor scheme in your living room, choose elements that will work with the height of the ceilings and create an open, pulled-together space.


Lighting


Draw attention to the height of your ceilings and eliminate shadowy corners with a mix of lighting elements. Use a dramatic chandelier to complement the design of the room: consider a contemporary, artistic design in a modern home or a rustic wood chandelier in a cabin-style living room. You can also use directional lights pointed upward to highlight architectural elements of the ceiling such as beams or corners. Include lighting that illuminates the lower part of the room with track lights, lamps and recessed lights.


Ceiling Decor








Make the ceiling the focal point of your living room by decorating it in dramatic fashion. Add large wooden beams in a geometric pattern, for example, or cover the ceiling with decorative tiles. If your ceiling is relatively plain, add molding painted the same color to create faux architectural details; the levels will create depth and visual interest with the play of the light. For a more modern look, cut a shape like a starburst or a floral shape out of wood and attach it to the ceiling around the base of a hanging light.


Vertical Decoration


In a room with cathedral ceilings, you can use more of the vertical wall to avoid too much open space; in doing so, you will draw the eye up and emphasize the height of the room. Look for decor elements like tall bookcases, oversized pieces of art, or stacked items like a tall painting on top of a fireplace. If your windows look small in the room, create window treatments that start one or two foot higher to make the window look more proportionate.


Accent Wall


To give your living room a design pop, use one of the tallest walls as an accent wall. Paint it a bold color, for example, or hire an artist to paint a mural in the highest section. You can also turn the wall into a focal point by adding wooden stripping painted a contrasting color. If you have the funds, choose the tallest exterior wall and install windows from floor to ceiling to flood the space with light and make the most of the view.

Tags: living room, your living, your living room, ceilings create, chandelier complement, dramatic chandelier