Decorating
Renovating
11 Ways to Make the Most of a Double-height Room
Clever design tips to beautifully enhance the vast proportions of a lofty space
There’s nothing quite like the feeling of space a double-height room brings. Whether it be an entrance hall or living area, it adds a sense of grandeur and captures amazing light. If you’re lucky enough to have a space this size, here are a few decorating ideas.
Double height your door
To really play with scale, consider having a bespoke door built to the same height as the room. Here, the use of glass allows natural light to flood into the space. Be aware, though, that you will need some custom-made, electrically operated blinds if you want some privacy.
To really play with scale, consider having a bespoke door built to the same height as the room. Here, the use of glass allows natural light to flood into the space. Be aware, though, that you will need some custom-made, electrically operated blinds if you want some privacy.
Create a mirror image
Height is great, but it can make the room feel narrower. Create an illusion of width, too, by installing a large mirror. The bigger your mirror, the larger the space will feel.
A reflective surface will also enhance the light in the room, so this is two design tricks for the price of one.
Discover ways to maximise your space with mirrors
Height is great, but it can make the room feel narrower. Create an illusion of width, too, by installing a large mirror. The bigger your mirror, the larger the space will feel.
A reflective surface will also enhance the light in the room, so this is two design tricks for the price of one.
Discover ways to maximise your space with mirrors
Lower your lighting
If you have a focal point in the room, such as a dining table, lower your pendant light so it fills the area and brings your eye down. A translucent shade like this one is a good choice, as it won’t overpower the space; this delicate sphere looks as if it’s gently floating in midair.
Alternatively, opt for coloured glass, as it will make beautiful patterns on the wall when the light shines through it and create a great ambience at night.
If you have a focal point in the room, such as a dining table, lower your pendant light so it fills the area and brings your eye down. A translucent shade like this one is a good choice, as it won’t overpower the space; this delicate sphere looks as if it’s gently floating in midair.
Alternatively, opt for coloured glass, as it will make beautiful patterns on the wall when the light shines through it and create a great ambience at night.
Play the long game
To really fill the space, find an extra-long pendant light – it will act as a work of art as well as a light source. Be sure to check with your builder that the ceiling can take the weight first, though, as a light of this size is likely to be heavy.
To really fill the space, find an extra-long pendant light – it will act as a work of art as well as a light source. Be sure to check with your builder that the ceiling can take the weight first, though, as a light of this size is likely to be heavy.
Go high with storage
Think of the amount of storage you can fit on a double-height wall. A space like this is perfect for a library of books, with a rolling library ladder to access the highest shelves. If you want to keep your bits and bobs hidden, you could have cupboards built instead.
Think of the amount of storage you can fit on a double-height wall. A space like this is perfect for a library of books, with a rolling library ladder to access the highest shelves. If you want to keep your bits and bobs hidden, you could have cupboards built instead.
Experiment with texture
Walls don’t have to be painted – there are numerous different materials that can be used on them instead, like the wooden slats here, which add warmth and interest to an otherwise large, plain expanse.
You could also look into 3D fibreglass panels or a plaster texture – the choices are endless.
Find more ways to add texture to your interior
Walls don’t have to be painted – there are numerous different materials that can be used on them instead, like the wooden slats here, which add warmth and interest to an otherwise large, plain expanse.
You could also look into 3D fibreglass panels or a plaster texture – the choices are endless.
Find more ways to add texture to your interior
Reach for the sky
If you’re keen to install a lot of storage on the walls of your double-height room, a window might get in the way. So if you’re still at the planning stage, opt for a large skylight instead, which will flood the space with natural light – and provide a lovely view of stars in the evening – while leaving the walls free for plenty of shelves or cupboards.
However, before you fit a skylight, think about how you’re going to access it for cleaning.
If you’re keen to install a lot of storage on the walls of your double-height room, a window might get in the way. So if you’re still at the planning stage, opt for a large skylight instead, which will flood the space with natural light – and provide a lovely view of stars in the evening – while leaving the walls free for plenty of shelves or cupboards.
However, before you fit a skylight, think about how you’re going to access it for cleaning.
Be flexible
To avoid being limited by the use of lighting in your space, you could install pendants on retractable cords. This will enable them to be used for different situations. They could be lowered over the table for intimate dinners, say, or lifted up high to clear the space for a party.
Install them with dimmer switches so you can play around with the ambience to suit any mood.
To avoid being limited by the use of lighting in your space, you could install pendants on retractable cords. This will enable them to be used for different situations. They could be lowered over the table for intimate dinners, say, or lifted up high to clear the space for a party.
Install them with dimmer switches so you can play around with the ambience to suit any mood.
Highlight original features
By leaving beams exposed, you can create a great atmosphere and add interest to a large space. Opt for a natural timber finish, as here, or paint them in a contrasting colour for a more contemporary look.
By leaving beams exposed, you can create a great atmosphere and add interest to a large space. Opt for a natural timber finish, as here, or paint them in a contrasting colour for a more contemporary look.
Change the colour
To prevent a room from feeling overwhelmingly tall, change the colour or material of the walls halfway up. By opting for a darker shade at the top, the space will feel less vast and gain a more intimate vibe. These homeowners have left the original brick of the building exposed, which adds great texture.
Alternatively, go the opposite way and make the lower half darker to create a cosy living space with a bright, light area above.
Are you lucky enough to have a double-height room? How have you maximised the space? Share your ideas and photos in the Comments below.
To prevent a room from feeling overwhelmingly tall, change the colour or material of the walls halfway up. By opting for a darker shade at the top, the space will feel less vast and gain a more intimate vibe. These homeowners have left the original brick of the building exposed, which adds great texture.
Alternatively, go the opposite way and make the lower half darker to create a cosy living space with a bright, light area above.
Are you lucky enough to have a double-height room? How have you maximised the space? Share your ideas and photos in the Comments below.
Take advantage of the vast expanse of wall a double-height room offers by displaying rows of similar artworks. This will use the area effectively and look more dramatic than a single piece.
Make sure your frames match, and either go for a grid layout, as here, or create a picture gallery with different-sized but similar-style pieces.