Ceilings dictate the look and feel of a room . But what ’s the received ceiling meridian , and what ’s exceptional ?
It might not be the first thing you notice about a room , but ceiling heights play a huge use in a home ’s overall calculate and sense . passing high , vaulted ceilings make homes feel spaciousand regal , while cramped , low ceiling can make a room feel outdated or claustrophobic .
“ Open and spacious with tall ceilings will often mean a grander , more expensive home with high-pitched public utility bill . Lower ceilings will make for a cozy home with less money spent on electricity , ” saysChristine Shipp , a real landed estate broker with Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Lifestyles Realty .
Credit: Andreas von Einsiedel / Getty Images
We asked expert to explicate the purpose ceilings play in a home ’s esthetic and whether the standard cap height in homes has changed .
Standard Ceiling Height for Residential Structures
So , what is the magic number for standard cap heights these days ? It ’s still8 feet , although it ’s progressively vernacular to see 9 - metrical foot ceiling .
“ In some decades , it was the timbre criterion cut , and during the petroleum crisis year of the ‘ 70s and ‘ 80s , miserable ceilings helped with vigor preservation , ” Shipp says .
Linda Terrell - Mazan , an agent with Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Kansas City Homes , says modification in house tech affect the roof height over time and could go on to bear upon them down the personal credit line .
“ I think that heating used to be a bountiful motivator for keeping ceiling at a lower height , ” she enounce . “ As modern HVAC develop , that became less of an issue , and as cap heights increase , homeowner loved the broad undefendable feel of the homes . ” Terrell - Mazan says a return to vitality consciousness might lead to lower ceilings again .
roof superlative and designs are also influenced by the area and era during which a plate was built .
“ In many U.S. regions , as time has evolved with different home base styles , their cap peak and style have evolve from Craftsman style bungalows and northeastern colonial to coastal household with in high spirits ceilings to allow ventilation in warm months , ” Shipp says . “ Midcentury modern font brings various heights and often dramatic sloped ceiling lines with beautiful light beam , miniskirt - sign of the ‘ XC and 2000s hadcoffered ceilings or tray ceiling , and then there were theever unpopular low popcorn ceilingsof the ‘ seventy and ‘ LXXX . ”
Any ceiling over 10 feet is considered a high roof , Shipp say . “ Sometimes roof superlative can vary within one home to make some elbow room seem cozier or more howling . In two - story homes . the 2nd story is often a foot or so shorter than the bottom story , ” she lend .
Tips for Measuring Ceiling Height
Many home base listings highlight vaulted ceilings or higher - than - normal ceiling in a property verbal description . Otherwise , you have to measure for yourself .
Terrell - Mazan carries a tape measure in her car to showing for this very reason .
She also suggests using the touchstone app on the iPhone , which uses augmented reality technology to measure space viewed through the camera lens .
Do n’t have a tape measure measuring or smartphone?Barry Zimmerman , a real estate agent with Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Florida 1st , says you may estimate by weight-lift your back against a wall .
“ Most the great unwashed know their height . Put your finger’s breadth on the point on the wall at the top of your head and then estimate the remaining peak to the roof and add the two together , ” he enounce .
High Ceiling Challenges
If you ’re building a new home , pick out a high-pitched roof can add a wow factor to the space .
“ Higher ceiling will make a elbow room look more expansive and also reserve for dramatic lightingsuch as chandeliersandceiling lover , as well as opening up options for close details such as dramatic window or heart - catching fireplace surrounds with tile , gemstone , or Sir Henry Joseph Wood accent , ” says Linda Terrell - Mazan .
Build a ceiling too high , and you ’ll look a few drawbacks , includingdifficulty cleaninghard - to - progress to cobwebs and changing lightbulbs .
“ In a large room with exceptionally tall ceilings , it can be hard to create cozy intimate space for conversation or relaxing , ” Terrell - Mazan adds . “ A effective decorator will haveideas for have the best this job . ”
Also , keep in thinker that it can be arduous to change a large infinite with high ceilings .
“ house painting , firing , and oecumenical decor are more challenging with very high and or vaulted ceiling , ” says Barry Zimmerman .
Terrell - Mazan points out that some buyer might interest about how high ceilings affect cooling and heat circular . If that ’s a concern , ask the seller for transcript of their utility billhook to get a serious read .
Low Ceiling Enhancements
Of of course , small ceiling can affect the aspect and feel of a space in a electronegative way as well .
“ Sometimes we will encounter a low - than - normal cap in a basement or an older atypical home construction , ” Terrell - Mazan says . “ It is possible to open up up the visual space by removing all or part of the drywall cap and have the roof joists discover . ”
In Shipp ’s experience , most buyers prefer a higher ceiling . Consider a trick of the optic to make your space appear big for buyers . “ Striped wallpaper gives the appearance of stature , magniloquent mirrorsreflect light and bring visual height , lower lighting , less furniture and article of furniture that is lower profiled leafage more visual distance in the nursing home so it look more spacious vertically , ” she says . “ paint the walls and ceilingthe same vividness , preferably a abstemious one , will once again visually make the space homogenous and in the words of many English estate agents , ‘ deceptively spacious . ’ ”
Frequently Asked Questions
In residential homes , the minimal roof pinnacle is seven human foot magniloquent . However , john and laundry room can have slightly lower ceiling since the pipework and duct can touch the height .
Since there ’s more blank for tune to run in a way with high ceiling , it ’s harder to keep the space at a uniform temperature . This can do high energy bills . However , since heat rises , these space will be harder to heat than to cool down .
Higher ceiling can increase the property economic value of your nursing home because they make rooms feel more roomy . The extra blank space also gives you more way to hang decorations along the walls and personalize the area .
