High Ceilings Vs. Low Ceilings For A House (Which One To Choose)

If you plan to build or buy your ideal home, you will probably consider whether you should have high or low ceilings. You may have a preference but wonder about the practicality, expense, and space usage. Another option to consider is which ceiling height is most popular and would affect the house’s resale value. All these questions must be investigated to arrive at the most suitable choice for you.

High Ceilings Vs. Low Ceilings For A House? Which one to choose

High ceilings create a light, spacious atmosphere adding grandness to homes. They are good for managing heat in hot climates. Low ceilings produce a comfortable sheltered ambiance in the home. They are easy to heat, which is critical in climates where there are bitterly cold winters. 

High and low ceilings give a very different impression of a home. Personal choice will influence your preference, but there are some practical considerations to think about.

What Are The Advantages Of High Ceilings?

high ceiling pro

High ceilings are aesthetically very pleasing. They create an airy, spacious feel to a home and convey a certain grandeur to rooms. High ceilings are ideal for people who value space to breathe.  

Generally, high ceilings create the impression of the house being more upmarket. Many homes with higher price tags have high ceilings and are considered more desirable. 

High ceilings allow hot air to rise to the top of the room. This causes cold air to move into the bottom areas and cools the room down. 

The narrow space between the ceiling and the roof allows heat to transmit to the roof quickly. The heat is then lost in the atmosphere. High ceilings are therefore a good choice in hot climates. 

High ceilings create more wall space which can be filled with works of art, mirrors, or other decorative pieces. You should consider a high ceiling if you enjoy tall, elegant windows. 

Some people like to use the extra height a high ceiling offers to install bookshelves at various levels on the wall. These can be accessed via a ladder. 

High ceilings lend themselves to elaborate light fittings such as chandeliers. These fittings that would overpower a room with less space fit right in with the elegant sweep of a high ceiling. 

What Are The Disadvantages Of High Ceilings?

high ceiling cons

Although high ceilings are attractive, some disadvantages may deter a homeowner from installing them. 

High ceilings are often more costly to install than low ceilings. The builders must ensure the area, which would typically be the loft space, has walls where the bricks are correctly chased and plastered. 

It is common practice in construction to leave loft walls with unchased bricks and omit the plaster. This is done to save on the cost of labor and materials.

High ceilings are difficult to maintain. This is especially true if you are afraid of heights. Cleaning, repairing, and painting high ceilings becomes a considerably more challenging task. Scaffolding, ladders, and a steady head may be needed just to maintain the ceiling. 

Recessed lights that are a popular modern choice are not always practical on high ceilings. Lighting options in high ceilings may be more limited. 

High ceilings make a room colder, which is undesirable in cold climates or where winters are frigid and icy. The energy used to heat a home with high ceilings will significantly increase compared to a house with low ceilings. 

The cost of the power needed to heat the rooms with a high ceiling may make the home unaffordable. If you are a dedicated high ceiling proponent but cannot afford the energy bill for heating, you should invest in thermal underwear and heavy sweaters. 

Some people may not like the effect of space that high ceilings convey. They may feel vulnerable, anxious, or unsettled with all that volume.   

High ceilings may amplify sounds creating echoes that may be undesirable for some people. 

What Are The Advantages Of Low Ceilings?

low ceiling pros

Low ceilings create a cozy snug atmosphere in a home. Many people feel that it is easier to relax in a room with a low ceiling. Low ceilings are commonly found in homes and are prevalent in many modern designs of houses. 

Many people brought up in a house with low ceilings prefer them as it brings a sense of the familiar. 

Low ceilings are much easier to heat. The space in the room is efficiently heated, which can have significant financial savings. 

Rooms with low ceilings do not amplify or transmit noise as much as rooms with high ceilings. If you need to soundproof a room, it is much easier with a low ceiling. For some homeowners, this is a vital characteristic. 

Modern recessed lights are easily fitted in low ceilings, which may help the family create the ambiance they desire. 

Cleaning, painting, and other maintenance are easier in homes with low ceilings. There is not any need to use ladders or risk your neck to reach the cobweb in the corner. 

Low ceilings are usually cheaper to install than high ceilings. It is essential to consider this when you have a limited budget. 

Low ceilings allow for a loft or attic space. This can be important if storage or more living space is needed in the home. 

Disadvantages Of Low Ceilings

low ceiling cons

Although some people view low ceilings as cozy, others might regard them as claustrophobic. They feel they do not have enough space and are frustrated living in houses with low ceilings. 

Houses with low ceilings must have light carefully channeled into the rooms or risk being dark and gloomy. This may be an unexpected expense when building or renovating homes with low ceilings. 

Chandeliers or elaborate light fitting do not generally fit well with low ceilings. The light fittings that look best in rooms with low ceilings are discreet and minimalistic.   

In some instances, low ceilings may lower the home’s financial value. 

Conclusion

You can perfect the ambiance in your home through your choice of high or low ceilings. They each have advantages and disadvantages which should be kept in mind when designing your home. Ultimately you should select the ceiling height that makes you comfortable and happy. 

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Barry Gray

Hi, I’m Barry. I’ve loved woodworking and bringing things back to life for more years than I care to remember. I hope my passion for tools comes across loud and clear in everything you read here on The Tool Square.