11 High-Ceiling Decorating Ideas For Your Home

December 17, 2020 Reading Time: 5 minutes
Home » Smart Living » Home Decor
Mirela Mohan
Written by
Mirela Mohan

A home with high ceilings feels open and airy, but when you first move in, decorating it might feel daunting. Just as it is on a page, blank space is intimidating, but it doesn’t have to feel that way. There are many ways in which you can put your best foot forward when decorating and setting up rooms with high ceilings.

Here are some high-ceiling decorating ideas for your home:

1. Make a statement with hanging light fixtures

The lighting scheme you will decide on is sure to make a statement on the entire ambiance. Therefore, it’s important to dedicate some time and effort in choosing the right type and style of light fixture. With a high ceiling, you don’t have to worry about guests bumping their heads on the light fixture, which gives you more leeway in choosing the right ones for your home.

A chandelier is bound to complement a high ceiling, adding elegance to your living room, bedroom or even kitchen. Besides, a chandelier placed in a strategic spot in the room is an ideal way to make the connection between the ceiling and the lower side of the room. Additionally, your rooms with high ceilings are better off with other types of hanging or recessed lights instead of lamps.

2. Use windows to play with perspective

When your home comes with tall ceilings, you need tall windows to let in as much natural light as possible. Floor-to-ceiling windows invite in the most light and create an atmosphere of airiness. Alternatively, you can look into a transom window, which sits above doors or windows. If doubling up your windows appeals to you, going for curved shapes near the ceiling will help bring the room together in a unique way.

tall windows in a home with high ceilings

3. Pick long flowing curtains

Curtains dress up a room creating a warm feel that a tall room could use. Choose a model that flows from ceiling to floor so that the room’s upper side and the ground feel connected. White drapes will give your room a light, breezy air, while darker ones will add a dramatic effect.
Make sure you use the same type of drapes all around the room for a cohesive look.

4. Dazzle with mirrors

Using mirrors is one of the best living room high ceiling wall décor ideas on tall walls you can use to amplify light in your large room, and they can create the illusion of a larger space. They work best when placed up high to collect and reflect as much light as possible. Besides the large windows and the impressive light fixture, mirrors add a little more charm to your elegant setup.

5. Play with architectural details

Adding details to high ceilings breaks large headspace and adds character to that empty space, making it more welcoming. Many homes built in this way already have exposed beams, but if yours doesn’t have them, consider making this architectural addition. Wooden beams are compatible with a contemporary-style home too. You can even paint the ceiling a different color than the rest of the walls to create contrast. You can also create an accent wall: add horizontal wood paneling to one wall and stone to its side to break up the pattern. Additionally, investing in wood wall molding is another way to add a timeless design choice to your high walls.

6. Take your shelving to new heights

The lofty space of your home will look dressed up with vertical shelving – an excellent idea if you’re looking high ceiling tall wall décor ideas. Find the shelving units best suited for your needs, whether you need them to hold your devices, kitchen items or other household items.

book shelves in a high ceiling home

Ceiling-high bookshelves are a sight to behold, and they exude that timeless charm every home should have. Besides, you can keep your book collection in one spot. This is especially true if you live in Portland, the land of books. You might have a lot of clothes and other household items that can’t be part of the open space concept — why not turn to self storage to solve this problem? As it turns out, you can easily find a self storage unit in Portland to keep your items until you need them again. If books are all you’re storing, a 5×5 unit might easily fit them, but if you need to store furniture and clothing and furniture, you might consider a 10×10 storage unit that provides that extra space needed to accommodate more items.

7. Create focalized areas

This strategy works best in rooms such as your kitchen, where extending a cooktop hood with an exhaust fan down to almost eye level will create a cozy area against the backdrop of a high ceiling. You can apply the same principle to other spaces in your home for a more intimate feel.

8. Guide the eye upward with art

Incorporate art into your high ceiling wall décor strategy – they’re not solely for exploring your outdoor green thumb. You might be used to hanging art at eye level, but living in a home with high ceilings means you might need to go about it in a different way. Go for larger paintings or even a tapestry to draw the eye higher and dress up the empty space. You could choose a gallery-style wall or pick a focal piece and then place all the other paintings around it. Don’t forget to mix it up a bit by adding sculptures or other figurines for a balanced look.

9. Hang plants from the ceiling

Plants can be one the best high ceiling décor ideas to explore. Doing so will not only add a pop of color regardless of the season, but it will also make the room more friendly. Hanging plants are the most popular choice for this sort of setup. The Boston fern and String of pearls are among the most popular plants in this category.

vertical plants in a high ceiling home

10. Turn the upper space into a loft

If adorning your walls with art and shelves isn’t your cup of tea, you can repurpose some of the extra space into a loft. This new space can be used as an additional bedroom, a home office, a play area or just a quiet reading nook. Surely your guests will enjoy this space, but you may find yourself using it much more than you think! Make sure to build a sturdy staircase for easy access.

11. Store your bike indoors

High ceilings mean you have all that extra real estate that can be used to your advantage. If you have a wood board in your high-ceiling room or not, there are always creative ways to store your bike indoors, especially in a home with a modern design.

bike stored on a wall in a high ceiling home

Did we help you find any useful tips to tackle the high ceilings in your home? Let us know in the comments section below.

Mirela Mohan
Written by
Mirela Mohan

Related posts

Best RV Destinations in the U.S. (2026): Oceanfront Drives Beat America’s Usual RV Favorites

By Andrei Popa | June 30, 2026

The real difference between an ordinary RV stop and a standout trip often comes down to the campground or resort you choose.

Where to Donate Furniture in NYC (With Free Pick-Up Options)

By Maria Gatea | June 24, 2026

Finding somewhere to donate furniture in NYC is more complicated than it should be. Not every organization accepts large items, pick-up availability is inconsistent, and the options that do exist aren’t always easy to find in one place. If you’re specifically hoping to donate furniture with free pick-up, the list of options gets even shorter.

Clean Out, Give Back: Where to Donate Clothes in Los Angeles

By Anca Lenta | June 23, 2026

Few cities reinvent themselves like Los Angeles, and wardrobes tend to follow suit. Between changing seasons, evolving trends and an endless calendar of occasions worth dressing for, closets fill up fast, making the question of where to donate clothes in Los Angeles one that most Angelenos eventually find themselves asking.

How to Store Shoes Based on Your Personality

By Anca Lenta | June 23, 2026

Your shoe closet is lying — not about how many pairs you own (that number is likely higher than you’d admit), but about who you are. The way you approach shoe storage, or avoid it, is one of the more honest reflections of your personality that exists in a home.

Tiny Home Storage Ideas for Every Nook and Cranny

By Anca Lenta | June 23, 2026

Tiny home storage is one of those challenges that sounds straightforward until you’re standing in 200 square feet wondering where the winter coats are supposed to go. You didn’t downsize for the storage anxiety — you did it for the coziest place you’ve ever called home, a wallet that finally feels lighter, and a minimalist lifestyle that suits you just fine.

Best States for Electric Vehicles (2026): The West Leads EV Adoption, Oklahoma Speeds Up

By Andrei Popa | June 22, 2026

Last updated: June 22, 2026.

Self Storage Discounts: Types, Tips and How to Get the Best Deals for Your Needs

By Maria Gatea | June 17, 2026

When you start looking for a self storage unit to rent, one thing becomes clear very quickly: self storage discounts are a standard part of the industry. From introductory specials to military savings and online-only rates, operators frequently offer promotions designed to make renting a unit more affordable and flexible.

How Self Storage Can Help Event Planners

By Anca Lenta | June 11, 2026

When you attend a great event, you rarely think about the choreography happening behind the curtain or after the last guest leaves. Unless, of course, you’re an event planner — an industry that has grown 8.6% per year on average over the five years between 2020 and 2025. It shows no signs of slowing down either, as small businesses and event planners continue to carve out their place across America.

Most Fun Cities In The U.S.: Miami & Orlando Rule The Fun Access Map, While Phoenix Reveals A Growing Leisure Divide

By Andrei Popa | June 10, 2026

Are Americans going out less, or just living in places that make going out harder?