High ceilings in a home have long been associated with luxury, spaciousness and light. However, like any architectural solution, they have their advantages and disadvantages. Let's take a look at the main advantages and disadvantages of high ceilings in Cyprus.
What kind of ceilings are considered high?
In typical residential buildings, the height of the ceilings depends on the climatic zone and cannot be lower than 2.5 meters or 2.7 meters. Any ceilings exceeding these values can be considered high. Ceilings above 3 meters are usually considered high. Unlike apartment buildings, there are no ceiling height restrictions in private residences. At the request of the future owner, ceilings are made even higher than three meters, such as five or six meters.
Advantages of high ceilings
Space and air. High ceilings create a sense of space and volume in a room. A room with a ceiling height of more than 3 meters feels much larger and airier, which is especially important in small apartments. It even feels easier to breathe.
More light. In a room with high ceilings, natural light is better distributed, making rooms brighter and more comfortable. This is especially true if the windows are also large.
Decorative possibilities. High ceilings allow you to realize many design ideas: install pendant lights, chandeliers, use stucco or other architectural elements. This adds individuality and glamour to the interior.
Ventilation and comfortable microclimate. The larger volume of air in the room makes it easier to maintain an optimal microclimate. In the warm season, high ceilings promote better air circulation, which can make the apartment cooler. This is important in Cyprus where the weather is hot from June to August and very cold from December to March.
Possibility of a second level. In apartments with very high ceilings (more than 4 m), a second level, such as a bedroom or work area, can be installed to increase the usable space. The height is usually calculated based on the height of the tallest tenant plus 10-15 cm.
Additional storage space. Instead of a second floor under the ceiling, you can create a spacious mezzanine for bulky items and seasonal clothing. In modern new construction, this is not difficult to do: a mezzanine of about 50 cm will not add much weight to the room. Another alternative is to build floor-to-ceiling closets, with the lower part for everyday items and the upper part for long-term storage.
Disadvantages of high ceilings
Heating difficulties. One of the main disadvantages of high ceilings is the difficulty of heating a room evenly. Warm air rises to the top, and in cold weather it may take more energy to heat the entire volume of the room.
Increased repair and construction costs. Finishing ceilings higher than 3 m requires more materials, time and labor. This applies to both repairs and decorating, such as selecting lighting fixtures or draperies. High ceilings often require more expensive design solutions.
Maintenance difficulties. It is more difficult to clean windows, change light bulbs or maintain chandeliers in a home with high ceilings. This may require a stepladder or even special equipment, which can be inconvenient.
Psychological aspect. For some people, high ceilings can create a sense of isolation or discomfort due to the excessive volume of space. This is especially true in overly large rooms with minimal furniture or decor.
Uncomfortable room. Like any large room, a room with high ceilings requires the professionalism of the designer. In a small room, the furniture is close together, and in a large room, it is necessary to fill the space evenly, to zone it. With ceilings - the same story. If you do not take into account the height of the room, it runs the risk of appearing empty and uncomfortable.
The price of the apartment will be higher. In the real estate market in Cyprus to find new buildings with high ceilings can be found only in the business class. Let's imagine two buildings 280 meters high. But in one of them 10 floors, because the height of ceilings in apartments - 2.5 meters in the finished version. And the second building has 8 floors, but the height of ceilings in apartments - a little more than 3 meters. And if the cost of building the boxes of both buildings is the same, then the apartments in the second building will definitely be less. Therefore, the price of an apartment with high ceilings will increase.
Features of the interior of rooms with a high ceiling
Owners of apartments with high ceilings do not always understand how to properly equip the room and beat the high ceiling, so that it was an advantage, not a disadvantage of the room. You can use several techniques and tips:
- Apply the "rule of three". Such a rule is to observe the balance used in art. The rule involves dividing the surface - in this case, the wall in a room with a high ceiling - into three parts or planes. The lower part of the wall can be finished under a natural material, for example, under a stone, under a wooden cart. The second and third parts are finished in the same color, but at the same time on the second place some objects. It can be panels, single paintings, photographs. The third part of the wall is left free. To maintain the feeling of a high ceiling, it is important to free it not only from interior elements, but also from furniture - cabinets or shelves should not be placed on the third level. For example, if you plan to install a wardrobe, it should not be higher than the second level. If you want to make hanging shelves, they will be placed only on the first and second levels.
- When installing lighting fixtures, consider the lighting scenario. A large chandelier, recommended for rooms with high ceilings, can be only a part of the overall scenario. Depending on the size of the room, its purpose, the presence of separate zones, you can also create small islands of light. For this purpose floor lamps, table lamps, wall lamps are used.
- Use more art objects when decorating the interior. When decorating rooms with high ceilings, many designers believe that the use of paintings is a must. With their help you can enliven the room, avoid the feeling of emptiness. But when placing pictures it is important to remember one rule - they should be at eye level. If you want to place some objects higher, it can be a clock, small statuettes, sculptures on shelves. But it is better if there is something under them. For example, such objects look good above massive sofas, fireplaces.
- Make an accent on one of the walls. It can be some bright or eye-catching element, but also the room in which the accent is made on the whole wall will look good. If you make one of the walls bright, the other walls and the ceiling will form a single group around it. This can make the room look fresh and unique.
Conclusion
High ceilings can be a great asset to a home, creating a sense of spaciousness and luxury, and providing many opportunities for creative interior design solutions. However, they do require a more careful approach to heating, repairs and furnishings, which can increase both financial and time costs. When choosing an apartment with high ceilings in Cyprus, it is important to weigh the pros and cons and understand whether they are suitable for your needs and capabilities.
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