Are you thinking about buying your next home? Chances are you have a list of "must haves", and a list of "never agains". Vaulted ceilings are one of those features some love and some hate. Houzz.com came up with a list of pros and cons for this popular home feature to help you decide which side of the fence you are on.-resized-600.jpg?width=258&height=388&name=mp900422224_(1)-resized-600.jpg)
Pro: They let the sun shine in. Sky-high ceilings can make way for plenty of glass. If a home faces south (north in Australia), this can be a wondrous thing. Warm in winter, cool in summer — a room like this is the place to be.
Con: On cold and cloudy days, the vast spaces created by vaulted ceilings can be difficult to heat.
Pro: They make a room far more interesting.
Con: If you like your bedroom to feel as cozy as a cocoon, the light and airy vibe a vaulted ceiling creates may make it not the right choice for you.
Pro: They give hot air somewhere to go. Planned well, vaulted ceilings can create an escape route for rising hot air.
Con: High ceilings can make a home less energy efficient in the cooler months, with heat tending to sit uncomfortably out of reach.
Pro: They can give a home serious rustic appeal. Natural timber, rough-hewn rafters, matching floors and window frames — all these factors can work together to add charm to any style of home. When there’s a fireplace added to the mix, it can be an unbeatable combination.
Con: Dusting fans and changing lightbulbs are more challenging chores when vaulted ceilings come into play.
Pro: They make the most of the roof space. Why have an empty roof cavity when you can create a vastly more interesting ceiling.
Con: Ceiling detail is commonly created at the time of building. If you like the idea of adding a vaulted ceiling to your existing home, employing the services of a structural engineer and an architect is a must. Insulation options will need to be carefully considered, too.
Pro: Exposed rafters can add real character. Vaulted ceilings give you the chance to make rafters a showstopping feature. Whether painted or left in their natural state, rafters can take a room from drab to flat-out fab.
Con: Soaring ceilings can make living spaces feel less warm and intimate. Strategies to visually lower the height of a ceiling will be necessary to avoid this — tall wall hangings or window treatments and low-hanging pendants are two such tricks of the trade.
Pro: They’re a great backdrop for dramatic lighting. Oversize pendant lighting can turn a room from forgettable to spectacular, and a vaulted ceiling makes it easy to suspend just about any design.
Con: Big lighting may not be your thing, but without it vaulted ceilings can appear too high for comfort.
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