How would you decorate a room with a vaulted ceiling?

Question

I do not want to "unbalance a room" and am at a loss at how to decorate my living area. I would like to paint it eventually. It is now a light neutral color. I took out the half wall that opens into the kitchen/dining area. It is a eat-in kitchen. I had the carpet removed in the living area and had laminate flooring put in which helps define the kitchen area from the living area. The kitchen has a neutral linoleum flooring. Any suggestions as to how to decorate walls that have the vaulted ceiling? Thanks.

Answer 1

My home has 18 foot vaulted ceilings in the foyer and livingroom...on that tall wall I have tall pine cabinets(one for the TV and two for china) with tall stuff on top(a copper 4 foot tall sailboat weathervane, silk plants and lighthouses of various shapes, sizes, and construction.) The walls are painted a light neutral beige color(my husband is a Beige kinda guy) with ceiling white ceilings(and Yes, there is a difference) I have a nine foot slider on the wall with the door into the kitchen and foyer which is opposite the wall of cabinets(this is a 16 foot vault) and a 6 foot slider next to the fireplace with a five foot bookcase on the other side of that fireplace. I have white berber carpet (I HATE IT!-beige husband-remember) but it all Looks great)Pine tables--plaid upholstry-leather chairs...light bright and airy...


BTW: Christopher Lowell has some great ideas for tall walls. He has his own website somewhere out there.

Answer 2

I'm assuming there are four walls in this room. One way to "break up" the wall from the point it "vaults" is to use molding at that point. IF the walls are angled at a point where that is not a practical idea than I would use paint in coordinating colors to help it flow. I would use pictures, shelving, and artwork to make it feel homey.