Decorating a room with high ceilings can be a tricky endeavor. On one hand, lofty ceilings lend rooms an airy, expansive feel and a grandeur that lower ceiling heights simply cannot achieve. But they also have their challenges – mainly making a space feel inviting and cozy when it’s large and cavernous.
One of the keys to transforming an imposing high-ceilinged space into a warm, welcoming room is choosing the right wood floor color. With their ability to absorb light, dark wood floor hues can make soaring ceilings appear lower and more proportional to the rest of the room. The warmth and texture of wood softens hard surfaces and creates an inviting backdrop for furniture and rugs.
How Ceiling Height Impacts Wood Floor Color Choices
To understand why wood floor color is so integral to decorating rooms with high ceilings, it helps to comprehend how ceiling height impacts interior design choices.
Rooms with soaring ceiling heights can present some decorating and design dilemmas:
- They feel expansive but can lack intimacy and coziness
- Furniture and decor can look small and insignificant
- The space can feel cold and echo-y
- With little differentiation between walls and ceiling, the room lacks visual interest
Light, bright colors have an airy feel that works well in many rooms – but not when ceilings are sky-high. Pale walls and floors reflect light, which makes lofty ceilings appear even higher. The result is a space that feels more stadium-like than homey.
On the other hand, wood floor colors on the darker end of the spectrum have an enclosing effect that makes spacious rooms feel more intimate. Deep hues absorb light rather than reflect it, stopping the eye low and making high ceilings feel cozier and less daunting.
Wood Floor Color Considerations for High Ceilings
When pondering wood floor ideas for rooms with soaring ceilings, consider the following factors:
- Style of home – Darker traditional wood floors suit ornate, elegant spaces beautifully
- Amount of natural light – Deep, charcoal-hued floors work best in sun-filled rooms
- Furniture and decor – Oversized furniture balances out tall ceilings
- Floor plan – Dark perimeter floors with light area rugs define seating spaces
While very pale floors tend to overemphasize tall ceilings, going full-on dark from wall-to-wall can create a cavernous effect. Combining a dark stained wood perimeter with light area rugs is a great way to delineate intimate seating areas within a large, airy room.
Best Wood Floor Colors for High Ceilings
Certain shades of stained wood help break up the expanse of wall above by drawing the eye down. Here are some top wood floor color choices for rooms blessed with dramatic ceiling height.
Warm Medium-Dark Browns
Wood species like hickory, pecan, and oak stained in lush coffee and cocoa hues have an upscale yet welcoming vibe. Sophisticated without overwhelming a space, warm medium browns complement walnut and mahogany furniture beautifully.
Distressed oak boards in an espresso stain have an Old World feel that fits right in with Tuscan-style decor. The naturally varied tones of the wood prevent the floor from feeling too dark and heavy.
Rich Dark Stains
For a striking, high-contrast look, pairing crisp white trim with wood stained in near-black tones is a bold choice. Dark walnut and ebony-stained maple bring drama while drawing the eye solidly floor-ward.
Forgoing red undertones, a deeply-saturated charcoal or graphite grey stain feels luxe and modern. The inky hue provides the perfect counterpoint to rooms with light walls and lofty ceilings.
Whitewashed and Light Greys
Though very pale floors can sometimes overemphasize towering ceiling height, whitewashed and greige-stained planks have more substance than crisp white. With subtle grain visible through the wash, they have a soft Scandinavian vibe.
Whitewashed oak with varying undertones of gray and brown has an organic look that emanates the relaxed feel of a weathered beach house. A light driftwood or lunar grey stain warms up stark modern rooms.
Tips for Making a High-Ceilinged Room Cozy
While a dark-stained wood floor is foundational in making cavernous spaces more welcoming, other elements come into play as well. Here are some finishing touches for creating intimate appeal in soaring rooms.
- Incorporate lighting at multiple levels – floor lamps, table lamps, pendants and sconces
- Add shelving and bookcases to draw the eye downwards
- Use an oversized area rug in a light color to define a seating area
- Incorporate textiles throughout with pillows, throws, curtains
- Repeat wood tones with beams, furniture, and cabinetry
- Choose substantial furniture pieces and overscale accessories
Though hardwood floors have an inherent warmth, layering natural textures from jute rugs, linen upholstery, and wood furniture enhances coziness. Strategically placed lighting casts a welcoming glow.
When designing rooms with dramatically high ceilings, resist the urge to fill up the space. Let the architecture shine while creating defined, human-scale seating areas through careful furniture arrangement and floor layout.
With their expansive feel, rooms blessed with lofty ceilings present some decorating challenges but also provide drama and visual interest. By choosing a wood floor hue that absorbs light, high ceilings transform from a decor dilemma into an asset.
Dark-stained planks draw the eye downward and make cavernous rooms feel more proportional and intimate. Accentuating wood floors’ warmth by repeating tones throughout and adding cozy textiles completes the look.
