The Disadvantages of Having a Two-Story Vaulted Ceiling

Ambiance

• Two-story vaulted ceilings create an open, airy vibe at the expense of coziness and intimacy. Rooms with low ceilings feel more secure, homey and protected. Tall rooms can make a home feel drafty, cold and anything but snug. Your biggest design challenge may be how to make the room feel warmer and more comfortable.

Added Expenses

• Not only do vaulted ceilings cost more to build, but they also create additional energy expenses. Though the hollow arch creates no additional living space, you must pay the attendant energy costs to heat and cool the cavity. The inefficient design forces homeowners to run ceiling fans to circulate the air.

Acoustics

• Pitched ceilings generate thorny sound issues. To combat echoes, you must pad the space with rugs or carpet, fabric window coverings and other soft furnishings. You may even need acoustic tiles on the ceiling. To hear the stereo or television in a two-story room, you must pump up the volume.

Aesthetics

• Because dark colors and clutter on tall walls create excessive visual weight, you must decorate with a light touch to avoid walls that loom. Installing crown molding requires exceptional creativity in the corners. You will need a tall ladder to attend to the dirt and cobwebs that accumulate on the ceiling. Repairing the ceiling fan and changing bulbs in the light fixtures present challenges as well.