Ceiling height is an integral part of comfortable living and psychological feeling in the room. Generally accepted rules and regulations establish this value depending on the type of structure. In apartments, this height does not have to be chosen, it is set by building standards and on average is 2.5-2.7 m. And if we are talking about a private house at the stages of construction and planning, then this parameter is given special attention.
Thanks to the correct calculations, you will not have any problems with the installation of multi-tiered ceilings and the placement of any decorative elements inside the rooms.
The height of the ceiling depends on the purpose of the room
The decision on the height of the ceilings should be made at the stage of approving the project of the house. There are no standards as such for its value. However, it will depend on the purpose of the premises. For example, for saunas and baths it is absolutely inappropriate to choose high ceilings, since the consumed heat will be distributed inappropriately, and all the steam will be concentrated at the top.
For small living rooms, increasing the ceiling will make it feel uncomfortable. Rooms with low ceilings are ideal for children, bathrooms and kitchens that do not require a huge area. But living rooms and halls, rooms set aside for a library or warehouse will look great with the highest ceiling level in large houses.
Generally accepted norms and requirements of standards
A height of 2.7 m in a private house is taken as the generally accepted value. It will be quite enough for a comfortable stay, as well as for cleaning and repairing the premises. With such a height, it is quite easy to design multi-level ceilings, both suspended and suspended. However, if you do not want to clutter the surface of the ceiling with various structures, but simply paint it, a height of 2.5 m is quite suitable. These are private generally accepted standards.
Standards for the construction of modern buildings are regulated by various norms of sanitary rules and requirements of state standards. They can be found in building codes - SNiPs. In houses where people permanently live, these rules establish a minimum value of 2.6 m. Being guided by these rules, you should know that many of them have already lost their force and are recognized not by laws, but only by sets of rules. Despite this, many designers still use them. In the new urban planning rules for architectural design, the height of the ceiling is not regulated. Therefore, you can choose it at your own discretion, without violating fire safety requirements.
There is an opinion of owners of private houses that the higher the ceiling height, the better. It is believed that at the same time, you can equip the room in various versions and to your liking. But this is far from the case. Imagine a room in a residential building with walls over three meters. The total cubic footage of such a room will be larger, which will make it more spacious. But in the winter time it will take a lot of money to heat such areas.
According to the laws of physics, warm air always tends upward, and cold air spreads on the floor. And even with the abundant use of heating devices, the heat will be spent for other purposes. In addition, the heat accumulating at the top of the room will destroy the attic and the roof itself. If it is wooden, then the material will soon dry out and crack.
The standard normal height in a brick, frame or timber house, as well as in a two-story country cottage, must meet SNiP. These rules are the same as in the first. So it is on the second floor.
Room geometry
The expert opinion converges at a ceiling height of 2.6 to 3 meters. In order to choose the right one from this range, it is necessary to decide on the layout of the structure and its use. Seasonal housekeeping plays an important role. If you are planning to build a cozy summer house with small rooms, feel free to choose a height of 2.6 meters. Such houses are not characterized by huge living rooms and spacious halls. Therefore, the ceilings do not need to be raised.
If the house is intended for year-round living, spacious bedrooms and a large living room will look appropriate in it. In this case, you cannot do without high walls, especially if the layout of the rooms provides for the placement of bunk beds.
Optimal ceiling height format
Each owner of a house under construction wants to choose the optimal height for the rooms of his house. It must be remembered that the house has yet to be built, and then maintain and care for its space, and not just enjoy its splendor. To choose the best option, stick to three components:
- your desires;
- ergonomics rules;
- construction standards.
With our desires, everything is clear, and they are quite diverse, so they do not need to be discussed. But you should get acquainted with ergonomics at least in general terms. This scientific discipline studies the effective interaction of a person with the surrounding space to maximize his functions. Therefore, when choosing a height, one should have an idea of the purpose of the room, the location of household items and decor elements in it.
To choose the best option, you need to rely on the area of \ u200b \ u200bthe rooms. There is a rule: the larger the area, the higher the walls. A small room with a huge ceiling will look ridiculous, and in a large hall the ceiling of two and a half meters will put pressure on its space. There is another way to determine the desired height. To do this, you can choose the tallest member of your family and ask him to stretch his arms up. Add 30-35 mm to its height, and add up to get the optimal value.
Cons and pros of high ceilings
Disadvantages:
- the cost of designing and building a house will become more expensive. In addition, you will have to spend money on materials for interior decoration;
- it will not be easy to organize a heating system, and in the process of using it will require large cash costs;
- any ceiling repair work will require a lot of effort. Workers will have to use additional structures in their work, which will also affect the cost and time of repairs;
- everyday difficulties. Dexterity is required when cleaning the upper half of the room. Replacing a light bulb can be a big problem.
Despite this, high ceilings have become widespread due to their advantages:
- high height disposes to a special atmosphere and a free feeling in the house;
- unlimited imagination in the design of decorating the ceiling. High walls will allow you to create a unique ceiling design using two or three-tiered plasterboard structures. The large-scale ceiling can be decorated with various decorative stucco moldings that will look luxurious with the classic style or medieval baroque.
Even such a huge space requires efficient use. Designers recommend using the "rule of three" - to visually divide the walls into three sections. Place additional trim on the bottom, for example, sheathe it with stone or clapboard. Decorate the second section with paintings and shelves.
These objects should not be placed above eye level to avoid the feeling of emptiness. Third, leave it intact. With this layout, the ceiling will appear even higher! In the design of lighting, be sure to use massive chandeliers. They will emphasize the elegance and chic of the room.
So that the space does not inspire boredom, make a bold decision - paint one of the walls in a contrasting bright color! This emphasis will add uniqueness.
Cons and pros of low ceilings
Disadvantages.
- The feeling of oppressive space will always accompany a room with a low ceiling level. It will be uncomfortable to be in it.
- Limited use of hanging chandeliers. There are houses where the ceiling height is limited to two meters. In such rooms, the chandelier will have to be bypassed.
- Limited ability to create architectural compositions. If you dream of creating a multi-level structure in a room with a low ceiling, you will have to seek help from professional designers. It will be difficult to create such a ceiling, but it is possible.
The pluses of low ceilings are the minuses of high ceilings. Therefore, we will not repeat ourselves. Let's take a closer look at what the designers will advise in these cases. First, cross out the following from the interior:
- chandeliers, lampshades and massive floor lamps;
- ceiling stucco molding and volumetric decorative elements;
- massive wardrobes, high tables and huge sofas;
- painted curtains attached to the walls. The best option would be discreet plastic ones that are attached to the ceiling.
Place your bet on the texture and color of the room. White is the perfect solution. This color is able to work wonders, pushing the boundaries of space. Use its shades on walls and ceilings. Add more gloss and mirrors to the interior. The shiny surface perfectly reflects objects, visually adding cubic meters to the room. Installing a glossy stretch ceiling will be an effective solution.
If you don't want to see your room in white, other light shades will do as well. With this option, you need to know that the color of the ceiling should not be darker than the walls. Otherwise, he will give himself away.
These are the tricks that can give even a small ceiling a large space. And the last thing. At the stage of building the house, keep in mind that the ceiling height will be designed in a draft version. After finishing work, it will decrease. Especially the height will change when installing underfloor heating or building multi-level structures.
All about the optimal ceiling height in a SIP-house, see the following video.