20 Tall Ceilings Featuring Contemporary Design Ideas

ByJohn Goodman Ceilings, Interiors

Great room with a tall ceiling features a drop ceiling with recessed lighting, dark hardwood flooring, and a wood-burning marble fireplace. The space also includes a white leather sectional, chairs, and a coffee table facing a console with a wide-screen TV. A bank of glass windows with sheer curtains draws in natural light.

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For a number of reasons, tall ceilings require a homeowner’s full attention and commitment. That extra space can offer opportunities for unique design options, but the larger dimensions also come with their own challenges. For example, what are you planning to do with all that extra space, and what type of maintenance is required above and beyond what’s needed for a normal-sized space? In our curated gallery below, we take a look at some contemporary design trends for tall ceilings with high ambitions.

In order to come up with the very specific design ideas, we create most designs with the assistance of state-of-the-art AI interior design software.

1. Open Wall Creates Seamless Transition to Outdoor Space

Living room with a cathedral ceiling features a large transom glass window above an open wall which creates a seamless transition to a backyard patio. The space also includes gray marble slab flooring, two sets of leather sectionals and chairs surrounding a mid-century modern coffee table and ottoman on a large area rug. Three abstract wall panels nicely fill up one wall while a modern wood sculpture is mounted on another. 

Living room with a cathedral ceiling features a large transom window above an open wall which creates a seamless transition to a backyard patio. The space also includes gray marble slab flooring, two sets of leather sectionals and chairs surrounding a mid-century modern coffee table and ottoman on a large area rug. Three abstract wall panels nicely fill up one wall while a modern wood sculpture is mounted on another. 

2. White Walls Provide Perfect Backdrop for Art Collection

Spacious living room with a shed ceiling features large skylight illuminating the space filled with abstract art and colorful furnishings. The white walls contrast with the upholstered furniture and are the perfect backdrop for the art collection.

Spacious living room with a shed ceiling features large skylight illuminating the space filled with abstract art and colorful furnishings. The white walls contrast with the upholstered furniture and are the perfect backdrop for the art collection.

3. Wood and Leather Craftsmanship Shine in Great Room

Spacious great room features wide-plank hardwood flooring with off-white leather sectional sofas facing two ottomans on a shag area rug. Furnishings also include a thick wooden bench and dining table showcasing high-quality craftsmanship. Large French doors and windows throughout the double-height space draw in plenty of natural light.

Spacious great room features wide-plank hardwood flooring with off-white leather sectional sofas facing two ottomans on a shag area rug. Furnishings also include a thick wooden bench and dining table showcasing high-quality craftsmanship. Large French doors and windows throughout the double-height space draw in plenty of natural light.

4. Sunlight Streams into Circular Dining Room

Round dining sunroom surrounded by every type of window is saturated with natural light. Rectangular, square, transom, and clerestory white-framed windows all draw sunlight into space featuring wooden furnishings, light hardwood flooring, and off-white walls.

Round dining sunroom surrounded by every type of window is saturated with natural light. Rectangular, square, transom, and clerestory white-framed windows all draw sunlight into space featuring wooden furnishings, light hardwood flooring, and off-white walls.

5. Bird’s Eye View Surveys Spacious Great Room

Bird's-eye view of a double-height space features a spiral staircase leading down to a great room with solid hardwood flooring and a full-height gray accent wall surrounded by windows. Gray decorative structures are attached to the tall ceiling, and a flat-screen TV set up on the accent wall.

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Bird’s-eye view of a double-height space features a spiral staircase leading down to a great room with solid hardwood flooring and a full-height gray accent wall surrounded by windows. Gray decorative structures are attached to the tall ceiling, and a flat-screen TV set up on the accent wall.

6. Stone Linear Fireplace Heats Up Outdoor Patio

Outside patio area features a tall wooden ceiling and wall with textured stone accent structures and a linear fireplace. The space also includes resin chairs and a glass-top coffee table over a stellar geometric-patterned area rug covering concrete flooring.

Outside patio area features a tall wooden ceiling and wall with textured stone accent structures and a linear fireplace. The space also includes resin chairs and a glass-top coffee table over a stellar geometric-patterned area rug covering concrete flooring.

7. Second-Level Bridge Corridor Overlooks Main Floor Area

Spacious foyer and living room features marble tile flooring, area rugs and a double-height ceiling. The interior design includes a unique second-floor bridge corridor with a metal railing that overlooks the first floor areas. Large windows and recessed lighting on both floors illuminate the space.

Spacious foyer and living room features marble tile flooring, area rugs and a double-height ceiling. The interior design includes a unique second-floor bridge corridor with a metal railing that overlooks the first floor areas. Large windows and recessed lighting on both floors illuminate the space.

8. Drop Ceiling Defines Space in Double-Height Ceiling

Great room with a tall ceiling features a drop ceiling with recessed lighting, a shag area rug on dark hardwood flooring, and a wood-burning marble fireplace. The space also includes a white leather sectional, chairs, and a coffee table facing a console with a wide-screen TV. A bank of glass windows with sheer curtains draws in natural light.

Great room with a tall ceiling features a drop ceiling with recessed lighting, a shag area rug on dark hardwood flooring, and a wood-burning marble fireplace. The space also includes a white leather sectional, chairs, and a coffee table facing a console with a wide-screen TV. A bank of glass windows with sheer curtains draws in natural light.

9. Fireplace Provides Focal Point in Gray Accent Wall

Tall ceiling towers over great room featuring earthy yellow walls with a black grand piano and a pair of leather curved sofas. The space also includes light hardwood flooring, full-height windows and a fireplace inset into a gray accent wall.

Tall ceiling towers over great room featuring earthy yellow walls with a black grand piano and a pair of leather curved sofas. The space also includes light hardwood flooring, full-height windows and a fireplace inset into a gray accent wall.

10. Cedar Wood Slats Add Unique Design Element

Large skylight overlooks double-height space featuring knotty cedar slat wood ceiling and accent wall with hardwood flooring on both levels. A drop ceiling defines the living room area which has a sofa with shag area rug and long wooden coffee table. 

Large skylight overlooks double-height space featuring knotty cedar slat wood ceiling and accent wall with hardwood flooring on both levels. A drop ceiling defines the living room area which has a sofa with shag area rug and long wooden coffee table. 

11. Sectional Sofa Faces Linear Fireplace

Living room features dark hardwood flooring and a gray leather sectional L-shaped sofa on a shag area rug facing a linear fireplace. The space also includes a side table with a lamp and an adjacent eating area.

Living room features dark hardwood flooring and a gray leather sectional L-shaped sofa on a shag area rug facing a linear fireplace. The space also includes a side table with a lamp and an adjacent eating area.

12. Glass Walls Provide Expansive View of Rural Setting

Primary bedroom in an idyllic rural setting features all-glass walls with a floating fireplace suspended from the tall ceiling. The space also has enough room for several chairs and a coffee table next to the bed.

Primary bedroom in an idyllic rural setting features all-glass walls with a floating fireplace suspended from the tall ceiling. The space also has enough room for several chairs and a coffee table next to the bed.

13. Spherical Pendant Fixtures Suspended Over Living Room

Contemporary living room features decorative spherical pendant lights suspended over a seating area with two white leather sofas, a chair, and a shag area rug. Natural light streams in through the open wall and a large transom window, while blinds cover the glass on a partition wall.

Contemporary living room features decorative spherical pendant lights suspended over a seating area with two white leather sofas, a chair, and a shag area rug. Natural light streams in through the open wall and a large transom window, while blinds cover the glass on a partition wall.

Check out our types of ceiling designs here.

14. Exposed Metal Fireplace Flues Extend Through Ceiling

Living room features a fireplace embedded into a textured beige column with exposed metal flues that extend through a shed ceiling. A wall of glass draws natural light into the space, which also includes several sofas and club chairs facing two coffee tables on an area rug over black marble tile flooring. The large-scale artwork on one wall looks right at home in a room designed with an extremely refined aesthetic.

Living room features a fireplace embedded into a textured beige column with exposed metal flues that extend through the ceiling. A wall of glass draws natural light into the space, which also includes several sofas and club chairs facing two coffee tables on an area rug over black marble tile flooring. The large-scale artwork on one wall looks right at home in a room designed with an extremely refined aesthetic.

15. Hot Pink Sectional Stakes its Territory

Great room features both contemporary and Muslim influences in the design, with a hot pink sectional sofa dominating the floor area while an area rug is laid out under arched windows like a mihrab prayer niche. The space also includes light hardwood flooring, book shelves, and a large bank of windows on one wall with a bench underneath. Artwork has been placed high up in the space, but the small pieces get lost in the large room. One large piece on the partition wall would work much better.

Great room features both contemporary and Muslim influences in the design, with a hot pink sectional sofa dominating the floor area while an area rug is laid out under arched windows like a mihrab prayer niche. The space also includes light hardwood flooring, book shelves, and a large bank of windows on one wall with a bench underneath. Artwork has been placed high up in the space, but the small pieces get lost in the large room. One large piece on the partition wall would work much better.

 

16. Full-Height Double-Arched Windows Draw in Natural Light

Double-height study features wooden wainscoting that blends in with the framed windows and built-in shelving. The space also includes full-height double-arched windows, a dark wooden L-shaped desk with a glass  top, and a table lamp.

Double-height study features wooden wainscoting that blends in with the framed windows and built-in shelving. The space also includes full-height double-arched windows, a dark wooden L-shaped desk with a glass  top, and a table lamp.

17. Great Room Stretches Out with Wood Planks and Marble

Massive great room features gray marble flooring with wood-plankceiling and walls. The combined living room, dining room, and entertainment area includes a spiral staircase enclosed within a glass wall that connects the main floor with levels above and below. The space includes white leather sectionals in the living room and entertainment area and black leather chairs with a glass table in the dining area. A floor-mounted linear fireplace separates the dining and living rooms.

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Massive great room features gray marble flooring with wood-plank ceiling and walls. The combined living room, dining room, and entertainment area includes a spiral staircase enclosed within a glass wall that connects the main floor with levels above and below. The space includes white leather sectionals in the living room and entertainment area and black leather chairs with a glass table in the dining area. A floor-mounted linear fireplace separates the dining and living rooms.

18. Solid Hardwood Flooring Matches Barrel-Vaulted Ceiling

A wooden cathedral ceiling towers over the living room and a second-floor loft. Solid hardwood flooring on both levels mirrors the barrel-vaulted ceiling, which has a candlestick chandelier and recessed lighting. A double-height stone fireplace is built in front of a three-quarter-turn staircase connecting the upper and lower floors. The living room also includes a sofa with two armchairs and a cushioned bench, side tables with lamps, and a coffee table over an area rug.

A wooden cathedral ceiling towers over the living room and a second-floor loft. Solid hardwood flooring on both levels mirrors the barrel-vaulted ceiling, which has a candlestick chandelier and recessed lighting. A double-height stone fireplace is built in front of a three-quarter-turn staircase connecting the upper and lower floors. The living room also includes a sofa with two armchairs and a cushioned bench, side tables with lamps, and a coffee table over an area rug.

19. Exposed Wood Beams Add Rustic Vibe to Tennessee Great Room

Tennessee great room befitting a musical homeowner (Miley Cyrus once lived here) features acoustic and electric guitars, an amp, and a standup piano ready for the next jam session. The space also includes a cathedral ceiling with exposed wooden beams, a wonderfully baroque chandelier, plank and shiplap walls, leather furniture, and a cowhide ottoman. French doors and windows, as well as clerestory windows at the ceiling's edge, draw in plenty of natural light.

Tennessee great room befitting a musical homeowner (Miley Cyrus once lived here) features acoustic and electric guitars, an amp, and a standup piano ready for the next jam session. The space also includes a cathedral ceiling with exposed wooden beams, a wonderfully baroque chandelier, plank and shiplap walls, leather furniture, and a cowhide ottoman. French doors and windows, as well as clerestory windows at the ceiling’s edge, draw in plenty of natural light.

  • Source: Zillow Digs

20. Wooden Slat Ceiling Extends Over Outside Deck

Great room with an expansive ocean view features rough-textured mortar walls, concrete slab flooring, and a tall wooden slat ceiling that extends out over the outside deck area. The space also includes white leather sectional sofas and armchairs surrounding a white coffee table over a black area rug.

Great room with an expansive ocean view features rough-textured mortar walls, concrete slab flooring, and a tall wooden slat ceiling that extends out over the outside deck area. The space also includes white leather sectional sofas and armchairs surrounding a white coffee table over a black area rug.

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John Goodman

John Goodman finds the creative energy of journalism constantly inspiring. He has worked as a reporter, editor and designer in lifestyles journalism for more than 20 years. As arts and culture editor with Vancouver’s North Shore News newspaper he was part of an award-winning team that created thousands of stories over the past two decades.

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