Homes with sloped ceilings are unique. On the one hand, they create a cosy and inviting atmosphere in the room. For some, sloped ceilings even bring back fond childhood memories of unforgettable summer nights spent camping with friends under the stars. When living in attic apartments with sloped ceilings, often with phenomenal views, the sky seems much closer than before.
On the other hand, a sloped ceiling can make a room feel cramped, if a few basic tips for effective interior design are not kept in mind – especially when it comes to lighting and colour selection. But once you know how, it is possible to make the most of all that design potential and turn your “wonky” living space into something unique.
The secret ingredient for a successful interior design that feels bright and welcoming is light. When there’s enough of it, the living space can shine to its full extent. Of course, this requires a window that lets sufficient light into the room. But that is only half the story.
It also requires light colours that reflect natural daylight. Only a combination of plenty of daylight and light colours can create that friendly, inviting look. The same rule of thumb applies in rooms with sloped ceilings.
Of course, walls, ceiling and sloped ceilings can all be the same colour – for example, painted plain white for a uniform appearance. This decorating style is particularly effective in interior design concepts such as minimalism, which is characterised by clarity and simple elegance.
However, some home owners prefer a more lively aesthetic, and want to draw attention to the sloped detail of the space. One option for doing so is patterned wallpaper. This catches the eye and accentuates sloped ceilings, instead of relegating them to the background. An almost unlimited variety of patterns exists. For example, floral wallpaper can create a natural, romantic look, while minimalistic, geometric wallpaper can add a clean accent to your walls. The main thing to note is: the wallpaper should match the overarching interior design style and be light in colour. The latter will ensure that enough light is reflected in the room. Only then will the room feel bright and inviting. Black, on the other hand, will swallow the light.
Even ordinary paint can make sloped ceiling look stunning and welcoming. For a harmonious look, the colour should be selected to match the overall look of the interior design. Gentle colour gradients are absolutely allowed, as they subtly create a lively appearance in combination with matching furniture.
Contrasting colours can also be used as a design technique, giving the room a bolder look. For example, a sloping ceiling in contrasting yellow makes an excellent backdrop for a dark grey sofa.
Panels are a great alternative to decorating your walls with wallpaper or paint. Your first thought might be of the wood-panelled interiors of bygone times, which feel dark, old-fashioned and oppressive. But those have nothing in common with the innovative solutions of today. These days, modern panels come in many different bright and timeless designs, such as Mountain Wood White With so much variety in panels, you are bound to find something for your taste. The selection ranges from felt designs with a sound-absorbing effect, all the way through to models in a concrete look or real wood panel. Likewise, the wall panels are also available in different lengths and widths, which you can use to create different visual effects on sloped ceilings: short panels create a more lively look, while long panels create a calmer atmosphere in the room overall. Thanks to the huge selection of formats, almost nothing is impossible, whatever the shape and size of your ceiling. Whether it’s in the cosy country house style or the trendy Japandi look – panels can be used to realise almost any interior design concept.
What’s more, panels are not only a stylish choice, but have material properties that offer advantages on many levels. One of these is their low maintenance – if needed, just wipe dirty panels with a damp cloth, and they are clean again in a flash. In addition, wall panels are mould-resistant when installed with a corresponding substructure, meaning they can even be used as a functional design element in the bathroom. Last but not least, the innovative solution is easy to install and doesn’t require any preparatory sanding or filling, which saves valuable time.
Modern LED recessed lights can turn your sloped ceiling into a real highlight, in every sense of the word. An optimal combination of panels and recessed lights enables optimal lighting of the room. Particularly on sloped ceilings, where hanging lights are difficult and unsightly to install, LED recessed lights distribute light uniformly throughout the room to create a pleasant atmosphere.
