How to Decorate High Walls in a Great Room

A great room often has a high ceiling and an open second-floor corridor that overlooks the room below. It is an ideal gathering space for an entire family with its large size and open feel, but it can be a decorating dilemma with its extremely high walls. You can decorate great room walls in a tasteful manner, however, despite their height: The right decorating tactics will help you create a lovely space, making the walls a focal point rather than an ominous blank space. Contemplate the many different decorating options and decide which techniques best fit the size and current style of your great room.


1Paint the walls a dark shade and the ceiling the same shade or a few shades darker. This gives the feeling that the ceiling is closer and the walls are not as tall. If you prefer the look of the tall walls, paint them any light shade you desire.


2Paint large, horizontal stripes evenly around the room in an undistracting shade. The stripes give the visual effect of shorter walls. Use more than one accent color to add visual interest.


3Install chair rail molding around the perimeter of the great room. Place the molding 30 to 42 inches above the ground. The molding breaks up the wall, reducing the effect of a large empty wall. Paint or wallpaper the lower half of the wall a different color, if desired.


4Install decorative molding 1 to 2 feet below the ceiling line. You can use decorative molding in conjunction with crown molding for a dramatic effect. This works well on very tall walls because the added space does not make it overbearing.


5Hang long textured window coverings. The texture adds visual interest and depth to the walls. The long length fits the proportion of the room.


o 6Use shelving to display decorative accessories. Place the shelving on either side of a fireplace or expanding the width of an entire wall. Choose thick large shelves to complement the large wall proportions.


7Place decorative accessories on the shelves. Choose accessories that differ in texture, such as wood, glass, metal, grass and fabrics, to increase the visual appeal and break up the monotony of the height.


8Place large pieces of framed art on the walls. Arrange it in relationship to the furniture so it does not look randomly placed on the wall. Hang the artwork at eye level or over the fireplace.


9Hang a large artistic piece of artwork made of iron or a large tapestry over the fireplace or in a spot that serves as the focal point of the room. Choose a visually appealing piece with different shapes, such as swirls or lines, that will grasp a viewer's attention.


10Paint a large decorative mural on one of the walls. Hang curtains on either side to give the illusion of a grandiose window.


11Place a large potted tree next to a piece of furniture and beside one of the walls. Choose a plant that is full and tall to complement the size of the walls.