Such a simple question, "how high should ceilings be?", right? Wrong--it's not a simple question at all!
It's a much more complicated question and answer than appears on the surface. For example:
--Is the house a multi-story house? If so the higher the ceiling and floor-to-floor height, the longer the required run of stairs and the greater amount of area required for stairs;
--Materials and labor: Higher ceilings require more materials, increased labor and perhaps different work approaches, ie, use of scaffolding. Some dry-wall trades may not even want to bid on vaulted (pitched or curved) ceilings;
--Operations and maintenance: Increased interior volumes mean larger volume heating and cooling equipment; greater operating costs; possible air stratification, layering and drafts; and really mundane questions about how will one get the cobwebs from from the vaulted ceiling and change the burned out light bulbs?
None of these issues, however, is so great that it can't be successfully overcome, but all of these issues point to some of the considerations for increased ceiling heights.
Here's the really important issue, IMO: proportions! Yep, proportions and how pleasing and appealing the space(s) may be for their intended character and use.
For example, is the desire for a very intimate and cozy space? If so, high ceilings may negate that feeling. On the other hand, is the desire for a space capable of hosting a large gathering of people? If so a high ceiling space may be ideal.
In the days before dependable heating and air conditioning systems, it was often the climate that dictated ceiling heights. In cold northeastern U.S., for example, small low-ceiling rooms were the norm in order to effectively heat the house with the fireplace(s) used for the purpose. Conversely, in the hot, humid southeastern U.S., larger rooms, higher ceilings and cross ventilation were the solutions to keep the hottest air as high above the humans as possible.
How does this relate to proportions? The Roman architect Vitruvius, writing in his "Ten Books on Architecture" and the Renissance architect Palladio, writing in his "Four Books of Architecture", each described how important an understanding and rational use of proportion was for architects of their respective times. Each wrote of specific formulas to be used for the most pleasing spaces. These formulas varied, using arithmetic, geometrical and harmonic standards, but all were quite close in their final results.
For example, the simplest arithmetic formula of Palladio was:
H=1/2 the sum of the width + length of the room
For a modern 12' X 14' room, the formula produces a height of 13'! For a 16' X 20' room, the formula produces a height of 16'! Now we don't have to completely agree with these historical proportions, but we can quickly see that ceiling height is a function of the room's width and length.
That's an important point, since modern houses have 4' wide corridors, 8' X 8' baths and laundries, 12' X 12' kitchens, 12' X 14' dining rooms and 16' X 20' living rooms (or some variations on each of these different sizes). Thus, to maximize pleasing proportions in a house, one needs to give thought to room sizes and decide where the optimal best compromise for ceiling height will be--assuming one cares about this subject at all!
Interestingly, I think, Frank Lloyd Wright used to play deliberate spatial tricks with his many of his house designs by making the house entry area with a very low ceiling (perhaps 7' or so), and then, after a twist or two to travel from the entry to the living area, "explode" the ceiting height to 15' or more, creating a great contrast and dramatic sequential effect, caused by traveling from a low-height space to a much greater-height space.
Aren't ceilings really interesting? But there aren't simple!
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Ceiling Bedroom
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