How to Decorate High Ceilings, Ledges or Bookcases

Use colorful items to decorate a ledge.

Decorating a home is rewarding, but it is also tricky if you have tough spaces to fill. High ledges, bare tall walls and empty bookcases detract from a room's overall appearance. However, these turn into assets by choosing the right art, colors and collectibles to fill the space. It doesn't even need to cost much. Select items that complement your overall decor and suit your personal style for the best results.

Instructions

1. Decorate high ceilings by mentally separating the room into horizontal thirds. Fill the bottom third with the furniture and small pieces of art as you would a room with normal ceiling height. Do not put small art high on the walls since people won't see it. Instead, use large pieces of art higher on the walls so people can see it from across the room or when they step back. These pieces can take up the middle third or both top portions if the works are particularly tall. Use mirrors and geometric images, such as painted lines and borders, to fill the remaining space. It is better to leave the top third clean with simple paint than to clutter the wall.

2. Create a personal feel to a room by using ledges to make a statement. Fill small ledges with two or three items that add color and show an item that is important to you. For example, put a vase full of bright flowers on one side of the ledge and a framed picture from your childhood on the other. Fill large ledges with a collection of items, such as an antique baby carriage surrounded by plants. Use synthetic plants if the ledge is so high it is not easily reached. Alternatively, dedicate ledges to housing framed pictures of your family and friends.

3. Make a bookcase something really special by emptying it completely and using wallpaper to decorate the back. This sets a backdrop for the items you want to showcase. Fill the shelves with books and vary the look by laying books horizontally on one shelf, arranging them vertically on another and both ways on yet another. Fill empty spaces with decorative boxes or baskets. Round boxes, such as hat boxes, are a nice variation on typical square boxes. Use colored glass vases, pottery or plants to add color to the bookshelves.

References

• "Country Living": Decorating Ideas for a Living Room
• The IDesign Box; How to Decorate a Room With High Ceilings; Darcy Tidd; January 2011
• Home Ever After.com; Homespun Touches -- Decorating the Little Ledges; Danelle Ice; August 2011
• The Enquirer; Decorating Goes to New Heights; Michele Day; August 2001
• "House Beautiful"; Flip for Decorating -- The Bookcase; Elizabeth Mayhew