Design Ideas for Small Bedrooms With Triangular Ceilings

A bedroom with a slanted ceiling

Rooms with triangular or slanted ceilings can present a design challenge for some homeowners. Slanted ceilings typically make a room seem smaller and can limit furniture and paint choices. A bonus room above a garage commonly displays a triangular ceiling, as do attic rooms. Spaces with slanted ceilings are often used as bedrooms, guest rooms, offices or bathrooms.

Paint

Paint colors in rooms with slanted ceilings should be light to make the space seem more open. Monotone colors from floor to ceiling make the triangular ceiling feel like part of the walls. Another option is to paint the ceiling white, and the walls a different light, neutral shade. If the homeowner wants to add a contrasting color, he can paint the tallest wall(s) to stand out. The contrasting color will draw the eye upward to the tallest part of the room, making it seem more spacious.

Smart Storage

Shelving can be tricky in odd-shaped rooms. If a room's ceiling is very sloped, leaving one wall so short it cannot be used next to traditional furniture, stackable storage or shelving units can make the most of this otherwise wasted space. Maybe only one or two units can be stacked on the short wall, but it serves a purpose and leaves other, taller parts of the room open for larger furniture. In another option, stackable cube shelving units can be stacked against a tall wall, and arranged so they are straight on one side and in a stair-step design along the slope of the ceiling.

Canopy Effect

In a bedroom or guest room, the sloped ceiling can serve as a canopy of the bed. The bed should be pushed into a corner of the room so that the long side of the bed is along the wall with the sloped ceiling. Line up a curtain or bed canopy fabric with the two outer edges of the bed. Attach it to the sloped section so that is falls in a straight, clean line from the ceiling to the bottom of the bed. The canopy effect creates a cozy sleeping space and makes the triangular ceiling functional.

Window Treatments

Rooms with triangular ceilings can appear darker than similar rooms with traditional ceilings because the light from the windows gets reflected downward. Any curtains, drapes or shades should be able to be pulled back from the window completely to maximize the amount of light that gets into the room. Even if a couple of inches on each side of the window remain covered when the curtains are open, the amount of light lost is noticeable. Light colored or lightweight fabrics will make the room seem brighter as well. Long drapes help create a heightening effect on the tall walls.

References

• Do It Yourself.com: Answers to Your Other Decorating Questions
• Better Homes and Gardens: Make the Most of Your Attic: Go Cubed and Colorful
• HGTV: Make a Sloped Ceiling Work!
• Better Homes and Gardens: Make the Most of Your Attic: Build a Rustic Retreat