Few architectural elements add immediate impact like a high ceiling. They deliver a more airy and spacious feel to a room but do they also heighten prices?
Higher ceilings have become the home owner’s expectation in recent years. The Building Code of Australia determines the minimum ceiling height for a habitable room is 2.4m and for a non-habitable room, like the laundry or bathroom, the minimum height is 2.1m.
As far as luxuries within the home go, ceiling height is relatively affordable. Adding height costs less than adding breadth because it doesn’t require additional foundation or roofing. It does add costs, however, because it requires additional materials like wall framing, cladding, plasterboard, as well as custom features like extra-tall doors and potentially larger windows.
Increasing ceiling height can also have an effect on how we think mentally, according to behavioural science writer Eric Jaffe.
Jaffe explains that part of the appeal of high ceilings is related to a general preference for space but the behavioural and brain evidence suggests there’s more to it than that – high ceilings create a psychological sense of freedom.
Our homes have a standard ceiling height of 2720mm ceiling throughout, which can also be increased to the needs of the individual.
Considering the demand and psychological benefits, the ROI for increasing ceiling height could prove beneficial.