The height of a standard ceiling is that parameter that affects comfort and contributes to the realization of the most daring design ideas. Different types of premises have their own standards. These values ​​are indicated in special documents, such as SNiPe.
Ergonomics of the living room
This science is developing the optimal height of the ceilings, allowing you to feel most comfortable in the room.
To create comfortable conditions, builders need to observe certain ergonomic conditions:
- provide adequate natural light;
- create an environment with optimal humidity and oxygen levels.
The indicators will vary, depending on the area and purpose of the rooms, but all this will help to achieve exactly the height of the standard ceiling in the room.
Ceiling height in current practice
In individual construction, any ceilings you want can be made for you, but with multi-unit buildings, the standard ceiling height will not be lower than 2.5 meters, since it is believed that lower ceilings will “put pressure” on residents.
At the same time, the standard ceiling height in the apartment is unlikely to be more than 3.2 meters, because it is economically disadvantageous for builders.
Norms
Current regulations do not establish the height of a standard ceiling, which must be observed. In the current SNiPs, only the minimum ceiling height is indicated, below which construction is prohibited.
So, for example, the standard ceiling height in residential premises can not be lower than 2.5 meters, and for offices this value increases to 3 meters. The standard ceiling height in the bath will already be 3.2 meters.
Individual construction
As mentioned above, in a private house you will make any distance from floor to ceiling that you like, but still do not make them too high. The standard ceiling height in the house is the same value as in the apartment. In addition, planning too high ceilings, you will increase the cost of electricity and heating of such premises, so carefully weigh all the pros and cons, determining the numbers.
Stalin's apartments
The so-called stalinkas featured very high ceilings, from 3 to 4 meters. In addition to high ceilings, there were wide corridors, large rooms and windows that fully met ergonomic conditions.
Such apartments are still in great demand and are quite expensive, despite the fact that they have outdated communications. Most of them lack an elevator and a chute.
Brezhnev apartments
The height of the standard ceiling in such an apartment is usually not more than 2.7 meters, but, despite this, they are considered apartments with an improved layout. Unfortunately, they can be called such only in comparison with the Khrushchev’s.
Khrushchev’s
The ceiling height in such apartments usually does not exceed 2.5 meters. It seems to be satisfying standards, but in conjunction with small rooms and cramped corridors, the impression of an enclosed space is created.
Panel houses
Depending on the year of construction, the standard ceiling height in a prefabricated house can vary from 2.5 to 2.7 meters. In older houses, ceilings sometimes do not even reach 2.5 meters, their height is only 2.48 meters.
New buildings
More and more people are inclined to purchase apartments in new homes. One of the reasons for this is that the standard ceiling height in new buildings is at least 2.7 meters, which means it gives a wide flight for the implementation of design ideas. In elite apartments, the ceiling can be located more than 3 meters from the floor, but the cost of such apartments is quite high.
We are planning a repair in an apartment with a low ceiling
When undertaking a global repair, you will need to know what is the standard ceiling height in your apartment. You will need this indicator in order to properly plan your future interior. After all, even laying a laminate and making stretch ceilings, you will significantly reduce the distance from the floor. At first glance, a few centimeters do not matter, but if your ceilings are already low, you should fight for every extra millimeter.
Unfortunately, if the ceiling in your apartment does not exceed 2.5 meters, most likely you will have to abandon the suspended ceilings made of plasterboard, since such a ceiling is able to "steal" more than 10 cm in height. For the same reason, multi-level ceilings are not suitable .
Stretch ceiling
Although such a ceiling is mounted at a certain distance, this value usually does not exceed a few centimeters, which is the width of the profile. And if you take into account that with the help of modern stretch ceilings you can also make multi-level structures that are in no way inferior to suspended ones, it becomes clear that this solution for apartments with low ceilings is more preferable.
Visually increase the height of the ceiling
If you are not comfortable with the height of the standard ceiling, you can go for a trick and try to visually increase this figure. You can do this in several ways, listed below.
Optical illusion:
- Gloss . Such a surface reflects light well, which means it visually enlarges the room and gives some depth.
- Levels . This method must be used carefully, because in reality your ceilings will become even lower by a couple of cm, but the visual effect will be amazing.
- Color . When using this technique, they paint the walls and ceiling in one tone, preferably light.
- Furniture This method involves choosing furniture to match the whole room or, conversely, with dark lower and light upper cabinets, matching the color of the walls and ceiling.
- Vertical stripes. Perhaps everyone knows about this. It should only be added that frequent bright stripes can have the opposite effect, so use this pattern with caution.
Play of light:
- Eaves suspension. By making a cornice with built-in LED lights around the perimeter, you can significantly raise the ceiling (it's a pity that only visually).
- False window. This method, although it is quite original, does not become less effective from this. It can be made both with a backlight that simulates sunlight, and a mirror.
- Spot lighting. If you are unable to refuse standard chandeliers, then choose a flat chandelier that attaches directly to the ceiling, or a so-called plate. And try to keep the light from the chandelier pointing up.
Windows and doors
Having made the high doors almost to the ceiling and “stretched out” the windows vertically, you will achieve an amazing effect, and in addition, improve the ventilation of the room.
Distract attention:
- The play of color. Using this technique, the floor and ceiling are lightened with relatively dark walls. You can focus on one of the walls, decorating it with beautiful panels or murals.
- Combined finish. This technique can only be used in small rooms, such as kitchens or bathrooms. With this method, the lower and upper part of the walls are trimmed with different materials, as an option - with tiles and wallpaper. Keep in mind that in large rooms they will give the opposite effect.
Repair in an apartment with a high ceiling
A high ceiling gives a chance to realize everything, even the wildest fantasies. Previously, the lucky owners of such apartments equipped mezzanines under the ceiling, and in those apartments where the ceilings exceeded 4 meters, they even made an additional mezzanine floor, which successfully housed a children's or work room. However, such techniques are still used today.
Under the ceiling, you can raise the crib, making it a comfortable beautiful staircase. Few children will refuse such a cozy “own little world” that Alice had from the film “A Guest from the Future”.
And besides, high ceilings allow zoning the room, raising the floor, using large hanging lamps in the interior.
What is uncomfortable with a high ceiling?
Is a high ceiling always good? Let's see what flaws lie behind him:
- such apartments are much more difficult to heat, as air constantly circulates in the room;
- the upper part of the room looks uncomfortable, since it is quite difficult to "fill" with something, at least without significant material costs;
- in such rooms, as a rule, poor sound insulation, and if there is also a bit of furniture in it, then during the conversation you will hear an “echo”;
- the high ceiling in the toilet and in the bathroom creates the feeling that you are in a well from which it is quite difficult to get out - for many it is depressing;
- maintaining such an apartment in “good” condition requires a lot of finance.
As you can see, the ceiling height plays an important role, therefore, choosing your future housing, be sure to pay attention to this indicator. Of course, in a private house you can raise the ceiling yourself, but it will be quite expensive and will require a lot of time and effort. The apartment will have to live "with what is." As practice shows, when inspecting an apartment, we practically do not pay attention to the ceiling, the maximum that we pay attention to is its appearance. But it turns out that this is fundamentally wrong. Not only the possibility of decorating the apartment, but also our well-being, how comfortable we will be in our home, depend on the height of the ceilings in the apartment.