Double-Height Spaces—What They Are and Why You Should Ask Your Agent About Them
Robert Peterson
Some homes feel cozy or cramped when you enter, while others have an open, sometimes even regal, atmosphere as soon as you step through the front door. Often, these homes have rooms with very high ceilings referred to as double-height spaces. These rooms typically boast ceilings twice the height of those in traditional houses.
“Double-height spaces can sometimes exist in the great rooms of grand homes from the late 1800s through the early 1900s, or even in the main living level or parlor floor of more modest townhomes,” says Andrea Saturno-Sanjana, a broker at Coldwell Banker Warburg. “Residential housing converted from lofts, factories, or repurposed schools, religious, or civic buildings often have double-height spaces.”
If you’re looking for a home that offers this type of design, it’s worth asking your real estate agent about. In this article, we’ll explore how these areas are used and what considerations you should make when purchasing a home with double-height spaces.
Meet the Experts
Andrea Saturno-Sanjana is a licensed associate real estate broker at Coldwell Banker Warburg.
Tate Kelly is a licensed associate real estate broker at Coldwell Banker Warburg.
Bryson Taggart is an agent partnership manager at Opendoor.
What Are Double-Height Spaces?
According to Tate Kelly, a broker at Coldwell Banker Warburg, double-height spaces are areas of a home or business where the ceiling is double the standard height of 8 feet, ranging from 16 to 22 feet. Saturno-Sanjana says these rooms tend to wow buyers when they first see them.
“Double-height spaces can be purposely designed in new homes or additions, such as for a living room or an extension to create a purpose-built area, such as an open kitchen and recreation room leading to an outdoor space,” Saturno-Sanjana says.
Related: 20 Vaulted Ceiling Ideas That Create a Dramatic Look
Pros of Double-Height Spaces
These extra-tall ceilings can provide benefits that go further than just appearance.
Feeling of Openness
For those who enjoy the feel of a big, airy room, double-height spaces are ideal.
“The biggest benefits in terms of aesthetics are feelings of volume and openness, it can make a room feel much bigger, and it is visually dramatic, especially if you have large windows,” Kelly says. “When one enters a double-height space, they almost always feel a sense of grandeur and airiness.”
Related: 15 Ways to Make an Open-Concept Living Room Feel Cohesive
Increased Light
The bigger the double-height space, the more light they tend to offer, especially if there are ample windows. Some buyers prefer more natural light in their homes for aesthetic purposes and to boost their mood.
“When asked which qualities buyers prefer in a home, light and space are usually at the top of the list,” Saturno-Sanjana says. “High ceilings often create a sense of space and make a room feel larger. If the double-height room is accompanied by larger windows, then more light will enter the space.”
More Design Opportunities
With so much extra room than the typical living or dining area, these double-height spaces offer unique opportunities to decorate and make a statement. Depending on the home's architectural style and the buyer's personal design preferences, the tall ceilings offer more space to customize the room to be exactly what the buyer wants.
“A Victorian mansion from the 1800s with a coffered ceiling or detailed molding might be enhanced with some traditional furnishings to create a transitional style,” Saturno-Sanjana says. “In contrast, a newly constructed, contemporary home with floor-to-ceiling windows in a dramatic coastal or sylvan setting might benefit from a more minimalist approach in design where the focus is on the view outside.”
May Be More Energy Efficient
In some cases, double-height spaces can even be good for your wallet. In the summer, hot air rises and helps with ventilation in the home, while in the winter, large windows that offer lots of natural light can be beneficial for using the sunlight to help warm the room.
“The natural light in these rooms can help reduce the need for artificial lighting during the day,” says Bryson Taggart, agent partnership manager at Opendoor. “A recent Opendoor survey revealed about 60% of sellers and half of buyers feel now is a good time to make their next move, and a home with a double-height space can make a big difference. Natural light and ventilation can lower energy needs and costs and add the modern, spacious feel that many buyers are looking for in today’s market.”
David A Land
Cons of Double-Height Spaces
While there are multiple pros to double-height rooms, there are a few disadvantages as well.
Inconvenient to Clean
Cobwebs in the corners of your 8-foot ceiling are easily swept away with a broom. This typically isn't the case in larger, double-height spaces where regular cleaning tasks such as dusting your ceiling fan become a paid job for the pros. However, those inconveniences are easy to take care of if you have the proper equipment handy, Kelly says.
Utility Cost
The bigger a home, the more your heating and cooling bills tend to be, and double-height ceilings would contribute to a large square footage.
“Since heat rises during cooler months, it might cost more to heat a double-height space. If a double-height space is combined with floor-to-ceiling windows and southern exposure, the cooling costs could also be significant,” says Saturno-Sanjana “These concerns can often be mitigated with the installation of energy window frames, double-or triple-glazed windows, ceiling fans, and the selection of appropriate capacity heating and cooling systems.”
Editor's Tip
If you're considering purchasing a new home with double-height ceilings, ask your real estate agent about seeing a utility bill from the current owner to gauge costs.
Can Be Difficult to Decorate
“Double-height spaces allow for the display of large art pieces and, in the case of studio lofts, the creation of such pieces,” says Saturno-Sanjana.
This extra wall space can be a plus, but it’s important to note you might need to hire a professional to help you with these tasks as many homeowners don’t have the ladders and equipment needed to hang photos that high. Additionally, it can be more expensive for professional crews to paint rooms of this size. Changing your recessed light bulbs may become a professional task as well.
Still, Taggart points out that these spaces create unique decorating and architectural opportunities.
“They offer the flexibility you won’t find in standard rooms—like adding loft areas or extra storage that blend function with style,” he says.
What to Ask Your Real Estate Agent
As you shop for your next home, be prepared and ask the right questions regarding double-height spaces.
HVAC and Maintenance
“The most practical advice is to find out how well the current HVAC system controls the temperature of the room and to make sure that it is in good working order and is energy efficient since a double-height space requires more energy to heat and cool, even if there are large windows with great natural sunlight,” Kelly says. “Then it is the logistics of cleaning and maintenance—finding out what kind of upkeep is required and what is needed for said upkeep.”
Taggart also suggests looking into how the space is insulated and asking about the materials used in the windows.
Consider the Rest of the House
Keep in mind that your overall impression of the home is likely affected by these high-ceiling rooms. Make sure to consider the other parts of the home before purchasing and not be distracted by this exciting feature.
“Most buyers I have worked with find double-height spaces highly desirable,” he says. ”When you enter a room with dramatic double-height ceilings, you immediately feel the sensation that the space is luxurious, no matter what the rest of the home looks like.”
Related: I’m Buying My First Home—This Is the Advice Chip Gaines Gave Me
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