Hello everyone,
We have an open space of about 4.6m x 12m (15 ft x 39 ft) that combines the kitchen, dining room, and living room. Currently, a rough ceiling height of 2.77m (9 ft 1 in) is planned, and with a 15cm (6 inches) floor construction, the finished height will be around 2.62m (8 ft 7 in).
I have planned the lighting with recessed spotlights as well as openings for the mechanical ventilation system. The structural engineer mentioned that for the manufacturer of the precast ceiling, 180mm (7 inches) Halox conduit is always used, and each electrical box costs 100€ net.
Now I am considering three options:
- Have the spotlights fully installed and hope everything fits as planned. Then have the ceiling plastered.
- Lower the ceiling slightly, I estimate by about 7-8cm (3 inches). This would sacrifice some height but provide all the benefits of a suspended ceiling. A recessed shadow gap would also be possible, which I really like. Then the ceiling would be skimmed, sanded, and painted.
- Raise the ceiling by half a brick (~12.5cm / 5 inches). This would be allowed according to the building permit/planning permission and still fit with one stair step. This would result in lowering the ceiling by about 10-15cm (4-6 inches). Then skim, sand, and paint.
Unfortunately, I’m not sure how these different ceiling heights would feel. How would you approach this and what would be the recommended height for lowering the ceiling? Would you prefer to use metal profiles or wood for the suspended ceiling?
We have an open space of about 4.6m x 12m (15 ft x 39 ft) that combines the kitchen, dining room, and living room. Currently, a rough ceiling height of 2.77m (9 ft 1 in) is planned, and with a 15cm (6 inches) floor construction, the finished height will be around 2.62m (8 ft 7 in).
I have planned the lighting with recessed spotlights as well as openings for the mechanical ventilation system. The structural engineer mentioned that for the manufacturer of the precast ceiling, 180mm (7 inches) Halox conduit is always used, and each electrical box costs 100€ net.
Now I am considering three options:
- Have the spotlights fully installed and hope everything fits as planned. Then have the ceiling plastered.
- Lower the ceiling slightly, I estimate by about 7-8cm (3 inches). This would sacrifice some height but provide all the benefits of a suspended ceiling. A recessed shadow gap would also be possible, which I really like. Then the ceiling would be skimmed, sanded, and painted.
- Raise the ceiling by half a brick (~12.5cm / 5 inches). This would be allowed according to the building permit/planning permission and still fit with one stair step. This would result in lowering the ceiling by about 10-15cm (4-6 inches). Then skim, sand, and paint.
Unfortunately, I’m not sure how these different ceiling heights would feel. How would you approach this and what would be the recommended height for lowering the ceiling? Would you prefer to use metal profiles or wood for the suspended ceiling?
W
wiltshire8 Sep 2025 19:22I would never lower the ceiling, as the room is already not very tall. Every centimeter (inch) of height in an open-plan space adds to the feeling of comfort. If you really want a fixed indirect lighting solution, use paintable polystyrene moldings that finish the walls at the top and house LED strips.
In the children’s apartments, we installed the classic round recessed lights, often called “spots” here, in the ceiling. They provide decent functional lighting but play practically no role in the living atmosphere.
In the children’s apartments, we installed the classic round recessed lights, often called “spots” here, in the ceiling. They provide decent functional lighting but play practically no role in the living atmosphere.