AMN If you keep all furnishings and decor below, roughly, the 8-foot mark in the room, you'll create the warmth and coziness that comes with lower ceilings.
Basically, ignore the fact that you have a tall room. That means, don't hang curtains high (that helps create a sense of height), don't try to add visual interest up high, etc.
Make sure you have some dark shades in your furnishings, rug(s), etc., which will help ground the room and not make it feel like it could float up and away.
Use texture to your advantage to further create a sense of comfort and coziness.
Make sure you create cozy conversation clusters with appropriately-sized furniture. You don't want to have to shout across the room from couch to chair.
Dark recedes and light advances, but I see differing opinions on how that can affect what color you paint the ceiling.
ASVInteriors A number of methods:
1. As Rockin Fine Finish said - paint it a shade or two darker
2. You can bring down the ceiling by bringing the ceiling paint down about a foot onto the walls, this gives the effect of a lower ceiling
3. Emphasising the walls also distracts the eye from the ceiling - picture galleries, wall art, etc etc
Basically, ignore the fact that you have a tall room. That means, don't hang curtains high (that helps create a sense of height), don't try to add visual interest up high, etc.
Make sure you have some dark shades in your furnishings, rug(s), etc., which will help ground the room and not make it feel like it could float up and away.
Use texture to your advantage to further create a sense of comfort and coziness.
Make sure you create cozy conversation clusters with appropriately-sized furniture. You don't want to have to shout across the room from couch to chair.
Dark recedes and light advances, but I see differing opinions on how that can affect what color you paint the ceiling.
In addition to my suggestions, I think you might find this article helpful: http://www.renovateyourworld.com/HowTo_Library/Overcoming_the_Challenges_of_High_Ceilings-Ceilings-A2969.html
1. As Rockin Fine Finish said - paint it a shade or two darker
2. You can bring down the ceiling by bringing the ceiling paint down about a foot onto the walls, this gives the effect of a lower ceiling
3. Emphasising the walls also distracts the eye from the ceiling - picture galleries, wall art, etc etc