How to make perfect use of the ceiling height of your old apartment

How to make perfect use of the ceiling height of your old apartment

High, light-flooded rooms and perhaps even stucco on the ceiling: many people like to look upwards in apartments in old buildings. These apartments and houses, which have high ceilings, large windows and double doors, were mainly built in the Gründerzeit and Art Nouveau periods in large cities. These impressive buildings were erected by the up-and-coming middle classes to demonstrate their wealth. New buildings are often more expensive to buy than old buildings, but do not need to be renovated as soon as existing buildings – unless you buy a completely renovated old apartment.

Things to know about ceiling heights in old buildings in Berlin and the surrounding area

A comparison of the statutory ceiling heights of old and new buildings: The statutory ceiling height in new buildings varies depending on the building regulations and the state building regulations. These stipulate minimum heights for living spaces, which are usually between 2.30 and 2.50 meters. However, the exact requirements can vary depending on the federal state. The reason for the prescribed minimum heights is to ensure adequate living comfort and good lighting.

Room height in an old building

Classic apartments in old buildings are often much higher: ceilings of at least 3.30 meters are not uncommon. Wilhelminian-style apartments sometimes even have a ceiling height of 4.50 meters. Interested buyers will find the other extreme in half-timbered houses and farm cottages: Some of these distinctive properties have a ceiling height of 2.10 meters or less.

Note: When we talk about the ceiling height, we mean the clear height, i.e. the distance between the upper edge of the floor and the lower edge of the ceiling. In building law, the clear height defines the minimum requirements for living and recreation rooms. All buildings, including new buildings, must be at least 2.30 meters high to be considered a living and recreation room. A clear height of at least 2.20 m is prescribed for basements and roofs.

Advantages of ceiling height in old buildings

The ceiling height in old buildings is a characteristic feature that many people appreciate. Apartments in old buildings are often characterized by their impressive ceiling height, which not only offers aesthetic advantages, but also functional ones:

• Cooling in summer: With a high ceiling height, the rooms heat up more slowly in summer as the heat rises upwards. This keeps the lower area pleasantly cool for longer.
• Feeling of space: Rooms with higher ceilings generally convey a feeling of space and spaciousness in contrast to low ceilings, which can quickly create an oppressive feeling.
• More daylight: Higher ceilings also mean that larger windows can be installed, allowing more daylight into the rooms. This contributes to a brighter and airier atmosphere as well as better lighting and possible electricity savings.
• Comfort for taller people: People of taller stature often prefer rooms with a higher than average ceiling height to avoid feeling cramped. High ceilings also offer more free space, as the fear of bumping your head is reduced.

Creating additional living space thanks to ceiling height in an old building

Spacious, high rooms can sometimes appear sterile or monotonous. For those who would like a more homely feel, it is a good idea to install a second floor, for example. It doesn’t always have to be a case of putting a bed on top and creating a TV corner underneath. How about a separate reading level above the bookshelf, for example? This is of course a real efficiency gain, especially in smaller apartments in older buildings. If you like it unusual and have a very high kitchen, you can invite your guests to dinner on the mezzanine floor, for example.

Observe the room height for suspended ceilings

As creative as the possible uses may be, there are a few points to bear in mind. Many old apartments have a ceiling height of around 3.40 meters – but for more unusual projects, it should be four meters or more. This is because there should always be two meters of space at the top so that nobody bumps their head.

For a higher bed, there must be at least one meter between the mattress and the ceiling so that you can sit up comfortably. If the room height is too low for a false ceiling, a platform on the floor is a good option, as it can divide up a larger room according to function and also looks good. Fitted with doors, a platform also creates storage space.

Safety of suspended ceilings with high ceilings takes priority

In addition to pure aesthetics, safety must of course also be taken into account with false ceilings, which is why all construction work should be carried out professionally. Railings provide sufficient safety – preferably with narrow bars to allow sufficient light in. When it comes to access, attention should also be paid to both comfort and safety: After all, what use is the highest level of sleeping comfort if getting up involves climbing down an uncomfortable metal ladder?

Reduce the ceiling height of high rooms

If you don’t want to install a false ceiling or platforms but still prefer a slightly lower ceiling height, there are also a few things you can do:

• With hanging plants, for example, which can be a real eye-catcher in combination with suitable lighting.
• Emphasizing the verticals can be useful to prevent the room from appearing too expansive – for example in the form of newly inserted pillars that also act as room dividers.
• Ceiling-high bookshelves: Those who feel disturbed by the echo could perhaps think about ceiling-high bookshelves, which not only set decorative accents, but also always provide enough reading material for cold winter days.
• Stucco mouldings on the ceiling: Not only do they give high rooms an elegant and stylish atmosphere and limit the room height somewhat, they also improve the room acoustics and can contribute to optimized climate regulation.

To take full advantage of the impressive ceiling height in apartments in old buildings, creative and well thought-out solutions are required. If you are enthusiastic about the advantages of an apartment in an old building and can imagine living in such a charming ambience, then you should take a look at Fortis’ attractive condominiums in old buildings. These not only offer the typical old building charm with high ceilings and stylish details, but also modernized and renovated living spaces that guarantee the highest level of living comfort. Discover your new home in one of Berlin’s most beautiful old buildings and enjoy the unique living experience that only an apartment in an old building can offer.

Would you like to be informed about current offers and real estate trends? Then sign up for the newsletter. You can unsubscribe at any time.