Craft · 3 min read
Cornices 101: Choosing the Right Profile for Your Ceiling Height
The cornice is where wall meets ceiling, and it sets the formality of the entire room. Choosing one is a question of proportion first, style second.
Under 2.7 metres
Keep it shallow: a simple cove or stepped profile of 75–100 mm. Ornament at this height sits too close to the eye and makes ceilings feel lower.
2.7 to 3.2 metres
The sweet spot for decorated profiles — egg-and-dart, dentil or restrained acanthus work at 120–180 mm reads as generous without dominating.
Above 3.2 metres
Go deep. Double-height entrance halls and formal lounges can carry 200 mm+ built-up cornices with full scrollwork, ideally paired with a panelled frieze.
In renovations we take a silicone squeeze of the existing profile and match it in the workshop, so new rooms join old ones seamlessly.
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