Builders curve corner wall edges to soften them, as opposed to the knife-edging them. They must apply a special flashing before applying drywall to get this effect. Usually used in formal areas like living rooms or dining rooms, coffered ceilings are given a box-like effect to add a custom touch to the ceiling area of a room. Coffering can utilize one to several steps of the ceiling cascading down the walls in various configurations. In contrast, high volume ceilings are usually tall, flat ceilings, nine to ten feet in height in production homes.
Higher ceilings can give the feeling of more volume even in smaller homes.
Many homebuyers who see vaulted varieties as a waste of utility bills have welcomed the high-volume changeover many builders have now adopted. Media niches built in by the builder can offer encased or raised balloon wall platform areas for television sets or monitors and even extra cubbyholes for stereo components. Art niches are recessed areas in wall areas designed to feature art objects. Some are deeply indented for statues, baskets, or memorabilia, and others are slight recessed areas of drywall. And some can even contain directional wall lighting for better display effects.