If you live in an older home, you’re probably familiar with the challenge of low ceilings making your space feel a bit too cozy—almost cramped. Even homes built as recently as the 1990s often come with standard 8-foot ceilings that, while common, can leave you yearning for a more spacious, airy atmosphere. Are you looking for some ideas to make your low ceiling look higher?
I have good news! You don’t have to settle for that boxed-in feeling.
With a few clever design tricks, you can visually elevate your ceilings and create the illusion of height and openness typically found in more contemporary homes. From color choices and lighting to furniture placement and architectural details, there are countless ways to make the most of your vertical space.
Whether you’re renovating, redecorating, or simply refreshing a room, these strategies will help you achieve a brighter, more expansive look that transforms your low ceilings from a limitation into an asset.
In this post, we’ll delve into the expert techniques interior designers use to lift your short ceilings and give your home that coveted, high-ceilinged feel. So, let’s dive into some great ideas to make your low ceiling look higher…making your space feel taller, more open, and perfectly inviting!
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Color Schemes that Make a Low Ceiling Appear Higher:
Color plays a crucial role in influencing how we perceive space. When it comes to making low ceilings appear higher, here are some effective color strategies:
1. Light Colors: Opt for light colours such as white, off-white, pale blue, or soft gray for your wall color. The best paint colors to reflect more light, making the room feel brighter and more spacious are light shades.
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2. Monochromatic Schemes: Using different shades of the same color throughout the room creates a seamless look that can elongate the walls and ceiling.
3. High-Gloss Finishes: Applying a high gloss paint or semi-gloss paint to the ceiling can reflect light and add depth, giving the illusion of higher ceilings. But, be careful; if you have a lot of flaws in your ceilings (which many older homes do), a high gloss paint will highlight these imperfections. A great way to remedy this situation (especially if you have a popcorn ceiling), is to apply paneling and paint it in a high gloss finish vs. a matte finish.
Lighting Techniques to Create the Illusion of Height:
Lighting is another powerful tool in creating the perception of height. Here are some lighting techniques and ideas to make your low ceiling look higher:
RELATED: 10 Best Kitchen Lighting Ideas for Low Ceilings
4. Up-lighting: Use sconces, floor lamps, or cove lighting to direct light upwards, emphasizing the height of the room.
5. Flush-Mount Fixtures: Choose flush-mount or recessed lighting fixtures to avoid taking up vertical space and maintain a clean, uncluttered ceiling.
6. Strategic Lighting Placement: Place light fixtures strategically to highlight the room’s height. Ceiling lights and wall lights can be positioned to draw attention upwards.
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7. Layered Lighting: Use a combination of ambient, task, and accent lighting to create depth and dimension in the room. Table lamps and floor lamps can add to this effect. (pendant lights) (tall lamp)
Utilizing Light and Shadows:
Playing with light and shadows can significantly impact how high a ceiling appears. Here are some techniques:
8. Natural Light: Maximize natural light by using sheer curtains or no window coverings at all. A large window that lets in plenty of light can make a room feel more spacious.
9. Reflective Surfaces: Use mirrors. A vertical mirror, vertical mirror grouping, or reflective surface metallic finishes to reflect light and add a sense of openness.
Furniture and Decor Tips for Rooms with Low Ceilings:
Choosing the right furniture and decor can make a significant difference in how tall a room feels. Here are some recommendations and ideas to make your low ceiling look higher:
10. Low-Profile Furniture: Select furniture that sits low to the ground to maximize the vertical space above. This is one of the most effective ways to help elongate the room’s height.
11. Vertical Decor: The use of vertically arranged art can have a maximum effect in making your ceiling look taller. Hang artwork in a vertical arrangement to create a sense of height in low-ceiling spaces. Avoid spreading art in horizontal lines, which can emphasize the room’s limited vertical space.
12. Minimalist Approach: Keep decor simple and uncluttered to avoid overwhelming the space, which can make it feel even lower.
Architectural Features to Create Visual Height:
Certain architectural features and modifications can enhance the illusion of height in a room with low ceilings. Consider these ideas:
13. Vertical Stripes: Applying vertical lines through wallpaper, paint, or paneling can elongate the room’s appearance.
RELATED: Benjamin Moore Hale Navy, HC-154: Paint Color Review
I just love this vertically patterned wallpaper by Serena and Lily.
Find more Furnishings and Decor in the Ellie & Iver Shop!
14. Exposed Beams: If possible, expose ceiling beams to add depth and a sense of architectural interest that draws the eye upward.
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15. Diagonal Elements: Incorporating diagonal lines in the design to guide the eye is a great way create a dynamic sense of height.
16. Crown Molding: Keeping it light in color (to blend with the walls), and smaller in scale is the best way to use crown molding in a room with a lower ceiling.
Effective Window Treatments:
Window treatments can play a crucial role in enhancing the perception of height in a room. Here are some tips:
17. Floor-to-Ceiling Curtains: Use long curtains that extend almost to the ceiling and all the way to the floor to create the illusion of taller windows and higher ceilings. Mounting the curtain rod at the top of the window will only make your room look shorter.
18. Minimalistic Designs: Opt for simple, clean designs that don’t overwhelm the space. Avoid heavy or overly decorative window treatments.
RELATED: How to Hang Curtains the Right Way
19. Custom Details: Adding custom details like a decorative curtain rod or finials at the top of the curtains can draw attention upwards and add a touch of elegance in a room with a low ceiling height.
20. Keep Window Valances and Cornice Boards in Check: These types of window treatments can appear heavy creating a strong horizontal line across the top of your window making your ceiling appear lower if they are too large or darker than the wall color.
Maximizing Vertical Space:
Utilizing vertical space effectively is key to making low ceilings look higher. Here are some strategies:
21. Tall Storage Solutions: Use tall bookshelves and cabinets that reach towards the ceiling to draw the eye upwards in a room with lower ceilings.
Smart Use of Paint and Patterns:
Paint and patterns can be used creatively to enhance the perception of the height of the ceiling. Here’s how:
22. Ceiling Paint: Paint the ceiling a lighter shade than the walls to create the illusion of a taller ceiling. Choose a common white ceiling color or, if your walls aren’t too dark, opt for a color a few shades lighter than your wall color.
23. Accent Walls: Use an accent wall to draw attention away from the low ceiling. A feature wall with vertical patterns or a bold pattern can create a focal point.
Picking the perfect paint color for your home is a big decision that will really impact the overall look of your space. My free guide “How to Choose Paint Colors with Confidence” will help!
24. Avoid Dark Colors: A dark color can make a room feel smaller and more enclosed. Stick to light, airy colors to enhance the sense of space.
WHAT’S THE BEST WAY TO SAMPLE PAINT COLORS FOR YOUR SPACE WITH A LOW CEILING?
Look no further than SAMPLIZE! Using a peel and stick paint sample is cleaner, easier to use, more affordable, AND more environmentally friendly.
Effective Furniture Placement:
How you arrange your furniture and decor can also impact the perception of height.
25. Open Space: Keep furniture away from the walls even in a small room to create a sense of openness and creates a nice conversation space. This can make the ceiling feel higher in low-ceiling rooms.
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Even small changes can make a big impact! By embracing these tricks, tips, and ideas to make your low ceiling look higher, you’ll discover how easy it is to create spaces that feel open, airy, delightfully modern . Go ahead and have fun with it; play with color palettes, enhance your lighting, and carefully choosing furniture, decor and architectural elements. Every decision you make contributes to creating a more spacious and inviting atmosphere. If you’re eager to keep your design game strong and stay inspired, don’t forget to subscribe to our blog. I regularly share fresh ideas, expert tips, and the latest trends to help you make the most of your home’s potential. Let’s keep creating beautiful spaces together!
