Low ceilings can often make your home feel smaller and more cramped. That's why many homeowners prefer higher ceilings because of the spacious and opulent feel they give to the house. They create the perception of spaciousness, even if the room doesn’t have a large square footage.

There are several architectural ways to increase a room’s size, but that isn’t always possible. Instead, by implementing a few tricks with paint and decor to redesign the room, you can give it an illusion of a taller ceiling without actually increasing the height!

Today on the blog, we’re diving into 10 ways you can make your room feel extra wide and create an illusion of height on your ceiling. Let’s explore more.

Opt for Low and Horizontal Furniture

Using low furniture is a useful way to preserve a beautiful view and keep a spacious room. When the horizontal lines of your furniture are lower than average, it tricks the eye into thinking the rest of the room is taller than the actual height. Another advantage of this strategy is that it maximizes window views because the furniture isn’t blocking the glass.

Paint Vertical Stripes on the Wall

Anything that draws the eye upward will make the ceiling feel taller, and the entire space feel bigger. Vertical stripes will make your ceiling appear higher, while horizontal stripes with increase the width.

The bigger the contrast between the stripes, the more dramatic the effect. You can use paint or wallpaper to actualize this.

Use Vertical Displays

Using vertical space to arrange your things will beautify your home and provide an uplifting effect that gives an impression of a tall ceiling. Taking bookshelves, artworks, and photo frames to the ceiling will lead the eye upward and create more visual headroom.

Give your Ceiling a High Gloss

High gloss paints are exceptional for being utterly shiny and light-reflecting. This gives your surface a glamorous glass-like effect, which creates an endless illusion that makes your ceiling appear taller.

Introduce Diagonal Stripes

Have you ever wondered why a staircase railing catches your eye to go upward, uplifting the room? This is exactly what a painted diagonal or a decor element that creates a diagonal line offers.

A diagonal painting on the wall creates a movement illusion that summons your eyes to keep strolling up to the ceiling.

Paint the Ceiling White

It helps to paint your ceiling white or a color lighter than the walls. White on the surface of the ceiling lifts and lightens. It visually raises the height of the ceiling itself.

Remove Crown Molding

Molding and trim appear to protrude down from the ceiling. And this is not beneficial to attain a higher ceiling. We suggest to remove the crown molding or keep it very thin. If you are going to include crown molding and have 8’ ceilings, consider painting the molding the same color as the ceiling, this will give the illusion of additional height.

Frame the Walls

Wall-framing is a great way to add a decorative touch to your room and give it an illusion of height. The white ceiling and the white around the frame also visually help push the ceiling up.

Wall frames distract the eye from the low ceiling because you look at the painting first, then the wall framing. However, ensure that the height of the frame is more than the width, according to the room’s proportions.

Hang a Tall, Narrow Mirror

Since you want to make your ceiling look higher, you want to add items that can reflect light. Mirrors bounce the light around and create the illusion of more space, especially in a small living room. Lean them up against the wall or hang them on the wall for maximum effect.

Hang Curtains as High as Possible

Floor-to-ceiling curtain elongates the room and will impulsively draw your eyes to the highest point on the wall. Do not make the height of your window the peak of your curtain, especially when you have a low ceiling. Go as high as the ceiling instead of stopping at the top of your window frame.

Conclusion

Everyone deserves the luxury of a home with tall ceilings! However, if your home has inherently low ceilings or your ceilings are of average height, you can certainly apply any of these 10 tips in your home to help with the illusion that your ceilings are higher than they actually are. We’d love to know if you end up following any of these tips in the comments below!

Our ultimate goal is to honor your personality, adventures, and history. We accomplish this by integrating your stories of travel and exploration, as well as other defining life experiences, into your space. Our full-service interior design studio in Philadelphia helps our clients add richness to their homes and workspaces. Our designs truly are a reflection of the unique individuals we serve in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, and Delaware.

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How To Make Your Ceiling Look Higher