It's no secret that high ceilings are a desirable element of any interior. They add space and air to the room, increase your possibilities for decorating the walls, and ensure that the area is not clogged or cluttered. Unfortunately, not all homes have high ceilings, just as not everyone knows how to work with them correctly. However, there are many ways to help you achieve the desired effect of a high ceiling.
We've gathered 10 tips for rooms with low ceilings so you can attain a spacious interior in any condition.
Ten Ways to Make Your Ceilings Look Higher
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1. Give preference to low furniture
This technique is easy to use in the living room by choosing a sofa and armchairs that have bases located close to the floor. This way, you will change the proportion of the room by opening up most of the wall behind the furniture. The more the walls are visible in the room, the higher the ceiling will seem. In the context of furniture, it's also worth choosing options that don't take too much attention, so as not to shift the entire emphasis of the room to its lower part.
2. Color block
Deep saturated colors are OK to use, but the placement is important to consider. If you don't mind playing with color a bit, choose brighter palettes for your furniture and decor and use it on the lower half of the room. Such color-blocking will help to visually stretch the ceilings due to the contrast and light upper part.
3. Add vertical lines
Long, vertical elements of decor have the ability to make the ceiling appear higher than it is. Such necessary lines in the room can be provided by tall floor lamps, bookshelves stretched upward, paintings, and thin, elongated mirrors. It is especially worth paying attention to the mirrors. They create a feeling of freer space in the room as they reflect light. And if you hang a long mirror with its center slightly higher than eye level, the ceiling will seem even taller.
4. Add multiple layers of light
In general, light directed right from the ceiling improves the overall appearance of the room. And if we're talking about rooms with low ceilings, then such lighting should not be the only light in a room. Include additional light sources to the walls, floor, and any possible surface in the room. Give preference to floor lamps that direct their light upward and outward, creating a vertical line that will also visually stretch the ceilings. Along with the desired space, such lighting creates coziness in a room of any size.
5. Hang curtains high
When you place the top part of your curtains at a certain distance from the ceiling, you visually cut the space. This additional division at the top of the room will visually shorten the height of the ceiling and create an incorrect proportion. Therefore, any kind of drape should be hung directly under the ceiling. As for their length, do not hang curtains short of the floor. Drapery should "kiss the floor."This will create another desired vertical line in the room that will visually stretch the ceiling.
6. Use lots of white
Maximalists may not like this tip, but white is the most effective way to combat low ceilings. A solid block of the light wall will not divide the room but add space and height. And if you add a carpet or furniture similar in shade, you get a continuous strip of color. This undivided space always raises the ceilings even in the most hopeless situations.
7. Avoid texture and weight
Avoid the use of tray or coffered ceilings which will make the ceiling feel too low and heavy. Most of these designs require around 12" of height which would be wasted in a low-ceiling situation. Instead, opt for a smooth finish with nothing more than knock-down style texture. If trim must be used on the ceiling, select a flat panel such as shiplap or bead board which doesn't intrude too low into the room.
8. Use vertical dressers and shelves
Choosing only horizontal furniture is a big mistake if you have low ceilings. If it concerns the sofa and armchairs, they should be located close to the floor, but we recommend using shelves and cabinets to create vertical lines. Verticals help to achieve the effect of a higher ceiling. Choose an elongated cabinet in the color of the wall or a tall bookshelf, and it will add a feeling of more space above your head.
9. Select a matte surface
The matte finish does not draw attention to itself, so it will not emphasize low walls. It may not be the most practical option, but it does a good job of pulling out the ceiling. In addition, the matte surface allows you to implement many more design solutions on it, as it only emphasizes objects placed on it. By choosing matte walls, you achieve two goals at once: high ceilings and a canvas for creativity.
10. Use bright carpet
When we say bright, we mean a crazy-colored carpet. It will be the main attention-grabber and low ceilings will not be noticeable. If you combine this color accent on the floor with light walls, the ceiling will seem high and the room spacious. When using this method, try to keep the rest of the room basic and avoid bold paintings or curtains.
There are many ways to visually lengthen the ceiling in any room. Choose the options that suit your vision of the interior. You can safely combine several tips to make the result even more effective.
Jen Haywood
Founder & Design Director
