10 Tricks to Visually Raise Your Ceiling
Overcome your ceiling shortcomings with the help of lighting and furniture
A lot of people dream of having high ceilings in their home. But they also create challenges for sound and light control and often double the expense of painting, covering windows and adding artwork. Low and moderately high ceilings can be warmer, more intimate and more in proportion with human scale. Not to mention that changing a lightbulb is as simple as pulling out a step stool. Try that with a vaulted ceiling.
Frank Lloyd Wright often incorporated low ceilings in his Prairie-style homes. To compensate, he often made the rooms extra wide and deeply connected to the outdoor spaces. Using these concepts, and with the right furnishings and decor, you can make any ceiling feel just a bit taller.
Frank Lloyd Wright often incorporated low ceilings in his Prairie-style homes. To compensate, he often made the rooms extra wide and deeply connected to the outdoor spaces. Using these concepts, and with the right furnishings and decor, you can make any ceiling feel just a bit taller.
2. Use wide expanses of glass and keep window coverings simple
Notice how connected this space feels to the garden? Seeing the voluminous outdoor space makes this low-slung living room feel equally spacious. This trick works especially well if you’re right at ground level.
Notice how connected this space feels to the garden? Seeing the voluminous outdoor space makes this low-slung living room feel equally spacious. This trick works especially well if you’re right at ground level.
3. Keep lighting flush
In a contemporary home with a modest ceiling height, use flush-mounted lighting to keep the look clean. This approach will create the appearance of more headroom.
In a contemporary home with a modest ceiling height, use flush-mounted lighting to keep the look clean. This approach will create the appearance of more headroom.
4. Elongate with vertical stripes
Everyone knows that vertical stripes can be very slimming and give the illusion of height. The effective use of stripes in this bedroom makes it look even taller.
Everyone knows that vertical stripes can be very slimming and give the illusion of height. The effective use of stripes in this bedroom makes it look even taller.
5. Use patterned curtains
They lead the eye up to give a feeling of increased height. What makes this strategy effective here is the absence of competing patterns. While you’re at it, keep cornices proportional. Don’t go for a deep profile, which would shorten the wall expanse.
They lead the eye up to give a feeling of increased height. What makes this strategy effective here is the absence of competing patterns. While you’re at it, keep cornices proportional. Don’t go for a deep profile, which would shorten the wall expanse.
A detail at the top of drapes also delivers the same effect.
6. Use a vertical display
This grouping has an uplifting effect. By taking even just a few pieces all the way to the ceiling, you can increase the appearance of height.
This grouping has an uplifting effect. By taking even just a few pieces all the way to the ceiling, you can increase the appearance of height.
Even a grouping of small frames arranged vertically will lead the eye upward and create more visual headroom.
7. Include uplighting
Notice how the ceiling seems to float in this room. Bouncing light off the ceiling creates visual height. Sconces and cove lighting can deliver this effect.
Notice how the ceiling seems to float in this room. Bouncing light off the ceiling creates visual height. Sconces and cove lighting can deliver this effect.
8. Give your ceiling high gloss
This creates an illusion of endlessness. If you find gloss too too dramatic, use a semigloss paint instead.
This creates an illusion of endlessness. If you find gloss too too dramatic, use a semigloss paint instead.
9. Introduce a diagonal
Have you ever noticed how a staircase railing invites your eye to wander upward, giving lift to a room? A painted diagonal or a decor element that creates a diagonal line will offer the same effect.
Have you ever noticed how a staircase railing invites your eye to wander upward, giving lift to a room? A painted diagonal or a decor element that creates a diagonal line will offer the same effect.
10. Run paneling vertically
Like stripes, vertically oriented paneling reinforces height in a space.
TELL US
If you have a low-ceilinged home, tell us how you dealt with it in the Comments below.
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Up, up and Away!
Like stripes, vertically oriented paneling reinforces height in a space.
TELL US
If you have a low-ceilinged home, tell us how you dealt with it in the Comments below.
MORE
Up, up and Away!
Keep everything hunkered down low. If you are fortunate enough to have a spectacular view like this, it will amplify the effect dramatically. If you don’t have a great view, low furniture will still maximise the perceived height of your room.
Living with a low-down minimalist sofa