How to Make a Ceiling Look Higher: 10 Simple Tips & Tricks You'll Want to Try
Easy ways to make your home feel more spacious.
High ceilings can make a room feel larger and more spacious. Even if your home has low ceilings, there are simple tricks you can use to make low ceilings appear higher. We've gathered a list of 10 easy ways to make a low ceiling look higher, including tips on placing wall art and choosing light fixtures. Keep reading to learn how to make ceilings look higher.
1. Pick Low-Profile Furniture
Not sure how to make a low ceiling look higher? One of the best ways to maximize space is choosing low-profile furniture. The low silhouettes sit closer to the floor and make the space above the furniture seem larger. Opt for a low sofa or sectional with a streamlined shape, and pick a coffee table to correspond with the height of the seating.
Flush mount and semi-flush mount lighting are great for rooms with low ceilings. Flush mount lighting is placed directly on the ceiling with no space between the fixture and the ceiling, while semi-flush mount fixtures hang down a few inches. These compact fixtures don't take up too much vertical space and come in a variety of different designs to suit the style of your home. Choose a flush mount light with a frosted glass shade for soft illumination, or go for a statement semi-flush mount for a chic overhead addition (like in the photo above).
Elongate the window and make the ceilings appear higher by hanging curtains close to the ceiling. With the curtains hanging from the floor to the ceiling, the fabric draws the eye upward and cuts down on the amount of visual breaks along the way. This also helps make the window feel larger and fills the space with more natural light. We recommend installing the curtain rod 4" to 8" above the window frame or 3" to 6" below the molding to make space for the top of the curtains.
Vertical stripes are perfect for drawing the eye up and toward the ceiling, so striped wallpaper is an excellent way to make ceilings look higher. The classic pattern works well in any room and there are so many different widths and colours to choose from, so it's easy to find a striped wallpaper pattern that works with your aesthetic. In the image above, we love how the blue-and-white stripes add a clean and timeless feel to this bathroom.
Hanging art higher than you normally would is another easy way to make the ceiling look taller. By adding wall art near the top of the wall or above doors and doorways, you can trick the eye to make it seem like the ceilings are higher than they actually are. Opt for pieces that are vertical for even more height.
Make the most of vertical space with floor-to-ceiling bookcases. The display brings sight-lines up and allows you to use each shelf to show off your collection of books, art, and decor. Plus, the vertical lines work similarly to the striped wallpaper – they draw your eyes up and toward the ceiling.
In rooms with low ceilings, the contrast from the walls and the ceilings can disrupt the visual line, making the ceiling seem ever lower. To extend visual lines up, try taking the same colour from the wall and using it on the ceiling. Paint is a great way to achieve a smooth texture that continues from the wall to the ceiling, while wallpaper can help you make a stylish statement. If you want to add extra detail to the ceiling, go for textured ceiling tiles.
When choosing hanging lights for low ceilings, it's best to choose fixtures with minimal designs. Pick a lantern-style pendant to add geometric structure and timeless style. The open metal frame maintains an airy feel that helps make your ceiling look higher. We love how the linear pendant in the photo above brings a stylish glow to the dining room without taking up too much vertical space.
Wall mirrors are an excellent way to make low ceilings feel higher. Because mirrors reflect light, they're often used to make a space feel larger and brighter – and the same idea applies to height! Place the wall mirrors higher than usual to reflect light from above, or use a tall floor mirror leaned against the wall to reflect light upward.
Save overhead space with a pair of wall sconces. These wall-mounted light fixtures come in a variety of designs to provide lighting that faces downward, upward, or both. Downward lighting is great for adding direct light above a bed or sofa, while upward lighting illuminates the ceiling, which can make it seem higher.
