Top 7 Expert Tips That Can Make Your Ceilings Look Higher

High ceilings are often associated with luxury and grandeur due to their spaciousness, excellent light inflow, and ventilation. While modern spaces may not necessarily come with high ceilings and its perks, some clever tricks can create the illusion of greater height to make the room feel expansive while enhancing air circulation and light.

Rooms with a height of less than 8 feet may feel confined, and without careful planning, decor choices might further accentuate this lack of space. From using sheer blinds or curtains to adding tall florals and decoration, the key strategy is to complement the sense of space with elements that guide the eyes upward and emphasize the room’s height. We have curated 7 tricks and tips from the experts to help you create this effect and give your room an illusion of lofty heights!

1. Install Floor-to-Ceiling Window Treatments

How you dress your windows can also affect the perception of your room size. Floor-to-ceiling made-to-measure curtains connect the entire vertical expanse and help us gauge the full height of the room, thus making the ceiling appear higher while softening the space with their sumptuousness. To complement the sense of space further, opt for window treatments drenched in light hues such as beige or white for a bright appeal. Designer curtain rods fixed closer to the ceiling commands attention upward and thus add to the illusion of more height.

2. Add Vertical Elements on Walls and Doors

Vertical stripes or patterns on the walls or windows can make it appear elongated and give the illusion of lofty heights. You can add vertical elements to your room with vertically striped roman shades and curtains on your doors or climbing vine-patterned wallpapers. You can also go with vertical wall slats for a similar effect and elevate the grandeur of your wall decor. Tall standing mirrors on walls can also add vertical elements while doubling up the sense of space with their reflective property.

3. Brighten the Ceilings with Light Hues

One of the most efficient ways to create the illusion of a higher ceiling is to paint it with a lighter shade than your walls, or simply keep it white. Light colors have a reflective tendency, making the ceiling look higher and expansive. High-gloss paints can give you a stronger and brighter reflection. You can further paint the wall 3-5 inches just below the ceiling around the perimeter in the same color as the ceiling. This neat trick creates a seamless transition between the wall and the ceiling, thus enhancing the perception of height by blurring the edges.

4. Place Wall Art Higher

Wall galleries or decorative paneling can make any wall visually stimulating. With a little trick, you can also use it to make your ceiling appear higher. Consider placing your wall hangings closer to the ceiling, which draws the attention upwards and creates the illusion of height. You can also use decorative paneling or beadboard to cover the lower two-thirds of your wall and paint the upper part the same as the ceiling. This method emphasizes the upper portion of the wall and creates more distinction between ceiling and floor objects, making the ceiling appear higher.

5. Add Tall Plants and Florals

House plants can add drama and freshness to any space, but they can also be used to elevate the perception of height! Tall plants like fiddle-leaf figs, snake plants, money trees and rubber plants tend to make the eyes follow their upward lines. Creeping plants like ivies and wax vines can also be placed on tall shelves, mantles or directly hung from the ceiling to draw attention upward to their lush beauty.

6. Light Up the Space

Keeping the room well-illuminated is a quick and easy method to enhance visibility and make any room feel more spacious. Introducing multiple sources of light through tall, vertical fixtures such as torchiere lamps or wall sconces fixed higher up on the wall can effectively keep your space illuminated while drawing the eyes upward. You can also go for see-through fixtures or a showstopper chandelier that will immediately woo the attention to the ceiling, and thus, the expanse of the room. Complement the illumination further with large wall mirrors for additional light reflection. Further, capitalize on natural light by installing sheer window treatments that allow sunlight to flood in and light up the space without reflecting on your electricity bills!

7. Embrace Low Profile Furniture

Low-profile furniture leaves the room space clear at eye level, reducing visual clutter and making the room appear vertically elongated. By choosing furniture that sits closer to the ground, the area above remains clear and keeps the space open and airy. You can go for chairs with low backs and slim legs, beds with sleeker headboards and transparent table tops that don’t block the visual flow. Consider mid-century modern furniture that not only maintains a low profile but will also give a modern appeal to your decor.

In Essence

Creating the illusion of height in a room can be as simple as making a few tweaks to your decor! We hope that by now, you have a better understanding of how to use vertical elements in your room to complement the ceiling height while adding personality to your space.

From tips like choosing vertically striped roman blinds for windows to choosing low-profile furniture – this blog has equipped you with many proven techniques to make your ceiling appear higher than it actually is. Pick any method that suits your room or style and transform your low-ceiling room into a lofty paradise!