How to Make Low Ceilings Look Higher: 8 Interior Design Tricks

Have you ever walked into a room where the ceilings were so low that you could feel it? If so, you’re not alone. If you’re suffering from this issue in your own home, we’re here to tell you that there’s still some hope! With a few creative tweaks, you can transform that “closed-in” feeling into a spacious and roomy experience.

8 Interior Design Tricks to Make Your Low Ceilings Look Higher

Before we dive into some beautiful ceiling designs, let’s take a moment to talk about some of the techniques you can use to make your low ceilings look higher. Here are eight super helpful tips for transforming your low ceilings:

1. The Magic of Paint

Go for a bright white ceiling, and when we say bright, we mean bright! It will  create a reflective surface, which reflects more light to give the illusion of increased height. While you’re at it, make your walls the same lighter color to blur the boundaries between the wall and the ceiling.

2. Add Stripes

Stripes aren’t just for clothes – they work wonders on walls, too. Vertical stripes draw the eye upward which stretches the perception of your walls and makes them look taller. You can use striped wallpaper, paint, or a tall, slender art piece. They should all do the trick.

3. Change Your Lighting

Ditch the bulky overhead lights and opt for recessed lighting or low-profile fixtures. Better yet, use floor lamps that shine upward to cast light and shadow upwards. This will create the illusion of higher ceilings, which is exactly what you want.

4. Big Curtains

Hang curtains from ceiling to floor, regardless of your window size. This trick creates a continuous line that adds the illusion of height, and guides your eye upward to the ceiling. If you want to go further, choose light, airy fabrics to keep it breezy.

5. Mirrors

Large mirrors aren’t just for checking your outfit; they’re a classic way to give the illusion of depth and height. If you position them to catch the light, they’ll brighten the room and ceiling and make it appear larger.

6. Low-Profile Furniture

Choose furniture that sits low to the ground. That way, you have more space between the top of your furniture and the ceiling. The extra airspace will give the sense of a more expansive room.

7. Keep it Transparent

One of the coolest tricks for making your low ceiling look higher is using transparent fixtures and furnishings to create the illusion of space. Transparent tables, chairs,  and partitions help maintain visual flow and reduce visual clutter while simultaneously making your ceilings feel like they’re miles up.

8. Add Shelves

Install shelves closer to the ceiling and keep them sparsely decorated. This not only draws the eye upward, but also offers a smart storage solution, to give the illusion of more space and actual space.

5 Low Ceiling Designs to Inspire Your Next Project

Ready for some real-world inspiration to get those creative juices flowing? Here are five design ideas that prove that you can make your low ceiling look higher with just a few touches.

1. Geometric Designs

Credit: https://www.byrombuilding.com/ 

In this cleverly designed space, the eye is instinctively drawn upwards by the geometric patterns of the tray ceiling, which creates an illusion of depth and height. Plus, the use of contrasting colors between the light walls and the darker ceiling recesses further accentuates the ceiling’s features and enhances the room’s vertical dimensions.

2. Carefully Crafted Lines

The designer of this home amplified the room’s height by using a series of vertical lines, artwork, and tall, slender pendant lights that draw the eye upward. The large, expansive windows flood the room with natural light, which reflects off the light-colored ceiling, and creates the illusion of more space.

3. Bright White Colors and Natural Light

This kitchen design uses bright, lighter colors to perfection. The coffered detailing on the ceiling adds depth and architectural interest, which draws the gaze upward to create an illusion of added height. The bright, white paint of the ceiling and walls, paired with the natural lighting, makes this entire room appear much taller than it actually is.

4. Intricate Coffered Ceilings

Credit: https://www.ccottages.com/  

In this gorgeous room, the design perfectly addresses the low ceiling through the use of wide crown moulding and a layered tray ceiling, by creating lines that lead the eye upward to make the area appear and feel more spacious. Plus, the consistent, light color palette across the ceiling and walls minimizes visual interruption, which also makes the room appear taller.

5. Keep it Minimal

Credit: https://www.haebler.ca/ 

The designer of this kitchen and dining area used recessed lighting within the coffered ceiling to add depth and drama, which visually raises the ceiling without changing the structure at all. Plus, the pure white palette of the ceiling contrasts with the dark flooring to create a vertical stretch that lifts the entire space.

Elevate Your Ceiling with Trim and Moulding from Metrie

Are you excited to get started on transforming your low ceilings? With these tricks up your sleeve, you can easily create the illusion of space that feels just as good as it looks. If you want to use trim and moulding to really make it stand out, you’ve come to the right place!

At Metrie, our selection of trim and moulding might just be the secret ingredient to that professional touch you’re looking for. Don’t let a low ceiling cramp your style – contact us today to learn more about our extensive line of trim and moulding products!