How to Give the Illusion of Taller Ceilings

Paint your ceiling a lighter color than your walls. It doesn’t have to be a drastic difference; painting your ceiling the same color as your walls, except a few shades lighter, can make your ceiling seem taller than it really is. Fool the eye by continuing your wall color about a foot into your ceiling before transitioning to the lighter shade, to make your ceiling seem further away. If your prefer to keep your walls and ceiling the same color, paint the bottom trim a darker color than the rest of the wall, to emphasize height. Choose cool colors that seem to recede, like light green, light blue, or violet. Use a semi-gloss or high-gloss paint that reflects the bottom half of the room and gives the illusion of spaciousness.

Choose low, wide furniture, rather than tall, narrow pieces that make the ceiling look low in comparison. Pick simple, elegant furniture without ornate designs and patterns. Simplicity makes the room feel open and spacious, while busy designs can make a room feel cluttered and closed in.

Emphasize your floor with bold colors or patterns. Choose dramatic tiles or ornate rugs to draw attention downward. Directing eyes toward the floor makes the ceiling seem taller than its actual height.

Hang curtains and drapes as close to the ceiling as possible, even if they’re hung above the actual starting point of your windows. Giving the illusion of having floor-to-ceiling windows will call attention to the height of your walls, rather than the lowness of your ceiling.

Avoid direct over head lighting, as illuminating the room from above will make your ceiling seem lower than their actual height. Instead, use low lamps on side tables or clusters of wall sconces spaced appropriately throughout the room. If it is in your budget, install floor lighting to illuminate your walls from below.