Painting Tips on How to Make a Ceiling Look Higher

Color

• People traditionally paint the ceiling white. White reflects light and makes the room appear brighter. It also makes the ceiling appear higher. If you don't want to paint your ceiling white, stick to pale, bright colors to make the ceiling seem higher. Dark colors tend to make the ceiling seem lower, and work better in large spaces. Used correctly, dark colors on the ceiling can make a large space feel more cozy and intimate.

Finish

• Paint comes in various finishes. Flat paint has a matte appearance, while glossy paint has a shiny surface. Other finishes have different levels of sheen that range between the two extremes. The sheen on glossy paint reflects light, making the room appear brighter and the ceiling look higher. Apartment Therapy suggests that you use either high-gloss or semi-gloss paint if you want to make your ceiling look higher.

Contrast

• The contrast between the ceiling color and the wall color affects how high the ceiling looks. If you paint the wall and the ceiling similar colors, you will blur the boundary between the wall and the ceiling. As a result, the eyes can't easily identify the point where the ceiling starts and ends, and the ceiling appears higher. For best results, paint the ceiling a lighter color than the walls and paint the walls a lighter color than the floor.

Vertical Stripes

• Vertical stripes stretch the length of a surface. Painting vertical stripes on the walls helps make the ceiling appear higher. You may use different colors for the stripes to achieve a dramatic effect. For a subtler look, choose different shades of the same color. Alternatively, use the same color with different finishes. For example, you may use a flat paint and a glossy paint of the same color.