What Color Should I Paint Ceilings to Make Them Feel Higher?

Paint Color and Sheen

• As long as the paint color on the ceiling is lighter than that on the walls, the ceiling will look higher than it actually is. This is based on the fact that vision is drawn to lighter colors, so the eye naturally looks upward. In general, darker colors make a room seem closed-in, so the best option to make a room look taller and larger is to choose medium color paint for walls and a lighter, complementary shade for the ceiling. Paint with a light sheen such as semi gloss on the walls and ceiling reflects light better than flat paint, which also makes the room look larger. Another trick to make ceilings look higher is to paint the walls that meet the ceiling the same color as the ceiling about 2 or 3 inches down from the wall-ceiling juncture.

Floor Colors and Trims

• Besides lighter color ceilings, a dark floor makes ceilings look higher. Heavy, wide moldings make rooms look smaller, so eliminating them or keeping them thin and simple adds height to the room. Plain ceilings look higher than decorated ones, so avoid murals, decorative moldings and large light fixtures or ceiling fans in low-ceiling rooms.

Window and Floor Treatments

• In addition to paint, you can make ceilings appear higher through installing floor-to-ceiling window treatments. No matter what size your windows are, this decorating technique gives the impression of higher ceilings. Boldly colored rugs with geometric designs make ceilings look taller than they are.

Wall Tricks

• Covering walls with vertically striped wallpaper or painting it in a striped design makes the ceilings appear higher. Keeping the tones light opens up the room and bright stripes can make the space feel confining. When hanging photos and pictures, place them between the center of the wall and the ceiling and select art with vertical rather than horizontal emphasis.

Furniture Choices

• The lower the profile of the furniture in the room, the higher the ceilings will appear. Stick with low-slung, modern styles that sit close to the floor and avoid high tables, high-backed chairs and tall cupboards or cabinets that draw attention to low ceilings. Furniture in solid, subdued colors make ceilings look higher than busy, detailed patterns.