Low Basement Ceilings

7 years ago

Help! We are trying to sell our home and literally the ONLY thing buyers say keeps them from buying is our low ceiling height (they’re about 7’ drop ceilings and no can’t remove and paint the stuff above because it’s ugly as all heck).
How can we make it look higher??? Should we just remove all the furniture?

Featured Answer

Bri Bosh

7 years ago

Drywall would help the appearance but at this point I would just lower the price. 7’ is pretty low. That square footage needs to be deeply discounted down there. Removing furniture won’t trick the buyers.

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Comments (7)

PRO
HALLETT & Co.
7 years ago
The 2’x4’ ceiling tiles plus the matching fluorescent lights scream grammar school. Switching out the grid for 2’x2’ (adding in 2’ sections to make squares) and replacing the lights with recessed cans would make it less institutional.
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PRO
Patricia Colwell Consulting
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
I agree the lighting needs to be doneThe ceilings in these rooms were the same and it was funny no one even mentioned the ceiling height but we did do drywall ceilings and pot lights in fact the media room did not have a window . I think the decor had something to do with that

Those cabinets hung on the wall draw attention for sure . Maybe some nice furnishings insted of the office stuff would make a difference.
PRO
GN Builders L.L.C
7 years ago
It is what it is... Don't worry about it... an interested buyer will come along and the ceilings will be fine. It's a beautiful basement and most people wish to have something like this with the ceiling height at 7'.
Nancy R z5 Chicagoland
6 years ago
The contrast between the gray walls and the lighter ceiling and flooring is creating a strong horizontal contrast that makes the ceiling look even lower than it is. I would repaint the walls a lighter color similar to the floor and also add more lighting as others have mentioned.
PRO
myricarchitect
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
Exposed & painted joists & utilities is a fun look that helps ceiling height perception BUT a very difficult messy project, a lot of work to “tidy up” the wires, pipes, valves & ductwork into something presentable before spray painting it all. I wouldn’t go through all that in a house you intend to sell.

Maybe the realtor can suggest this to potential buyers as a possible remedy they can do themselves and show them examples of other 7’ basement ceilings that have exposed joists.

Pop out a couple of the drop ceiling panels in a good spot (somewhere without tangles of wires visible) and take a pic & measure the difference in height; paint a sample area of joists white, the realtor can show buyers that sample area and see if that might be an acceptable compromise.
PRO
K Interior Design Group
6 years ago
I had a project where the house had 8 foot ceilings and the client wanted higher ceilings, but didn't want the roof off. So, I came up with a way to go up and in between the trusses and did recessed cans.

Maybe it's something you can look into, see if there are areas you can go up, and yes DEFINITELY change the lighting. If you could do drywall, instead of the grid, it would completely change..