13 Ways to Make Your Room Look Taller
Feeling boxed in with your low ceilings? The following advice will show you how to create the illusion of room height
We are enamoured with height. Countless people travel the globe to stand in awe before towering natural and man-made monuments. Tall interior spaces evoke that visceral reaction as well, whether it’s Grand Central station in New York or the Sistine Chapel in Vatican City.
In our homes, high ceilings lend a sense of grandeur on a smaller scale. But what if your ceilings aren’t that high and you’re starting to feel boxed in? The answer is simple: Cheat a little. You can create the perception of height without making your ceilings any higher. Use these 13 features to create the illusion of higher ceilings and help make a smaller space feel more open.
In our homes, high ceilings lend a sense of grandeur on a smaller scale. But what if your ceilings aren’t that high and you’re starting to feel boxed in? The answer is simple: Cheat a little. You can create the perception of height without making your ceilings any higher. Use these 13 features to create the illusion of higher ceilings and help make a smaller space feel more open.
2. Kitchen cabinets
The best way to make your kitchen ceiling appear higher is by bringing your cabinets all the way up to the ceiling. It doesn’t matter if you can’t access the top shelves on a regular basis; the aesthetic effect is well worth the investment.
The best way to make your kitchen ceiling appear higher is by bringing your cabinets all the way up to the ceiling. It doesn’t matter if you can’t access the top shelves on a regular basis; the aesthetic effect is well worth the investment.
3. Doors and passageways
One of the most effective ways to make your space feel more open and taller is by using full-height doors and taller passageways. Having lower passageways can really make your space feel oppressive.
12 interior doors with a difference
One of the most effective ways to make your space feel more open and taller is by using full-height doors and taller passageways. Having lower passageways can really make your space feel oppressive.
12 interior doors with a difference
4. Curtains
Hang your curtains directly from your ceiling to help to create the illusion of height. And by going with a ripple-fold detail on your curtains, you can emphasise that height even more with the consistent vertical detail.
Cherner side chair: Design Within Reach
Hang your curtains directly from your ceiling to help to create the illusion of height. And by going with a ripple-fold detail on your curtains, you can emphasise that height even more with the consistent vertical detail.
Cherner side chair: Design Within Reach
6. Paint
By painting your walls, skirtings and ceilings the same colour, you blur the lines of where your walls end and where your ceilings begin. If you think your wall colour is too dark for the ceiling, then dilute the wall colour with 50 per cent white and try that on the ceiling instead.
Daybed: Holly Hunt
By painting your walls, skirtings and ceilings the same colour, you blur the lines of where your walls end and where your ceilings begin. If you think your wall colour is too dark for the ceiling, then dilute the wall colour with 50 per cent white and try that on the ceiling instead.
Daybed: Holly Hunt
7. Mirrors
Use full-height mirrors wherever you can to create the illusion of higher ceilings. As every magician knows, mirrors are amazing at creating false appearances.
How mirrors can enhance your space
Use full-height mirrors wherever you can to create the illusion of higher ceilings. As every magician knows, mirrors are amazing at creating false appearances.
How mirrors can enhance your space
9. Chandeliers
When hanging a chandelier on lower ceilings, try to choose a light fixture that you can see through and that isn’t too dense. Hang it at least 90 centimetres above your dining room table to create space between your table and the light fixture, making the ceiling feel farther away.
Eames molded plastic side chairs: YLiving
When hanging a chandelier on lower ceilings, try to choose a light fixture that you can see through and that isn’t too dense. Hang it at least 90 centimetres above your dining room table to create space between your table and the light fixture, making the ceiling feel farther away.
Eames molded plastic side chairs: YLiving
10. Low furniture
By choosing low-profile furniture, you create the impression of higher ceilings. It’s especially important that furniture of the right scale be used for a space with lower ceilings. Low-slung backs on couches and chairs can produce dramatic effects.
Mah Jong seating: Roche Bobois
By choosing low-profile furniture, you create the impression of higher ceilings. It’s especially important that furniture of the right scale be used for a space with lower ceilings. Low-slung backs on couches and chairs can produce dramatic effects.
Mah Jong seating: Roche Bobois
11. Transoms
Transoms above doors and windows add a sense of height and allow more light in as well, which will make your space feel even more spacious.
Transoms above doors and windows add a sense of height and allow more light in as well, which will make your space feel even more spacious.
12. Feature walls
Orient your feature wall vertically. Don’t be afraid to do something daring in a space with a low ceiling. Just ensure that you don’t emphasise that low ceiling in the process.
Wall paint in ‘Texas Leather’: Benjamin Moore
Orient your feature wall vertically. Don’t be afraid to do something daring in a space with a low ceiling. Just ensure that you don’t emphasise that low ceiling in the process.
Wall paint in ‘Texas Leather’: Benjamin Moore
13. Declutter
Avoid cluttering rooms that have a low ceiling. Each item in the room will add to that feeling of being boxed in. Use inventive storage methods and keep your rooms tidy.
TELL US
Do you have low ceilings? How have you created the illusion of height? Let us know your tips and tricks in the Comments.
MORE
High and Mighty: Sophisticated Ceiling Ideas
7 Clever Ways to Create the Illusion of Space in a Small Bedroom
9 Design Tricks to Make Your Small Living Room Feel Larger Than Ever
Avoid cluttering rooms that have a low ceiling. Each item in the room will add to that feeling of being boxed in. Use inventive storage methods and keep your rooms tidy.
TELL US
Do you have low ceilings? How have you created the illusion of height? Let us know your tips and tricks in the Comments.
MORE
High and Mighty: Sophisticated Ceiling Ideas
7 Clever Ways to Create the Illusion of Space in a Small Bedroom
9 Design Tricks to Make Your Small Living Room Feel Larger Than Ever
By using tall, skinny bookshelves that go to the ceiling, you draw the eye upward and create the illusion of height.