I’ve lived in properties with commonplace peak ceilings my whole life. In truth, that is the primary home we’ve had the privilege of designing taller ceilings in sure areas. In fact, as an inside designer- I’ve been tackling the phantasm of constructing ceilings appear taller than they really are for over a decade. As we speak, I’m sharing my tips of the commerce! Ceiling peak performs an enormous function in how ethereal and open a room feels, however right here’s the excellent news… you don’t have to tear down partitions to make a huge impact. With just a few intelligent styling tips, you’ll be able to visually stretch your partitions and make any room really feel taller and lighter. These are my go-to designer-approved methods I exploit in my own residence after I need a house to really feel extra open and elevated (with out altering something structurally). When you’ve been dreaming of elevated ceilings, I’m spilling 12 designer tricks to make your ceiling look taller!
I pulled numerous visuals and examples for this submit from our basement… for reference, the ceiling peak down there’s 7 ½ ft tall (commonplace peak is 8 ft, FYI). If I could make these ceilings really feel taller, something is feasible! These are all simple design tips that really work.
1. Embrace Vertical Strains
Lean into something that attracts the attention upward… vertical painted stripes, striped wallpaper, tongue and groove, or shiplap wall remedies will all make your ceilings seem taller than they really are, when put in in a vertical course. Hanging tall vertical art work, mirrors, or tapestries additionally create an elongating effect- with minimal effort!
2. Set up Crown Moulding
A giant false impression I hear is crown moulding doesn’t work properly with commonplace peak ceilings. Unsuitable! You simply must hold some fundamental millwork proportions in thoughts to make the ceiling peak work to your benefit. For normal 8-foot ceilings, I go for crown moulding round 4 ½ – 6 inches tall. I’d additionally suggest portray your baseboards and crown moulding the identical shade as your wall (like my basement bed room, pictured above), for an elongated look. Take a look at this submit for my steerage on methods to choose millwork profiles and trim.
3. Dangle Your Material Excessive
When you’re making an attempt to make your ceiling look taller, you’ll need to body your home windows with material panels. Easy roman or woven shades are nice, however they’re not doing you any favors relating to elongating your wall. Layer them alongside curtains. When put in accurately, curtains make your ceilings look taller. Dangle your material panels excessive and wide- a pair inches below the crown moulding or ceiling. Having two vertical parts framing your window actually tips your eye into considering the ceiling is taller than it truly is. When you want visuals or assist selecting window remedies… begin right here:
4. Rethink Your Lighting
Opposite to what you would possibly anticipate, flush mount fixtures are NOT the best choice for low ceilings- if you happen to’re making an attempt to make them look taller. Lights which can be fitted on to your ceiling really make it really feel decrease than it’s by spotlighting and drawing consideration to the ceiling itself.
As an alternative- go for hanging lights… like appropriately scaled pendants or semi flush mount fixtures. These are a greater choice for the ceiling, as they solid gentle outward and depart slightly damaging house between the ceiling and the fixture, making it really feel taller. Simply be sure to’re conscious of proportion, and you’re ground planning- positioning furnishings beneath the fixture to keep away from head bumps strolling beneath it.
You too can depend on sconces and lamps to light up your room for a layered look that retains your ceiling trying its tallest.
5. Put Shade on the Ceiling
Extending your wall shade to the ceiling- and even selecting an impartial paint shade for the ceiling will make it really feel taller. Many individuals had been shocked after I painted our ceiling black, but it surely helped make it disappear, eluding to extra space. Alternatively, I might have painted the partitions that very same shade to additional the impact for a monochromatic, limitless, shade drenched aesthetic.
6. Take Your Supplies to the Ceiling
Irrespective of your wall remedy, take all of it the best way to the ceiling for a linked look.
Whether or not it’s tile, cabinetry, or tongue and grooving paneling, don’t cease in need of the ceiling. Lengthen all of it the best way to the ceiling or crown moulding to make your ceilings look their tallest. When you cease quick, you’re creating horizontal traces that compartmentalize your wall, making it look segmented, shorter, and squatted.
7. Lengthen Trim and Moulding Upward
Use massive wall panels to border your wall, extending your eye upward. Vertical, rectangular panels work finest for this. You may both set up panel moulding- or use outsized art work or upholstered panels to realize this identical look, like I did in our basement media room. If you wish to do the identical, bookmark methods to upholster velvet acoustic panels. Skip the chair rail or any horizontal traces, so that you’re not breaking apart your wall. The objective is to create vertical traces.
8. Use Shade Blocking
When you’d desire to not contact a miter noticed and lean into millwork, flip to color as a substitute. It’s an awesome, budget-friendly method to create traces and shade fields, elongating your wall peak. Take a look at my shade blocking idea for the visitor room… the place I additionally made our ceilings look taller than they really are. It’s a simple trick to double up the look of trim for higher proportions- with out renovating.
9. Set up Ground to Ceiling Constructed-Ins
Customized built-ins are positively an funding (even if you happen to take the DIY route), however they all the time repay visually. Ground-to-ceiling shelving, cabinetry, or bookcases add vertical peak whereas maximizing storage. Be sure to join them to the ceiling, wrapping them in trim for a tailor-made look. Paint them the identical monochromatic shade as your trim and wall for a seamless aesthetic that may make your ceiling peak soar.
10. Select Decrease Profile Furnishings
In rooms with a under common ceiling peak, you would possibly need to think about curating decrease profile furnishings. The identical goes for styling. For instance, fashion your TV decrease (above a shorter sideboard moderately than above a taller fire) to maintain your point of interest balanced with the low ceiling peak.
11. Go Monochromatic
Utilizing one steady shade of paint- or shade drenching, because it’s now known as… is an effective way to stop the attention from wandering round segmented partitions, separated by shade. By minimizing distractions (like contrasting millwork or architectural options), the house instantly feels taller and extra cohesive. I’d even suggest portray the door the identical shade!
12. Strategically Set up Paintings
Granted, the ceiling in our entryway reveal didn’t have to look taller, however I did need to draw your eye up the staircase in the same method. This meant strategically hanging our art work. Create vertical groupings or gallery partitions that deliberately lead your eye upward in a vertical column. Take a look at this submit on methods to simply structure and set up a gallery wall! You too can lean a tall ground mirror towards the wall for the same impact. It’s all about creating these vertical traces.
FAQ
Will portray the ceiling the identical shade because the partitions make it really feel increased?
Completely! A monochromatic palette blurs boundaries and makes ceilings really feel like a pure extension of the partitions.
How do you are feeling about portray the ceiling with a shiny end?
Meh… this reply goes to ruffle some feathers, however I feel it’s a troublesome look to nail. It could actually mirror the sunshine and add drama, however I don’t suppose it would visually enhance your ceiling peak. Matte is a a lot better choice if that’s your objective! You’ll want to save my designer information for selecting the very best paint sheen or end.
How excessive ought to I dangle curtains to make my ceiling look taller?
As near the ceiling or crown moulding as doable… by no means simply above the window body.
Associated Posts
In search of extra inside design ideas? I’m going to hyperlink some reader favorites for you under… I hope these are useful!
I’ve used each considered one of these tips in my own residence over the years- particularly in areas the place the structure wasn’t doing me any favors. With considerate styling, you need to by no means have to demo your ceiling for added visible height- you simply must information the attention. Whether or not you’re leaning into vertical traces, rethinking your lighting, or just elevating your curtain rods, these refined adjustments create a giant visible payoff. Right here’s to rooms that really feel vivid, ethereal, and fairly actually elevated. I’m completely happy to reply questions within the remark part under!
