How to Solve the Problem of Low Ceilings
Well-chosen paint finishes, lighting, wall mouldings and other details can give your rooms a visual lift
Becky Harris
16 May 2019
Houzz Contributor. Hi there! I live in a 1920s cottage in Atlanta that I'll describe as "collected."
I got into design via Landscape Architecture, which I studied at the University of Virginia. I've been writing about design online for quite a few years over at Hatch: The Design Public Blog.
Houzz Contributor. Hi there! I live in a 1920s cottage in Atlanta that I'll describe... More
Looking at inspiration photos of vaults, trusses and other high-soaring ceiling features can make those of us with low ceilings feel, well, low. But low ceilings should not have the power to keep your home from feeling like your dream house. Check out these seven clever ways designers give ceilings a visual lift.
1. Forgo ceiling mouldings
Jena Bula of USA-based Delphinium Design had only 3.5 square metres to work with in her guest bathroom in North Carolina, USA, so she needed to find ways to make the room feel more expansive. “A good trick to make your ceilings look higher is to skip crown moulding and install tall baseboards,” she says of these high skirting boards.
Find an interior designer in your area on Houzz
Jena Bula of USA-based Delphinium Design had only 3.5 square metres to work with in her guest bathroom in North Carolina, USA, so she needed to find ways to make the room feel more expansive. “A good trick to make your ceilings look higher is to skip crown moulding and install tall baseboards,” she says of these high skirting boards.
Find an interior designer in your area on Houzz
2. Bounce light with a high-gloss paint
While this Florida, USA, apartment has incredible views of Biscayne Bay and a marina, its ceilings were, as the interior designer behind USA-based Lourdes Gabriela Interiors puts it, “oppressively low”. Low-hanging track lights and short louvred doors around the apartment only made them feel lower.
After getting rid of the track lights and short doors, the designer employed a couple of other tricks to make the ceilings feel higher. First, she painted them a glossy white to bounce the light around. Second, she used a flush-mounted chandelier over the dining table. It leaves ample space between its lowest point and the tabletop, and it makes the ceiling seem higher than a low-hanging traditional chandelier would.
While this Florida, USA, apartment has incredible views of Biscayne Bay and a marina, its ceilings were, as the interior designer behind USA-based Lourdes Gabriela Interiors puts it, “oppressively low”. Low-hanging track lights and short louvred doors around the apartment only made them feel lower.
After getting rid of the track lights and short doors, the designer employed a couple of other tricks to make the ceilings feel higher. First, she painted them a glossy white to bounce the light around. Second, she used a flush-mounted chandelier over the dining table. It leaves ample space between its lowest point and the tabletop, and it makes the ceiling seem higher than a low-hanging traditional chandelier would.
3. Extend cabinets and other built-ins to the ceiling
The interior designer also removed a soffit that divided the kitchen ceiling in an awkward way and extended the cabinets to the ceiling. The exaggerated cabinet height makes the ceiling feel higher. She strategically dropped the ceiling and placed soffits where needed to house wiring ductwork.
The interior designer also removed a soffit that divided the kitchen ceiling in an awkward way and extended the cabinets to the ceiling. The exaggerated cabinet height makes the ceiling feel higher. She strategically dropped the ceiling and placed soffits where needed to house wiring ductwork.
4. Go for floor-to-ceiling mouldings and wall treatments
In this Atlanta, USA cottage, designer Carl Mattison installed a wall of gridded panelling to define a small dining space. Seeing so many stacked squares lends the illusion of height. Painting the wall mouldings and adjacent kitchen cabinets the same colour keeps the room from feeling subdivided.
In this Atlanta, USA cottage, designer Carl Mattison installed a wall of gridded panelling to define a small dining space. Seeing so many stacked squares lends the illusion of height. Painting the wall mouldings and adjacent kitchen cabinets the same colour keeps the room from feeling subdivided.
5. Use a toilet with a low tank
You don’t need to go Lilliputian with all your furnishings, but there are times when standard fixtures can draw the eye down. In this low-ceilinged bathroom in Tononto, Canada, the team at nearby Two Birds Design tricked the eye by choosing a toilet with a low tank.
The tall expanse of wall between the top of the tank and the ceiling makes the ceiling seem higher. Using low-slung furniture will have a similar effect in any room.
How Low Can You Go? Living With a Low-Down Minimalist Sofa
You don’t need to go Lilliputian with all your furnishings, but there are times when standard fixtures can draw the eye down. In this low-ceilinged bathroom in Tononto, Canada, the team at nearby Two Birds Design tricked the eye by choosing a toilet with a low tank.
The tall expanse of wall between the top of the tank and the ceiling makes the ceiling seem higher. Using low-slung furniture will have a similar effect in any room.
How Low Can You Go? Living With a Low-Down Minimalist Sofa
6. Emphasise long horizontal planes
In this Michigan, USA kitchen, the designers at MainStreet Design Build installed display shelves that draw the eye to the long horizontal planes and the objects on them.
In this Michigan, USA kitchen, the designers at MainStreet Design Build installed display shelves that draw the eye to the long horizontal planes and the objects on them.
Here’s a wider view of the shelves within the room. The generous amount of white space between the top shelf and the ceiling makes the ceiling seem higher.
Browse more images of modern kitchens on Houzz
Browse more images of modern kitchens on Houzz
7. Go up to the rafters
Dropped ceilings are most commonly removed in basements because they often have the lowest ceilings in the house. This exposes the ceiling joists and beams, as well wires, pipes and ductwork, creating an industrial loft-like look. In this project from USA-based The Cousins, the ceiling’s dark colour helps camouflage those elements.
Read more:
Clever Design Hacks for Low CeilingsHow to Light Up Spaces With Low Ceilings
Your turn
How have you visually heightened your ceilings? Tell us your tricks in the Comments below.
Dropped ceilings are most commonly removed in basements because they often have the lowest ceilings in the house. This exposes the ceiling joists and beams, as well wires, pipes and ductwork, creating an industrial loft-like look. In this project from USA-based The Cousins, the ceiling’s dark colour helps camouflage those elements.
Read more:
Clever Design Hacks for Low CeilingsHow to Light Up Spaces With Low Ceilings
Your turn
How have you visually heightened your ceilings? Tell us your tricks in the Comments below.
What are you working on?
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The glossy ceiling idea is one I haven't tried - looks very effective in #2. I just replaced the (awful) textured pinex tiles with smooth plasterboard and used recessed downlights in my low-celinged unit. And square-stopped the ceiling edges - no scotia. Curtains hung from the tops of walls. Kitchen cabinets do not go to the ceiling - I think that would have drawn the ceiling down (I have one wall of book shelves right to the ceiling in lounge area and it does make the room feel snug and, yes, lower!) Interesting how the eye can be tricked though! I like a mixture of open-feeling space and cosy nooks!
I've got my skirting the same colour as my walls, but not my cornices!