Push it Up: Ways to Visually Lift a Low Ceiling
Are you having trouble rising above your low ceiling problem? Try these illusory design tactics to give it a lift
tidgboutique
11 March 2016
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Does your mood need a little lift when you walk into a space? Well, maybe it’s the ceiling that needs lifting. If you’re working with a basement room, awkward attic or another space with an uncomfortably low ceiling – but can’t pony up to actually raise the roof – there are ways to make it look higher so that the room feels beautifully airy and open. Here’s how.
White and bright
One of the best first steps to visually lifting a low ceiling is to paint it bright white, then add as much light as you can.
It’s important to remember, though, that can lights alone may not help hoist the ceiling. In fact, if the only light in a room is beaming downward, this may leave the floor and furniture brightly lit but the ceiling in shadow. Adding table or floor lamps that shine upward will keep the lighting more even, so that no dark corners develop.
One of the best first steps to visually lifting a low ceiling is to paint it bright white, then add as much light as you can.
It’s important to remember, though, that can lights alone may not help hoist the ceiling. In fact, if the only light in a room is beaming downward, this may leave the floor and furniture brightly lit but the ceiling in shadow. Adding table or floor lamps that shine upward will keep the lighting more even, so that no dark corners develop.
Positioning
Another key strategy for making a room feel taller is to create a floor plan that takes the best advantage of what height there is. Low basement spaces will often have areas with a normal ceiling height, which can be dedicated to circulation space, while the lower areas are used for seating. This way you can stand tall while moving about the room and feel cosy while nestled into a sofa.
Notice how this room places the sofa under the ceiling drop, at a playful diagonal angle no less, to make maximum use of the full-height area.
Living room layouts that work
Another key strategy for making a room feel taller is to create a floor plan that takes the best advantage of what height there is. Low basement spaces will often have areas with a normal ceiling height, which can be dedicated to circulation space, while the lower areas are used for seating. This way you can stand tall while moving about the room and feel cosy while nestled into a sofa.
Notice how this room places the sofa under the ceiling drop, at a playful diagonal angle no less, to make maximum use of the full-height area.
Living room layouts that work
Similarly, this room pushes the seating against the wall under the low area, so the tallest part is open for circulation. It also adds lots of glowing light to distract attention from the ceiling.
To be fair, this isn’t the lowest basement ceiling ever, but with this thoughtful layout and the beautiful wall features, you may not even notice the drop.
To be fair, this isn’t the lowest basement ceiling ever, but with this thoughtful layout and the beautiful wall features, you may not even notice the drop.
Cove lights
Here’s that same space from a different angle, which makes it easier to spot the glowing cove light washing the wall and art. Tucking a light source where it won’t be seen (behind a bulkhead or even behind furniture) creates an ethereal glow that tricks the eye into believing sunlight is pouring in from somewhere, which fights off claustrophobia.
Here’s that same space from a different angle, which makes it easier to spot the glowing cove light washing the wall and art. Tucking a light source where it won’t be seen (behind a bulkhead or even behind furniture) creates an ethereal glow that tricks the eye into believing sunlight is pouring in from somewhere, which fights off claustrophobia.
Bold furniture
Another way to distract the eye from a low or broken-up ceiling is to use bold furniture pieces that draw the attention. This weighty blue sofa is likely the first thing you notice when you enter the room, and the colourful rug, chair and gleaming side table keep the focus on the ground. Adding this weight draws the eye down, effectively making the ceiling feel higher.
Another way to distract the eye from a low or broken-up ceiling is to use bold furniture pieces that draw the attention. This weighty blue sofa is likely the first thing you notice when you enter the room, and the colourful rug, chair and gleaming side table keep the focus on the ground. Adding this weight draws the eye down, effectively making the ceiling feel higher.
Low furniture
If you enjoy lounging on the weekends, using low furniture to create a hip casual seating space will also help keep the ceiling feeling high above your head. This sofa with extra pillows (and the trio of pouffes) is made for piling onto to watch a movie, or for teens to hang out on with friends. Add a big plush rug, and the whole space will beckon you to lie down and forget your worries.
If you enjoy lounging on the weekends, using low furniture to create a hip casual seating space will also help keep the ceiling feeling high above your head. This sofa with extra pillows (and the trio of pouffes) is made for piling onto to watch a movie, or for teens to hang out on with friends. Add a big plush rug, and the whole space will beckon you to lie down and forget your worries.
Exposure
Another common strategy for stealing an extra few centimetres or so of space is to remove a dropped ceiling (commonly used to hide messy construction components), and then paint the ceiling and any beams or pipes white. This look works especially well when you play into it with a quirky or eclectic style, such as the use of recovered planks here to dress an accent wall.
Expose your home’s inner workings
Another common strategy for stealing an extra few centimetres or so of space is to remove a dropped ceiling (commonly used to hide messy construction components), and then paint the ceiling and any beams or pipes white. This look works especially well when you play into it with a quirky or eclectic style, such as the use of recovered planks here to dress an accent wall.
Expose your home’s inner workings
Exposed beams can help distract the eye from where the true ceiling begins, making the newly lifted ceiling plane seem even higher. In a home office (which typically means a lot of sitting), you probably won’t notice where the overhead space ends.
For those who don’t like painting all their wood: exposed beams needn’t be strictly white for this effect to work. Wood or colourful beams will also visually advance, helping the panels of ceiling between them recede, so the effect is cosy but not cramped.
Less is more
Filling a low-ceilinged room with minimal furniture helps make the space feel large compared with its singular function. In other words, when the room contains just a bed or just a sofa, it feels like a luxuriously large nook instead of a cramped room.
Notice how this bedroom skips weighty nightstands and a chest at the end of the bed in favour of keeping the storage elsewhere. Now the space can be all about diving into that plush mattress.
How to pull off a minimalist look
Filling a low-ceilinged room with minimal furniture helps make the space feel large compared with its singular function. In other words, when the room contains just a bed or just a sofa, it feels like a luxuriously large nook instead of a cramped room.
Notice how this bedroom skips weighty nightstands and a chest at the end of the bed in favour of keeping the storage elsewhere. Now the space can be all about diving into that plush mattress.
How to pull off a minimalist look
Here’s another example: this game room feels absolutely decadent because so much floor space is dedicated to just one piece of furniture. It could include a sofa, chairs, TV and so forth to be more versatile, but choosing just one function and sticking to it keeps the slanting ceiling from being an obstacle.
More is more
Finally, sometimes the best way to handle a low ceiling is to refuse to give in. This basement uses striking colours, bold accents and plenty of furniture, and it highlights the ceiling with a wood treatment. However, amid the personality and fun, you don’t even notice that the ceiling is a little low. If you love a bold look, don’t let a simple low ceiling take you down without a fight.
Finally, sometimes the best way to handle a low ceiling is to refuse to give in. This basement uses striking colours, bold accents and plenty of furniture, and it highlights the ceiling with a wood treatment. However, amid the personality and fun, you don’t even notice that the ceiling is a little low. If you love a bold look, don’t let a simple low ceiling take you down without a fight.
This bedroom makes no effort to battle the low ceiling and celebrates its cosiness instead. The wraparound wood and touch-me textural accents, such as the sheepskin rug, make the room all about coddling you like a cabin in a winter retreat. As they say, when you can’t beat ’em, join ’em. Just do it in style.
TELL US
How have you worked with a low ceiling in your home? Share your experiences and tips in the Comments section.
MORE
14 Ceiling Treatments That Will Make You Want to Look Up
Black Ceiling: 11 Reasons Why You Should Give It a Go
High and Mighty: Sophisticated Ceiling Ideas
TELL US
How have you worked with a low ceiling in your home? Share your experiences and tips in the Comments section.
MORE
14 Ceiling Treatments That Will Make You Want to Look Up
Black Ceiling: 11 Reasons Why You Should Give It a Go
High and Mighty: Sophisticated Ceiling Ideas
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Wish I had found the story earlier in the year. I have to repaint the ceiling in 2 bedrooms due to roof leaks, not patched. The ceilings height on our main floor is 7'6" and in the basement is 7'7" after the previous owner installed hung acoutical panels.
The walls in the bedrooms are not all the same color and the trim thoughout the house is white. Painting the ceiling the same color as the walls won't work without repainting and redcorating the entire room, which I won't be doing. It is not a large room, 9'x11'. The room is being transitioned from my office to a bedroom for a toddler whom we now care for 4 days a week.
The ceilings are not perfectly flat in this older home and we can't afford to replace them.
Would semigloss paint work to make the ceilings less claustrophobic?
In this room, could I use a lighter shade of the blue?
Should I remove the builder grade narrow crown molding?
Another idea to make place unique with low ceilings.
Combination of High gloss stretched ceiling with drywall. High Gloss enlarge space by reflection of the light. USCeilings.com
I would like to revive this story to get more commenters suggestions and experience. It is time to repaint our living room and adjoing dining/fireplace room. Ceiling height is 7'6". The entire space is 11'x28'.
Here is an old photo:
here is a current photo:
Can't do much about the "old man" pile on the table next to his chair nor the pillows arranged by our 6yr old granddaughter. This is our life.