Does your home feel a little stuffy and cramped? Want it to feel spacious? If you can’t exactly raise the roof, then you might want to look into what you can do to make your ceilings seem higher, because doing so will definitely make your home feel more open and spacious. But how exactly do you do that?
1. Raise the Curtain Rods (and the Bar)
This is one of those game-changers that’s so simple you’ll wonder why you didn’t do it sooner. Instead of mounting your curtain rods directly above the window frame, raise them up—like, all the way to the ceiling. Then, hang long curtains that just barely skim the floor. No curtains? You’ll want to buy some drapes and curtain rods online because hanging them will make a huge difference. And pro tip: stick to light, breezy fabrics to keep the look open and airy.
Why does this work? It tricks the eye into thinking your windows (and by extension, your walls) are taller than they actually are.
2. Paint Your Way to the Sky
A really simple way to make your ceilings seem higher and your home seem more open, is to repaint the place. Start by choosing a light and open color, which in itself will make your home seem more spacious. Then, instead of just painting the walls, take the color right up to the ceiling. When the wall and ceiling are painted in the same shade, it does not make the room shrink because your eye carries on right up the wall in a seamless way, that suggests height and space.
Want to be extra fancy? Add vertical stripes to your walls. Just like a pinstripe suit can make someone look taller and slimmer, vertical stripes can elongate your walls and give the illusion of height. Suddenly, your 8-foot ceilings will feel more like 10 feet, and your friends will be asking, “Did you renovate?”
3. Light It Up Right
Good lighting can make or break a room, and when it comes to low ceilings, it’s all about spreading the light evenly. Skip the bulky chandeliers and opt for recessed lighting or sleek flush mounts instead. These types of fixtures hug the ceiling and free up visual space.
Another hack? Add wall sconces or floor lamps that cast light upward. This draws the eye up (see the theme here?) and makes the ceiling feel further away. Bonus: your room will look brighter, which is always a win.
4. Go Big with Mirrors
Mirrors are like the magicians of interior design. They bounce light around, make spaces feel bigger, and give you an excuse to check your hair as you walk by. When dealing with low ceilings, hang a tall mirror or a group of vertical ones. The reflection will give the illusion of extra height, and your room will instantly feel grander.
For maximum impact, position a mirror near a window. It’ll reflect natural light and create a sense of airiness that even the smallest spaces desperately need.
5. Keep Furniture Low (And Chill)
If your furniture is towering over you like a linebacker, it’s not doing your ceilings any favors. Opt for lower-profile pieces, like mid-century modern sofas or sleek platform beds. Keeping your furniture closer to the ground creates more space above it, which makes the ceilings seem higher.
Think of it as creating an Instagram-worthy angle for your room. Just like you wouldn’t take a selfie from below your chin (hello, double chin alert), you want to keep the “visual weight” of your room low and away from the ceiling.
6. Declutter Like a Pro
Clutter doesn’t just make a room feel chaotic—it makes it feel smaller, too. If your walls are covered in knickknacks or your ceiling is hosting a collection of hanging plants, it’s time to declutter.
Focus on a few standout pieces and let them shine. A minimalist aesthetic helps create clean, uninterrupted lines that draw the eye upward. Plus, less stuff means fewer things to dust, and who’s going to argue with that?
7. Crown Molding, but Make It Slim
Crown molding is a classic way to add character to a room, but if your ceilings are already feeling low, you’ll want to tread carefully. Skip the chunky, ornate stuff and go for thin, subtle moldings instead.
The right crown molding can accentuate the transition between the walls and the ceiling without making the space feel boxed in. It’s like the finishing touch on a perfectly tailored outfit—understated but impactful.
8. Ditch the Ceiling Fan (Sorry, Not Sorry)
I get it. Ceiling fans are practical, but they’re also ceiling hogs. If you’re trying to make your ceilings feel taller, it’s time to swap that fan for a sleeker lighting fixture.
If you can’t bear to part with the fan (hello, summer heatwaves), go for a low-profile model that hugs the ceiling. At least that way, you’re not sacrificing style and space.
Here’s to a room that feels more spacious!
