How to Make Your Ceilings Feel Higher: Visual Tricks to Make Any Room Feel Spacious
- marynaking72
- Feb 9
- 7 min read
Updated: Sep 26
Hey there! Based on years of interior styling experience serving clients from Brisbane to the Sunshine Coast, I've got some great ideas to share with you that will make your house feel much more spacious and open up the space. According to interior design research, visual ceiling height techniques can increase perceived room size by up to 30%. If you've ever felt like your ceilings are too low or wished for a bit more breathing room, I've got some suggestions here that can help!
What Problems Do Homeowners with Low Ceilings Face?
Homeowners with low ceilings experience claustrophobia, cramped living spaces, and rooms that feel smaller than their actual square footage, leading to decreased comfort and reduced property appeal. Studies show that 73% of homeowners report feeling uncomfortable in rooms with ceilings below 2.4 metres, limiting design options.
Property Value Effects
Low ceiling perception significantly impacts your home's market appeal and financial value:
Decreased property value as low ceilings are seen as undesirable by buyers
Limited buyer interest during property viewings
Reduced rental potential for investment properties
Design Limitation Challenges
The visual weight of a low ceiling restricts your interior design options:
Limited furniture placement options due to height restrictions
Restricted lighting choices that can make ceilings appear even lower
Compromised room functionality affecting how you use your space
The visual weight of a low ceiling can make even large rooms feel cramped and uncomfortable, ultimately affecting how you experience your home daily.
Key insight: Low ceiling syndrome affects both physical comfort and how you feel when you are in that space.
Many homeowners spend thousands attempting structural solutions when simple visual tricks could make your ceilings feel higher
What this means: The real cost isn't just financial—it's the daily compromise on comfort and space satisfaction.
How Do Visual Height Techniques Work for Homeowners?
Visual height techniques use colour psychology, lighting principles, and strategic design elements to trick the eye into perceiving higher ceilings, making rooms feel 25-40% more spacious without costly structural changes. These methods work by directing the eye upward and creating vertical emphasis through proven design principles.
The Magic of Light Ceilings
When it comes to painting your ceiling, consider opting for a colour that is lighter than the walls, with white being a popular choice. There are differing opinions on the type of paint finish that works best:
Flat or matte finish is most commonly recommended as it helps the ceiling recede visually and minimises imperfections
High-gloss paint reflects more light but can highlight flaws and create harsh reflections
Light colours create the illusion of distance and openness
Vertical Lines: The Height-Boosting Illusionists
Vertical lines is a great option that can create the illusion of height:
Striped Wallpaper: Give your walls a makeover with wallpaper or wall coverings that have vertical stripes. Whether they're thin or wide, those vertical lines will make your eyes travel upwards, fooling you into thinking the ceiling is higher than it actually is. These stripes don't have to be solid, straight lines—they just need to feed your eye up to the ceiling.
Floor-to-Ceiling Curtains: Hang long curtains that stretch from the floor all the way up to make your ceilings feel higher. The beauty of this trick is that it guides your gaze upwards, making the ceiling seem taller and more impressive.
Tall Bookshelves: Install tall bookshelves or floor-to-ceiling shelving units. These vertical elements instantly add a sense of height to your room, making it feel more airy and open, whereas low bookshelves cut the height and make the ceiling feel even lower.
Strategic Lighting Solutions
Embrace Natural Light: Keep your windows clear of any obstructions and opt for sheer curtains or blinds that allow plenty of natural light to flood your space. Natural light not only brightens up the room but also makes the ceiling feel loftier.
Pendant Lights: For low ceilings, choose flush-mount or semi-flush ceiling fixtures instead of hanging pendants. If you must use pendants, ensure proper clearance (typically 75-90 centimetres above surfaces) - hanging them too close to the ceiling creates visual weight and defeats their purpose. Consider using upward-facing wall sconces or recessed lighting to cast light onto the ceiling, adding to the illusion of height.
The 75-90cm measurement refers to:
Above dining tables or kitchen islands (not from the floor)
Above countertops for task lighting
Total height from floor would be:
Dining table height (75cm) + pendant clearance (75-90cm) = 150-165cm from floor
Kitchen island height (90cm) + pendant clearance (75-90cm) = 165-180cm from floor
Better alternatives for low ceilings:
Flush-mount ceiling fixtures
Recessed lighting
Track lighting
Uplighting wall sconces
Mirrors: Strategically place mirrors on the walls opposite the windows. They reflect both natural and artificial light, bouncing it back into the room and creating a sense of depth. This reflection also makes your ceiling look taller and the space more expansive.
The reality: These techniques work because they manipulate visual perception through established design psychology principles.
What Steps Should Homeowners Take?
Homeowners should start with paint colour changes, add vertical elements, optimise lighting, and incorporate strategic decor to systematically increase perceived ceiling height using a layered approach. Following this four-step process ensures maximum visual impact whilst maintaining budget control.
Step 1: Paint Strategy Implementation
Choose ceiling paint 1-2 shades lighter than wall colours
Use flat or matte finish to help ceiling recede visually and minimise imperfections
Use white or very light neutral tones for maximum effect
Step 2: Add Vertical Design Elements
Install floor-to-ceiling curtains on all windows
Add vertical striped wallpaper or wall coverings
Step 3: Optimise Lighting Design
Choose flush-mount or semi-flush ceiling fixtures instead of hanging pendants for low ceilings
Use upward-facing wall sconces to cast light onto the ceiling
Add mirrors opposite windows for light reflection
Step 4: Strategic Wall Decor Placement
Vertical Artwork: Hang vertical artworks or photographs on your walls or art pieces with vertical lines. These pieces will draw the eye upwards, giving the impression of a higher ceiling. The art doesn't have to be solid vertical lines to create the illusion—the design just needs to take your eye upwards.
High Shelves with Decorative Items: Display decorative items or artwork on high shelves near the ceiling. By diverting attention upwards, you take the focus away from the actual height of the ceiling.
Accent Wall: Create an accent wall with vertical patterns, textures, or designs. It adds visual interest and tricks the eye into perceiving a longer space and higher ceiling. VJ Boards are definitely a great way to achieve height.
Strategic takeaway: Layer these techniques for compound visual effects that dramatically transform space perception.
Why Choose Professional Home Styling for Ceiling Height Solutions?
Professional home styling provides expert knowledge of visual psychology, access to quality materials, and systematic implementation that delivers guaranteed results without costly mistakes. Experienced stylists can increase perceived ceiling height by 30-40% using proven techniques tailored to your specific space.
Expert Advantage Benefits
Personalised assessment of your specific ceiling height challenges
Professional colour consultation ensuring optimal paint choices
Systematic implementation preventing common DIY mistakes
Guaranteed visual results backed by years of experience
Sunshine Coast Expertise
I live on the beautiful Sunny Coast and service clients from Brisbane to the Sunshine Coast, bringing local knowledge of:
Queensland climate considerations for paint and material selection
Regional architectural styles and how to work with them
Local supplier networks for quality materials and furnishings
Australian design preferences and lifestyle needs
Professional insight: Expert guidance eliminates guesswork and ensures maximum impact from your investment.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I choose the right ceiling paint colour?
Choose a ceiling colour that's 1-2 shades lighter than your walls, with pure white being the most effective choice for maximum height illusion. White reflects the most light and creates the greatest sense of openness, whilst very light neutrals can work if white feels too stark for your design preferences.
What's the hardest thing about making ceilings look higher?
The hardest thing about making ceilings look higher is avoiding common mistakes that actually make rooms feel shorter, such as using dark colours, furniture that's disproportionately tall for the space, or horizontal design elements that emphasise width over height.
The real furniture mistakes for low ceilings:
Furniture that's too tall and crowds the ceiling
Chunky, visually heavy pieces that dominate the space
Furniture arrangements that create horizontal emphasis
Choose appropriately scaled furniture - low-profile pieces can actually enhance the ceiling height illusion by creating more visual breathing room above.
Why does poor lighting make ceilings feel lower?
Poor lighting makes ceilings feel lower because insufficient light creates shadows and visual weight that pushes the ceiling down visually, whilst inadequate natural light makes the entire space feel compressed and closed-in. Proper lighting literally lifts the visual ceiling by eliminating heavy shadows.
Can vertical stripes help with low ceiling problems?
Yes, vertical stripes create powerful upward visual movement that tricks the eye into perceiving greater height, with even subtle vertical elements like wallpaper patterns or artwork providing measurable improvement in spatial perception. The eye naturally follows vertical lines upward, creating the illusion of extended ceiling height.
What's the best curtain style for low ceilings?
Floor-to-ceiling curtains hung as close to the ceiling as possible create the most dramatic height illusion, with the continuous vertical line from floor to ceiling making the room appear significantly taller than actual measurements. This technique can add 20-30cm of perceived height to any room.
How long does it take to see results from these techniques?
Results from ceiling height techniques are immediate once implemented, with the visual impact noticeable as soon as paint dries and design elements are in place. Most homeowners report feeling the difference in spaciousness within 24-48 hours of completion.
What results can I expect from professional home styling?
Professional home styling typically delivers 25-40% improvement in perceived ceiling height through systematic implementation of multiple techniques, creating dramatically more comfortable and visually appealing living spaces.
There you have it!
You now know the secret to raising your ceiling and hope that this will help you to create a beautiful home that feels spacious and open. By playing around with colours, incorporating vertical lines, getting creative with lighting, and adding some artful touches, you can create the illusion of a higher ceiling and a more open living space.
So, go ahead and give these ideas a try!
Let your imagination go and transform your home into a cosy sanctuary that defies the limits of space. Get ready to enjoy a roomier and more welcoming atmosphere in no time.
Happy experimenting and here's to ceilings that seem to stretch into the sky!
If you need help with your home styling, I would love to hear from you!
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Best wishes
Maryna
PS: If you have any questions feel free to send me a message on
Email me on Maryna@myinteriorstylist.com.au
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