Use white – and more white. Naturally, white will do the trick very successfully – and there's something serene and beautiful about white walls and ceiling. One continuous shade will blur boundaries and create the illusion of height.
Paint your ceiling a color lighter than the walls, preferably white. Some believe high-gloss paint is best because it reflects light and makes the ceiling look somehow less fixed and static, while others say a matte finish will help the ceiling to blend in more.
In order to give low ceilings some height, we advise painting them in light shades. Radiant white, soft cream or delicate pastel hues are best suited for low ceilings, as they open up the room visually, reflect the light better, and make the ceiling appear further away.
The bigger the expanse of a paler color on your walls the better in a low ceilinged room, but using a darker color on the bottom half of a wall – up to the dado rail height, including the skirting board and dado too – can help the ceiling feel taller.
' It's why color-drenched rooms feel modern and fresh - there's a minimalism to them that gives even spaces with traditional features a contemporary feel. Painting the ceiling the same color as the walls can also help a small room look larger, especially in rooms that have low ceilings.
Avoid overhead lighting or ceiling fans. Anything that hangs from the ceiling will not only draw attention to it but also make it feel lower. Opt for wall-mounted lighting instead and consider sconces that provide uplighting: the light will shine up onto your ceiling, creating the illusion of height.
Generally, small rooms or rooms with low ceilings look more open and broader with light, natural beige-colored hardwood and ceiling, such as white oak or gray cedar.
Broker Sheila Trichter's go-to ceiling shade is Super White OC-152 by Benjamin Moore because it doesn't clash with other paint colors. “As the name indicates, it is really white and will contrast nicely with any other white or color that you may use on your walls,” she says.
Joanna Gaines, former HGTV fixer-upper star, is well-known for using white paint for kitchen cabinets, walls, ceilings, and furniture to create a bright and inviting feel in homes. Her go-to paint colors have almost become a trademark of her style, with white as one of her favorite colors.
How to Choose Ceiling Paint Colors. As a general rule, ceilings that are lighter in tone than the walls feel higher, while darker colors will make the ceiling feel lower. That doesn't necessarily mean the room will feel claustrophobic, however. Visually lowered ceilings can evoke a cozy, intimate feeling.
Adding height to a room
Dark walls paired with a light floor and ceiling give the illusion of a taller room. There's no need to paint your walls black: just apply a bolder shade to a section of your room to illuminate and highlight the light shade above your head.
If your average-height ceilings aren't capturing the ambiance of the elegant cathedral ceilings you desire, a dark floor—whether hardwood, tile, or carpet—can make a light-colored ceiling seem even higher.
Add reflective surfaces
Yes, you know that mirrors make a space appear larger. (“It's like doubling a room,” Curtis says.) But other reflective surfaces — high-gloss painted ceilings, lacquered furniture, shiny tile on a kitchen backsplash — have a similar effect, casting light and creating the illusion of volume.
' Dark paint for a high ceiling is a great way to make a bigger room feel more intimate. 'Along with dark accessories, a dark-hued ceiling can create the illusion of a closed ceiling, offering a cozy, warm, and inviting feel to any space,' says Chelsea Clark, head of brand at Lust Home.
Myth #1: My ceilings are too low for crown moldings.
In fact, using moldings that project further than the wall can provide an optical illusion that makes ceilings appear taller than they actually are. For rooms that are vertically challenged, use crown moldings to give modest spaces a sense of elegance.
Low ceilings in your home isn't necessarily a bad thing. Before modern times, 8 feet was typically regarded as the standard height for ceilings. Today, however, not uncommonly, most ceilings are 9 or even 10 feet in height.
Using white or cream-colored fabric helps to create the illusion of a bigger space and higher ceiling. Go with lightweight materials, like gauze or chiffon, so the room feels open and airy. Ceiling drapery makes a dramatic statement so keep the rest of your décor minimal.
For any room, all-white or off-white paint color is always a fresh and clean choice. Conversely, vibrant wall colors are beautifully set off by white ceilings. A white ceiling makes smaller spaces feel larger. For seamless color flow, select a white for your ceiling that shares a similar undertone as the wall color.
Although a flat finish is most popular, more ceiling paint finishes are available: Eggshell finish: After flat, eggshell finish is the next most popular ceiling paint finish. Eggshell paints offer a low sheen while still absorbing most light and hiding ceiling imperfections.
Gray can make a room look bigger. A light gray can be a great pick in place of white; it will reflect natural light, but it looks less architectural and cool than white, which you might prefer.