Living with low ceilings

Got low ceilings? Chances are, you’ve got low spirits too. After all, there are few design problems as confounding as how to make a room feel bright, spacious and inviting when ceilings are low and oppressive. So what steps can you take to improve the look and feel of a room with ceilings so low you can touch them?

 

 

ABOVE: Many people often ponder new wall colours and assume the ceiling should stay white; however, it’s a good idea to consider painting the ceiling, especially if they are low.  Painting the ceiling the same colour as the walls makes the delineation between wall and ceiling less noticeable, thus visually tricking the eye into thinking the ceiling is higher.   The room above depicts this concept perfectly.  The blue ceiling matches the walls, thus making the ceiling appear taller than it is.

ABOVE: Choose colours from the cool end of the spectrum in lighter gradients. For example,  blues, greys, lavenders and greens all give the illusion of space. If you have low ceilings and choose a dark colour for the walls, the result will most likely make your space feel more closed in.  Likewise, (if unpainted) the ceiling will stand out dramatically against the wall colour. Thus, stick with the ‘light and airy’ feeling of softer, cool colours. 

ABOVE: One of the best ways to elongate the height of a ceiling is to use paint to create an accent wall to visually trick the eye.  When you look into the space your eye focuses on the accent wall and seemingly forgets about the ceiling.  For this to work, the ceiling must be painted a light colour and must match the walls. 

 

 

BELOW: The angle of the ceiling lowers the height of the room on one side. To create a more balanced look, the central fireplace immediately attracts the eye and draws attention up.

Stay away from decorative ceilings. Sure, elaborate plaster mouldings are beautiful in old palaces with 3 metre high ceilings but in low-ceiling abodes they simply have the tendency to emphasise lowness.

Consider vertical stripes. Vertical stripes, either as a wallpaper or a decorative paint treatment can help draw the eye upward, lengthening the look of a wall. One of the subtlest ways to do this  is a tone-on-tone colour in cream shades.

ABOVE: Install art vertically. Such a display might include a series of drawings that are hung vertically from about midwall to ceiling. Also, choose paintings and photographs with strong vertical lines rather than horizontal ones.

Use uplight to direct light toward the ceiling. Lighting can make dramatic changes in ceiling height. Push the light upward, and ceilings seem higher. Push it downward and everything seems closed-in. Wall sconces can make a ceiling seem higher if they are hung a bit higher than normal. Recessed lights and pendant lamps  make low ceilings feel lower and should be avoided.

Use floor-to-ceiling window treatments. Long curtains that reach from floor to ceiling will emphasise length. So even if you have relatively small windows, hang your curtains from nearly ceiling height, and opt for a pair that reach the floor.

ABOVE: Low, modern pieces work best in rooms with low-ceilings. Opt for simple streamlined furnishings without much pattern or too much detail. Avoid tall furniture pieces such as armoires, standing lamps and high-back chairs, but DO have a few decor accessories that lift the eye up and visually add height.

Go for bold floor rugs. A bold and colourful floor rug will draw attention to the floor and, in combination with light walls and ceilings will create the illusion of more ceiling height.

designer: askmissa - caldwell flake