Creating the Illusion of High-Ceilinged Homes

Have you ever walked into a palatial old home and cast your gaze upwards? Chances are you would have seen wonderfully rendered, soaring ceilings, painted murals and stunning chandeliers as part of old, high-ceilinged homes.

Today’s homes are not so fortunate. They often end up with white, featureless ceilings coming in at a uniform 8-feet. This is a grave error on the part of the designer because ceilings have a huge impact on a home’s interior. According to New York architect Dennis Wedlick, we should think of a home as a series of spaces, and “ceilings are what give those spaces shape and definition.”

Luckily for you, if you live in a home with 8-foot ceilings, don’t despair; just as some petite women utilise fashion tricks to make them appear taller, designers have cheats for making your ceiling look higher. Here are some tips to help you make the most of the lofty heights of your home and recreate the dramatic grandeur of Victorian interior design – just make sure that you’ve got a ladder at the ready.

Colour

Colour massively affects the perception of height, with darker tones making a ceiling feel lower, and lighter tones expanding the space by reflecting light. To make your ceiling seem higher, try painting it a lighter colour than the walls, preferably white. Interior designers recommend high-gloss paint in particular, as light glances off it. Some also advocate painting the wall colour up onto the ceiling slightly – just the first two to three inches around the perimeter – to give the illusion of taller walls and thus a higher ceiling.

Crown Moulding and Trim

Avoid painting crown moulding and trim at the top of the walls a different colour, as this will draw attention upwards and highlight the low ceiling height. Instead, paint it the same colour as the walls.

High Art

Hanging artwork a little higher than normal is a great way to create the illusion of height. To really take advantage of optical illusions hang small frames above door openings and windows to trick the eye into thinking the room has higher ceilings.

Tall Floral Arrangements

Set out a tall urn or vase filled with seasonal grasses or blossoming branches. As well as flooding the room with its fragrant aroma, the arrangement will slow down the eye’s movement as it gradually ascends, making the room seem taller.

Avoid Overhead Lights

Avoid fans and overhead lights like the plague, as they draw attention to the ceiling. If you want to hang something, choose a chandelier or pendant and hang it a little higher than you normally would.

Vertical Stripes and Patterns

Take a tip from the fashion world; it is better to use vertical stripes than horizontal stripes, as vertical stripes create the illusion of height. This rule doesn’t only apply to paint and wallpaper, but also to furniture. For example, a four-poster bed with tall, skinny posts will draw the eye upward.

Floor-to-Ceiling Curtains

Window treatments ought to be hung as high as possible. Floor-to-ceiling curtains are recommended, as these elongate a room.

There you have it; seven simple steps to soaring spaces and high-ceilinged homes. Now all you have to do is head to your local DIY store to stock up, whip out a step-ladder and get started. Your ceilings will soon be the envy of interior designers everywhere.