We're not altogether sure why a lot of houses and condominium units have such low ceilings in the Philippines. Whether this was the norm to suit 'Asian' sizes or if it was simply to save on costs, low ceilings make living spaces look smaller than they really are, and cramped at that. Here are 6 tricks of the eye to make ceilings look higher, giving your space an airer, spacious feeling.
The color selection plays a large role in rooms with low ceilings. Stick to light colors like white, creams, and pastels that would allow more light into the room and opening up the room visually. While dark tones can make for a dramatic accent wall, t would add to making the room look and feel cramped, despite the bright ceiling. Another thing to look at is the wall's molding and trim, which has the appearance of protruding down from the ceiling. When a ceiling is low to begin with, this doesn't help, so we suggest to paint the molding the same color as the ceiling, giving the allusion of additional height.
Anything that sticks out from an already low ceiling, such as ceiling lights, will make the entire ceiling look even lower and the room even smaller. To keep the lights from being intrusive, install recessed lights that take up space within the ceiling itself. If that isn't possible, use flush-mounted lighting to keep the look clean instead, which still creates the appearance of more headroom.
When the horizontal lines of your seating furniture are lower than average, it tricks the eye into thinking the rest of the room is taller than it actually is. Stay away from bulky furniture as well as dark ones which draw in light instead of reflecting it. It's also important to be careful that you don't overstretch
the room with furniture, as every additional piece of furniture would make the space feel narrower and narrower. An upside to having low furniture is that it maximizes any great window views as well, because furniture isn’t blocking the glass.
One of the most popular tips from the world of fashion can also be applied in the interior design: vertical stripes stretch optically and conjure a slim silhouette. Have fun with this design hack and play around with the vertical lines, much like the pastel pink ones designed by 5QM Tapeten-Herczeg & Sassmannshausen. If not stripes, search out bolder patterns like wallpaper that leads the eye up.
When we see curtains, our eyes automatically equate their size and position with the window itself. By hanging your window treatments just below the ceiling (which might be a foot or two higher than where the top of the window is), you draw the eye upward and fool the brain into thinking the window is bigger than it actually is.
Whether in a floor-to-ceiling bookcase or as framed items on the wall, choosing to create some sort of visual display with vertical lines will help your room feel taller, as it draws the eye upward.