If you have a basement with a low ceiling, you may need some basement ceiling ideas to make it look higher. Some basement design has a standard high of a ceiling but it also feels a bit low for some people.
Well, in this article we’ll solve your problem by providing you with some ceiling ideas to get your basement look higher and more comfortable. There are a lot of ways to begin the renovating your basement to get the ceiling higher.
Apparently, you don’t have to renovate or rebuild the basement ceiling. You can just do things to make it look higher without even have to rebuild the whole basement. These are some useful tips you can rely on in order to design an ideal and comfortable basement.
Architectural Tips to Make Low Ceiling Look Higher
A basement with a high ceiling is highly recommended because when the ceiling is high, that means space would be more airy and comfortable. If you already have a basement with a ceiling’s height inherently low, some architectural tips in this article can be the useful solution.
1. Uncover The Ceiling’s Architectural Skeleton
1. Uncover The Ceiling’s Architectural Skeleton
Take a look at this basement kitchen, it’s designed especially for a fan of the industrial style. If you are a fan, you would fall in love with the ductwork and exposed pipes. But, this basement’s industrial vibe is different.
Things to note:
- It’s got the “raw” ceiling style.
- The wood arrangement of the uncover ceiling makes extra space for air.
- Applying white color to the wall, cabinet, and kitchen island enhance the ceiling design.
- The flooring color matches to the ceiling to balance the atmosphere.
2. Use Recessed (Canned) Lighting
2. Use Recessed (Canned) Lighting
If you are not comfortable to uncover your basement ceiling, you might wanna have this simple tips. Using recessed (canned) lighting would be so helpful for you who already stick out with low ceiling basement.
Things to note:
- Try installing recessed or canned lights for your basement ceiling lightings. It would take up space within the ceiling.
- The other type of lights won’t be supporting to your low ceiling. It will make the ceiling even feel lower and the room feel smaller.
3. Remove Crown Molding
3. Remove crown molding (or keep it very thin)
It’s a room upstairs, but you can take the design as an inspiration for your basement.
Quote: “The key to having the room a bit spacious and ceiling a bit higher in proportion.”
Things to note:
- Some classic or vintage style house has crown molding installed up to the ceiling, well you may need to remove it all.
- Crown molding for a basement will only get your room looks smaller and narrower.
- If you still need crown molding to keep the classic charm, you may need to make it a little bit thinner.
Painting Tips to Make Ceiling Look Higher
Instead of architectural tips, there are some other strategies you might wanna try to apply in your basement. Painting tips could be the best basement ceiling ideas for you. You can choose the right color to have for your wall or ceiling for your basement. Of course, the goal is to make the basement ceiling higher.
4. Paint The Ceiling White
4. Paint The Ceiling White
This is like the basic choice to have for your ceiling in every room including the basement. In a room interior design or decor, white is a color that lifts and lightens. So, it’s gonna be an easy choice for you.
Things to note:
- White color for ceiling would be the right and common choice.
- Visually, your ceiling height would be raised because of the white paint.
- Pure white is not the only best choice for the ceiling, there are some other hues of white.
5. Paint The Ceiling Downs on to The Wall
5. Paint The Ceiling Downs on to The Wall
In the picture, you’ll see that there’s a boundary between the ceiling and the walls. You may have to get away from that. I mean, you should paint the wall with a similar, close, or even the exact same color with the ceiling.
Things to note:
- The same color wall would be supportive to the ceiling.
- The feeling of having a higher ceiling would appear because there are no boundaries that separate between wall and ceiling.
- Even though the impact is not significant, painting can definitely change the feeling.
6. Use a High-Gloss Finish for The Ceiling
6. Use a High-Gloss Finish for The Low Basement Ceiling Ideas
Fill the ceiling with a glossy paint color. It’s quite an extreme choice for heightening the ceiling. Making use of the light’s reflection with a glossy ceiling is a clever choice you can try. It does make the room looks wider.
Things to note:
- The glossy painting would give a mirror effect that can reflect every light in front of the object. So, that’s the idea to the glossy ceiling.
- Make sure the glossy paint is the one that has a mirror-type glossiness.
7. Use a Matte Finish on The Ceiling
7. Use a Matte Finish on The Ceiling
One option of basement ceiling ideas you could choose to make your ceiling look higher, you can at least make it “disappear”.
Quote: “The key is to get the space below the ceiling more impressive and attractive than the ceiling.”Things to note:
- Choose an obvious bold color to strengthen the wall of the room. In the photo, you could see that it’s using a matte finish.
- For the ceiling, let it be in a basic color of white. Some recessed lights or other simple lightings that couldn’t steal attention.
8. Paint Vertical Stripes on The Walls
8. Paint Vertical Stripes on The Walls
Vertical stripes on the wall is a smart choice to add to your basement. It’s not just bringing excitement and fun into the room, it also makes the room’s ceiling feel higher.
Things to note:
- With that kind of stripes on your wall, the basement space would feel bigger and the ceiling taller.
- The key is to get as much contrast as possible between the stripes. If you have more contrast, there will be a more dramatic effect.
Decorating Tips to Make Ceiling Look Higher
The next tips category you can apply in your basement to make the ceiling look higher is through decoration. With these decorating tips, I assure you that you can turn your old basement space into a larger, taller, and bigger space. Space will be a lot more comfortable than before.
9. Choose Low Furniture
9. Choose Low Furniture
Making a basement ceiling looks taller using decoration seems like an impossible job. Well, it depends on the design planning. The first tips you need to do is to choose the low furniture design.
Things to note:
- If you have the furniture which is lower than the average, it draws an invisible horizontal line. That kind of line would trick your eye that the rest of the room looks taller than it really is.
- Because of the low furniture design, the windows would have a full view without anything blocking it. So, maximize it.
10. Display Items Vertically
10. Display Items Vertically
Another decorating idea that can trick the eye is to display many items on the wall vertically. You can choose the framed items like the photo, or just a floor-to-ceiling bookshelf to cover your wall in order to get the vertical lines.
Things to note:
- The color of the background needs to be contrasted with the items.
- Filling the whole wall would actually help draw the eye upward following the vertical line you build
- The vertical line would be very supportive to get the ceiling to feel taller.
11. Raise The Hanging of Window Treatments
11. Raise The Hanging of Window Treatments
Curtains or other window treatments are one important element to decide the height of a room. It can also be applied to your basement ceiling ideas.
Things to note:
- Simply hang the curtain just below the ceiling or two feet higher than the window’s top.
- This treatment would draw the eye upward to make the ceiling feels higher than it actually is.
- For you who are not using a curtain, this tips applies to any other window treatments.
12. Opt Out of Window Treatments
12. Opt Out of Window Treatments
Unlike the previous tips, this tips precisely let the windows without any kind of treatments. It lets the window let as much natural light as possible into the room to get the whole room feel bigger and brighter.
Things to note:
- Without curtains or drapes, the window will offer more light and more feeling of spaciousness.
- It should be supported by the right color paint.
- Also, the position and the size of the window is the key to make this tips successful.
13. Use Mirrors
13. Use Mirrors for Higher Basement Ceiling Ideas
Basement can be a great fitness center you can have privately in your house. Do you need to make it as comfortable as possible right? Well, getting the ceiling higher is one way to make it comfortable.
Things to note:
- Mirrors are supportive to make the higher ceiling feel.
- The fitness room is a possible place to install many mirrors.
- You can have other items that reflect lights instead of a mirror.
- Glossy painting and glasses wall could be a good alternative option.
Other Basement Ceiling Ideas
24 Ways to Make a Low Basement Ceiling Ideas Look Like Higher
Beside architectural, painting, and decorating tips, there are some uncategorized tips you can apply as your basement ceiling ideas to make your ceiling look higher.
Something like wooden pallet ceiling, ceiling with festive lighting, or uncover ceiling, could also be a good choice too.
14. Paint The Ceiling Darker than The Rest
14. Paint The Ceiling Darker than The Rest
15. Add Wood Accent to The Ceiling
15. Add Wood Accent to The Ceiling
Adding a wood accent to the ceiling is a risky move for a designer because it makes the ceiling become the center of attention. But, the designer balance the ceiling wood texture with the shiplap design of the wall.
Things to note:
- It’s perfect for your vintage basement.
- The white color in this basement decides the amount of charm that the ceiling spread.
- Make sure you choose the right color and texture of the wood for your ceiling.
16. Modern Gypsum Ceiling for Basement
16. Modern Gypsum Ceiling for Best Basement Ceiling Ideas
17. Expose The Ceiling with Lights
17. Expose The Ceiling with Lights
One of the easiest ways to get your basement ceiling look higher is to expose the ceiling. Maybe, the exposed ceiling is not enough, lights the exposed area, let space express its charm. This kitchen basement looks more interesting than before.
Things to note:
- If you want to expose your ceiling, make sure that you have a neat structure inside the ceiling.
- It should be treated just like the ceiling.
- Lighting is the most crucial item in this tips.
18. Elegant Ceiling Wood Plank Structure
18. Elegant Ceiling Wood Plank Structure
19. Using Wood Pallets to Cover Exposed Ceiling
19. Using Wood Pallets to Cover Exposed Ceiling
Adding wood pallets is a great way to deal with your basement ceiling. It can be a good way to make your basement ceiling looks higher. It’s vertical or horizontal eye would give a supportive appearance to make the room feel larger and taller.
Things to note:
- There are some different ways to use wood pallets as your ceiling.
- The style of rustic or farmhouse should be in your basement.
- It can cover your exposed ceiling in an exciting way.
20. Finish with Industrial Exposed Ceiling
20. Finish with Industrial Exposed Ceiling
21. Add String Lights to Basement Ceiling
21. Add String Lights to Basement Ceiling
If your basement is still unfinished, you might not be happy to see your exposed basement ceiling. Well, you can’t just leave it that way and apply some endearing lighting ideas to make the ceiling beautiful and looks higher.
Things to note:
- String lights are the key to make this boring basement looks fun
- It helps lighten the room. This is a nice extra lighting for the dark basement.
- It literally makes the room’s ceiling higher. Probably, it’s just because of the empty space.
22. Unfinished Basement Ceiling
22. Unfinished Basement Ceiling Ideas
23. Let The Ceiling Shows its Industrial Vibe
23. Let The Ceiling Shows its Industrial Vibe
If you have such installation on your ceiling, it may look disturbing and untidy. Well, the best way to deal with that ceiling is to show it off. It would be supportive to your rustic or industrial style like showed above.
Few things to note:
- It can be an emphasis on your industrial style
- It should be cleanly painted just like a ceiling.
- If you cover it with a wood sheet, the basement ceiling would be lower.
24. Use a Wood Beam Ceiling
Conclusion
I believe those 24 basement ceiling ideas are enough to let you know which one that deserves to be in your basement. After you apply one of those ideas, you won’t feel uncomfortable about your inherently low basement ceiling anymore.
