July 14, 2025
Living in Omaha, Nebraska: Your Guide to the Gateway to the West
Whether it’s the rising cost of living, a desire for more space, or the flexibility of remote work, Americans are on the move, and Omaha is on t...
Low ceilings can make a home feel crowded and smaller than it actually is. But short of a massive renovation, is it possible to make low ceilings feel more spacious? With a little bit of strategic decorating and painting, yes! This guide will explain different ways to make your home, basement, apartment, or single room with low ceilings feel higher. We’ll even cover what to do with pesky sloped ceilings! Don’t let low ceilings cramp your style any longer!
Furniture can help make your low ceiling feel taller — but it can also do the opposite. Oversized or inappropriately sized furniture can take up too much space, making your already cramped room feel even smaller. Look for furniture that is slimmer and has a low profile, such as sofas that sit low to the ground. Multipurpose furniture, such as an ottoman with storage, can help keep your furniture minimal while still being useful in your small living room.
Colors can indeed create an illusion of increased (or decreased) space. Lighter, neutral colors help amplify light and can make your room seem bigger. Additionally, painting the walls the same color as the ceiling can help give the illusion of taller walls and remove the visual separation of the walls from the ceiling. Avoid darker shades as they can make your room feel more closed-off – especially if you don’t have much natural light.
When it comes to your decor, taller items can help draw the eye upwards and take advantage of your vertical space. A skinny bookcase can provide storage while giving the illusion of additional height in your room. Likewise, tall, narrow mirrors or floor lamps have small footprints but add dimension.
Low, sloped ceilings are particularly tricky to work with but aren’t totally unworkable. Consider these tips:
Bright natural light is one of the best ways to make a small, closed-off space feel bigger and more open. But what do you do when your low ceiling is in a basement, and you don’t have much light to work with? Of course, you can add your own light!
Lamps and mirrors are fantastic ways to add additional light and make the most of what you have. Decorative mirrors on opposite walls can help open up the room. Lamps can add more diffused light, and creative lighting, such as string lights, can help define separate parts of your rooms.
There’s not much you can do about low ceilings in your home or apartment, especially if you’re renting! However, you can take steps to give the illusion of more space and open up the rest of your space to compensate.
No matter how much space you have, CORT has the furniture, decor, and housewares to suit your needs. Simply visit CORT at your local showroom or online to start customizing your package, then set a delivery date and let our team handle the heavy lifting. Once you’re ready to move on from your space, set a pickup date, and we’ll take the furniture back. Get started with CORT today!
