Floor length curtains create an elongated look that helps gives the illusion of higher ceilings.
While the architectural details and structure of your home is impossible to alter without major renovations, the way you decorate a room can help mask elements that you do not like. If you are bothered by low ceilings in your home, the paint or wallpaper colors that you choose for the walls and ceilings can deemphasize the lack of height. However, there are also several decorating tricks with curtains that can give the illusion of higher ceilings in any room without the hassle of painting or hanging wallpaper.
Hang as High as Possible
One of the easiest ways to make your ceiling appear taller is to hang your curtains as high on the wall as possible. Instead of just above your windows, hang curtains from the ceiling or just below the crown molding. Because the curtains start higher up on the wall, they draw the eye upward and give the illusion that the ceiling is higher than it actually is.
Go for Floor Length
When hanging your curtains from the ceiling to give the illusion of greater height, choose floor-length drapes. If you opt for curtains that end just below the windows, you effectively cut the room in half and make the ceiling feel shorter. On the other hand, using floor-to-ceiling curtains creates a long, lean effect that provides a feeling of height and drama so the ceiling doesn't feel quite as low.
Use Vertical Stripes
When trying to make your ceiling appear higher, avoid curtains with horizontal stripes, which actually make a room feel shorter and more compact. Instead, opt for vertical stripes. When stripes run up and down, they draw the eye in the same direction and make the wall appear longer. As a result, the ceiling seems higher and the room feels more spacious.
Avoid Full Curtains
Just as floor-length curtains mounted high on the wall draw the eye upward to give the illusion of taller ceilings, full curtains draw the eye in a horizontal direction and diminish the look of the wall's width. As a result, the ceiling often appears shorter because the entire room seems more compact. When trying to make your ceilings appear higher, avoid curtains that are too full or wide across. In general, ensure that the curtains measure two and a half times the width of the window or less to provide a streamlined look that adds length to the wall and height to the ceiling.
Shorten Valances
Valances can add an attractive decorative touch to any room. However, if they are too large, they can also make your ceiling appear higher because they break up the line of the wall. To give your ceiling added height, shorten your valances so they are 10 inches or less. A smaller valance gives the wall a long, seamless look that makes the ceiling appear taller and the room larger.
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