The Lighting Tip You'll Want To Consider When Decorating A Room With A Low Ceiling

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While high ceilings have been coveted by homeowners, renters, and designers for decades, sometimes finding a place with lofty ceilings that also fits your budget is nearly impossible. If your dwelling boasts lower ceilings, that doesn't mean that creating an aesthetic layout is out of the question. In fact, there are many ways to work around and decorate for low ceilings, and one easy trick to elevate your space is to get creative with your lighting. Rather than drawing attention upwards, skip the overhead lighting and use wall sconces, lamps, and other illumination options to help open up the room (or house as a whole). 

Among the many hacks that make your ceiling seem higher, lighting is definitely one of the simplest (and maybe most cost-efficient). If you have a large fixture hanging overhead providing the majority of the light, it's normal for it to draw people's attention. Because low ceilings can also make a space seem cramped or oppressive, the less you keep on them or even near them, the better. Ideal fixtures for a room with low ceilings are those that allow light to reflect on various surfaces, which is why overhead lights are also a drawback: they shine downwards instead of creating more light around the whole room.

Wall sconces are ideal because they push illumination outwards and upwards. Look for fixtures that are open without shades that would push the light downwards. This allows light to bounce off the walls, tables, shelves, and other surfaces to make the room seem airier. Sconces also allow you to brighten areas like dark corners or your bedside, and they're great for longer rooms (and hallways) with low ceilings. 

Lamps can also open up a space by pushing light outwards and upwards, creating the feeling of a higher ceiling. For warm lighting that plays to the intimate and cozy vibe, layer a lamp on a table or shelf and a floor lamp nearby one another. Unusual or kitschy shaped lamps like the Ashley Marilee floor lamp add dimension to a room while also pushing light outwards, not just downwards. Unique lighting HGTV Jenn Todryk swears by for low ceilings includes various lamps, so the pros agree.

If you really need overhead lighting, adjustable recessed canned inserts that can be angled are a better option than those that only shine downwards. Another clever idea that emulates overhead lighting without the intensity is hanging a plug-in lamp on a hook, either on the wall or ceiling, producing more light from above without being a full-on overhead light. A dramatic chandelier can also make low ceilings seem taller, as long as it cascades down to add dimension.