Top 19 Low Basement Ceiling Ideas

There’s no need to worry if your new home’s basement has low ceilings. There are a wide array of different and creative ideas on how to best use the space. You don’t have to feel confined by the low ceilings — as there are ways to make them work for you instead.

Many basements are designed with lower ceilings, so it can be a challenge for homeowners to make the space inviting and comfortable. However, the ideas below will inspire you to renovate the area so that it feels more spacious and open.

1. Natural Light

While basements often get a bad rap for feeling dark and gloomy, you can open up the space by adding in a window or two. If you already have natural lighting in your basement, then you may need to take a few steps to maximize the window’s potential.

Get the project ideas here: windowwellexperts.com

You’ll want to ensure that any existing windows aren’t being blocked by furniture or other structures that could act as an obstacle to the light’s reach. If you’re concerned about the privacy aspect, you can opt for smoked glass to keep the natural light shining through while also keeping your family’s privacy secure.

When done, you can add a window box outside to plant flowers in. While you’re adding some natural light, work on your basement door with these ideas.

2. Gallery Wall

Gallery walls are one of the most popular decor trends currently. To maximize your space and make your ceilings feel higher than they are, you can turn one of your basement walls into a gallery.

View the project idea here: houseandhome.com

By choosing your favorite family photos and some decorative framed designs for fun, you can show off your space. You’ll want to be mindful when you’re choosing which photos to place into which frames and how to optimize your wall space. Choosing frames in a variety of dimensions and placing them at varying heights can create the perception of a taller room.

Paint your own picture frames to make this a complete DIY project.

3. Large Mirror

Adding in a large, attention-grabbing mirror can enhance the perception of the room’s height. The mirror elongates the height of the room while also bouncing light around, which makes the room feel spacious.

View here for more project inspiration to your home: apartmenttherapy.com

The good news is that there are many different types of mirrors, in all shapes and sizes, and frames. You’ll be able to choose one that goes nicely with your existing decor and furniture. Choosing a large mirror that you can lean against the wall or in a corner is a great option for low ceiling basements.

Or, repurpose an old dresser mirror if you don’t want to spend much money.

4. Vertical Design

Adding a wallpaper that has a vertical design to it can do wonders for adding the perception of height into your basement. This tends to be a more cost-effective option when compared to refinishing the ceiling itself. Stripes are a popular choice, but there are many more abstract designs that can suit a variety of styles.

Similarly, you can add a larger piece of abstract artwork that has a vertical appeal to it. This will have much the same effect and will work to elongate the height of the space. This is a great example of such a piece.

5. Tall House Plant

If you have a green thumb, you may want to add some taller house plants into your basement area. This not only adds a touch of greenery to your living space but the eye is naturally drawn up the plant. This creates the effect of perceived height.

Combining taller varieties of house plants or a small indoor tree can give the illusion of higher ceilings. This is a great solution and one that doesn’t require any construction work on your part.

6. Wooden Shiplap

If you want to hop on board the shiplap trend, this can be a great method for preserving the existing height of your ceilings. The shiplap doesn’t take up much space and you won’t have to sacrifice much in the way of space.

View the project here: etsy.com

This can be modern or rustic, depending on which type of wooden finish you choose. This example has a more natural and rustic vibe to it, by keeping the wood in its natural state with a beautiful grain. Use a high quality HVLP sprayer to add your finish.

You can also choose to cover the planks with white paint and keep a natural wooden beam running across your ceiling for a thoughtful touch.

7. Lots of Lighting

You’ll want to get away from the idea that basements have to be dark and a bit moody. You can create a bright and open area by adding substantial lighting. There are many lighting fixtures that you can choose from and you can mix and match ceiling lights with different lamps as well.

Check out the project details here: mymatrixbasement.com

If you have a dark ceiling, you’ll want to opt for quite a few embedded light fixtures. This keeps the dark color from overtaking the room and making it feel overly dark and depressing. The more light, the better when it comes to opening up an area.

Recessed lighting is a great way to add additional lighting to your basement. The recessed nature of the lights means that it isn’t taking up additional ceiling space and you won’t bang your head on any low-hanging light fixtures.

8. All White Walls and Ceiling

Darker colors have their appeal, but keeping your basement white and bright can help it to feel larger and taller. White is a great color for opening up a space and reflecting the light.

Check more project ideas here: hgtv.com

By opting for an all-white interior, you can add colorful finishing touches such as a gallery wall or other pieces of art onto the wall to still add your spark of creativity.

9. Exposed Beams

If you enjoy a more rustic look, you may consider leaving the wooden beams exposed. This keeps all of the possible height available and is also in line with modern trends. You can choose a paint color to throw onto the ceiling, one that suits your aesthetic and the decor of your basement.

View the detailed project here: sengerson.com

This is a relatively cheap option that is all the rage these days. By choosing to leave the beams exposed, you’re saving up to 6 inches worth of height. This allows the room to feel open and spacious, without sacrificing style.

By opting for black paint, your basement can turn into a modern and sleek-looking space. You’ll want to add lighter touches, such as natural wood and grey or white furniture to bring this style together.

This is also a great idea if you want to turn your basement into a hunting themed man cave, which is popular for outdoor enthusiasts.

10. Floor to Ceiling Shelves

A great way to maximize your basement space and your storage capacity is to include large floor-to-ceiling shelves on one of the walls.

You can view the detailed project idea here: decorpad.com

These shelves are great as bookshelves as well as for other small decorative items. You can add a pop of color when choosing this design idea, even if you’ve chosen to keep your basement all-white to create visual height. Or, go cheap and use pallets for shelving.

While you’re adding some functionality, consider adding a basement laundry room to your space.

11. Large Framed Art

If you don’t want to go all out and create a gallery wall, you can choose a couple of larger prints and use them instead. By choosing a taller frame, you can visually elongate the walls — which in turn makes the ceiling feel higher than it is.

View the project idea here: iheartvegetables.com

This is an example of a basement with low ceilings and how a couple of pieces of eye-catching art can help tie the entire room together. The brighter the prints are, the better. This way, the first thing someone notices when they walk into the room is the pop of color.

12. String Lights

This idea works particularly well if you’ve left the ceiling beams exposed. You can then wrap the beams in string lights to add ambient lighting. If you’ve finished the ceilings, you can still hang string lights — you just may need to get more creative about it.

View more project ideas here: nextluxury.com

Purchasing a few bundles of lights around the holidays can be a cost-effective way to not only add more light into your basement but also distract from the lower height of the ceiling. This is a great example of how the lights may look once you’re finished — you can feel how cozy and welcoming the room becomes.

You can hang these string lights from the ceiling, or combine this project with your basement poles.

13. Minimalistic Approach

If you want to truly enhance your space and keep it comfortable and open, you’ll want to be wary of what type of furniture you place in your basement. Opting for big and bulky couches and recliners can quickly eat up the space you have to work with.

Check out the detailed project here: thisoldhouse.com

By keeping your choices on the minimal side, you’ll have more space to enjoy without feeling overly cramped. Minimalism is a popular and modern style trend and for good reason. It keeps spaces feeling clean and sleek and you’ll have less to clean at the end of the day.

To save money, try finding some simple wood furniture and spray it with a lacquer.

14. Exposed Duct Work

This gives the ceiling a bit of an industrial element if you’re into that. Instead of trying to cover up the ductwork, you can simply keep it exposed. You may even opt to paint it a solid color — or leave it in its natural state.

You can view the project details here: sengerson.com

The combination of exposed wood and exposed metal can add a unique design element to any basement. While this isn’t for everyone — this is a great way to create additional height in your ceiling.

This would be a great project to do in conjunction with adding a DIY basement bar.

15. Short Furniture

When you have low ceilings, you don’t want tall couches and chairs. If at all possible, you want to ensure your furniture sits lower to the ground. This creates the illusion of more space and more height.

View other project ideas here: bhg.com

If you enjoy gaming, gaming chairs work great for low ceilings — as they sit low to the ground as well. You can also employ bean bags if you have children.

16. Corrugated Metal

While this may sound like an odd choice to some, corrugated metal is a great choice for low ceilings. It adds very little in the way of lowering your ceiling further and the metal is reflective of the light. This means that the light can bounce off and illuminate the room further, making it feel larger than it is.

Check out the other ideas here: photos.hgtv.com

Cutting corrugated metal is relatively easy with a circular saw. Here is a guide on how to cut metal roofing for your project.

This is a more modern take on the corrugated metal trend. If done properly, this can look well put together and thought out. It adds a unique texture to the room and you’re sure to get a lot of compliments on this design idea.

Or, go a bit further and turn the basement area into a budget DIY man cave!

17. Children’s Playroom

If you find that your basement has low ceilings and you don’t feel comfortable spending time downstairs, consider transforming it into a playroom for your children instead. The low ceilings won’t bother them a bit and it gives them a larger area to store their toys and to have fun.

Get the project idea here: myprimaryparadise.com

Naturally, any children’s furniture and desks will be low to the ground anyway. Adding soft rugs can help transform the space into a safe and enjoyable playroom for them. Give the kids some of the woodworking projects so they feel like its their own.

18. High-Gloss Paint

Oftentimes, ceilings are painted with a flat sheen. However, when you have low ceilings a high gloss sheen can do wonders for making the room feel taller. Pick out the best paint for ceilings so you won’t have to redo the project in future years.

Check here for other project ideas: discover.hubpages.com

The reflective nature of the glossy paint helps to reflect light and make the room feel more spacious than it is. This is an easy addition to your basement and you could easily turn it into a DIY project.

Use a paint sprayer designed for interior walls and ceilings to make this a quick project.

19. High Window Drapes

While it’s a good idea to keep the windows open to allow lots of natural light to shine through, you can use a white sheer drape to protect your privacy. This allows light to flow through the room while also adding to the perceived height of the ceiling.

View the detailed project here: 320sycamoreblog.com

By placing the drapes higher than the window itself, your eye will subconsciously travel up the height of the drape and the room will feel taller. This is an easy trick and one that you can set up yourself. There’s no extra construction or expensive addition required.

Turn Your Basement Into a Comfortable and Spacious Living Area

The basement is often undervalued and underused. If you want to make the most of your home, then try any of the above ideas to open up your basement with low ceilings. You may find that with the proper decor, your basement will be the most comfortable place in the entire house.

The basement doesn’t just have to just be a burial ground for all of your unwanted and forgotten items. You can create a beautiful living space down there as well, one that your family flocks to at the end of the day.