Decorating and Design - How to make ceiling feel higher??

Does anyone out there have ideas for decorating rooms with low ceilings?? I am moving into half of a duplex as soon as I complete. The ceiling hgt is not standard ( 86 in I think, :o ) Well the ceilings seem so low, making the rooms seem smaller. Is there anything I can do to make the rooms feel taller?? :confused: Any ideas would be appreciated.. Thanks in advance.... sallie

Painting walls and ceilings all one light neutral color will give the illusion of greater ceiling height and room space. When wall color stops to meet a different color on ceiling, that's where the eyes stop. If there is no line of demarcation, then there is the illusion of greater height.

Hanging long, flowing panels at ceiling and down to the floor also gives the illusion of greater height.

The link below on optical illusions may provide some tips. I didn't read it, but the next chapter goes into mirrors.
Optical Illusions, Various Other Applications in Architecture (http://www.visualillusion.net/Chap13/Page02.php)

Bud

Thank you....I have already bought my paint ....I did paint the molding at the ceiling the same as the walls and it helped a lot.!!!..I can prob mix the wall colors with white in order to make a less noticable "start-stop"? My color choices are not all exactly light...oooops?? I do like the idea of long flowing drapes..I heard that stripes work but Im afraid this will look like a circus tent...Do you think having the walls and drapes aka curtains the same or different color make any difference? So you think upholsered funiture should be the same , lighter , or darker than the wall colors? The floors are a medium drk oak hardwood (60 + yrs old with a warm tint) thanks in advance! sallie

Thanks Bud....I will check it out....and let you know....sallie

Try hanging panels (curtains) either the same as the wall color or lighter. Too dark will make them stand out more and give a somewhat choppy look.
Think "vertical" lines. Hang mirrors and pictures vertically rather than horizontally.
Try to keep the focus in the room away from the ceiling.

Try to paint the ceiling using a lighter color and add a crown molding using the same light color of the ceiling --> in this way, the ceiling will look "light", and with a transition wall - ceiling, therefore a visually not so low ceiling

yes painting ceiling a Lighter colour will make the ceiling feel, and look higher. And of course less fruniture, or stuff in room will make a big different in the look of the size of the room. I recently took out alot of stuff to make my living room more simple, and stream lined. It looks great.

Paint your ceiling a light color than your walls. Not too light, though, or it will look weird.