One of the simplest tricks is to draw the eye upward using vertical elements. Light-coloured walls and ceilings help, but you can go further. Hang curtains higher – close to the ceiling rather than just above the window – and let them fall almost to the floor. This creates a tall, elegant line.
Using vertical stripes in subtle patterns, tall bookshelves, or artwork hung a bit higher also nudges the eye upward. Keep ceiling colour lighter than the walls so it visually “lifts” away from you. Avoid heavy beams, dark paint on the ceiling, or bulky light fixtures that hang too low.
Clutter also shrinks height. When floors and mid-level surfaces are crowded, the room feels squeezed from all sides. Keeping things visually lighter – leggy furniture, fewer heavy pieces – lets the vertical tricks work better.
You’re not actually changing the structure, but by guiding where eyes travel, the room can feel noticeably taller and more open.