Asked on Jan 20, 2018

How do you make old walls in a room with low ceilings make room airy

Beverly Bara
by Beverly Bara
I’m trying to make the room airy, spacious and bright. The walls are old & wallpapered to cover damage. The corners of the walls have tearing or stretching. The ceilng is low. I have a limited budget. I would like the room to look like a model room. What would you suggest?
  9 answers
  • Beth Beth on Jan 20, 2018

    If the wallpaper is secure to the wall, PRIME then paint (if you skip the primer, the water in the latex paint may cause the wallpaper to bubble or come loose) right over it; otherwise, remove the wallpaper and repair the walls if you can. (Repair might be just as cost-effective as putting up new, brighter, wallpaper). [Cut out the damaged corners, mud and repaint.] In any case, I would suggest vertical, 5" stripes in alternating flat and low-sheen of the same soft color. Choose a pattern -- for a pillow, bedding, drapes (no valance -- avoid horizontal surfaces with low-ceilinged rooms and accentuate verticals) -- and choose a pale version of your favorite color in that pattern for the walls.


    Remove the shelf above the bed and replace with two pictures that are more like 12"w X 20"H-ish (I'm guessing. Is this a Qn bed?) Use vertical panels at the window - keep the sheers (nothing wrong with patterned twin sheets as side panels - I won't tell). Sew? Make a dust ruffle and shams to match the "drapes" and use a solid comforter, avoiding boxy shapes. Check discount places and pick one up on sale.


    Replace the panels behind the mullions (grid) on the doors of the large cabinet with mercury glass (you can get the glass cut at a glass place and then do the mercury glass kit yourself from Home Depot).


    Lastly, get a colorful rug in a solid for the floor and a few toss pillow to pick up the other colors from the pattern. Don't neglect thrift stores. Who cares if it used to be someone else's? Reuse, Recycle, and Enjoy!

    - former Int. Decorater Business Owner

    • See 1 previous
    • Beth Beth on Jan 22, 2018

      Great! I hope you'll post pictures!

  • Dee Yaklich Dee Yaklich on Jan 20, 2018

    That sounds great. Put your drape rods all the way to the ceiling.

  • Shoshana Shoshana on Jan 21, 2018

    I think painting over the wallpaper will open up the room


  • Johnavallance82 Johnavallance82 on Jan 21, 2018

    What is on the ceiling -Artex Plaster? Do you have a ceiling centre? Would like to suggest, either plaster over the ceiling - smooth, white. and or mirror tiles around the outside edge of ceiling. Make use of mirrors on walls to bounce the light around.......

  • Rose P Rose P on Jan 21, 2018

    I would remove the valance and the shelf above the bed, anything eye catching high on the wall makes the low ceiling more noticable.


  • Emily Emily on Jan 21, 2018

    I agree with Rose P. I would also try to remove the finish on the ceiling. That brings the ceiling down around your head visually! Your bed is pretty, try to have colorful throw rugs or maybe a bed skirt. You need to have the eye drawn down.

  • Nun32489822 Nun32489822 on Jan 22, 2018

    best answer is to strip off the wallpaper and using a acrlylic filler for the cracks and picture nail holes and emulsion with (erhum) magnolia. eric

  • Diana Deiley Diana Deiley on Jan 22, 2018

    I like the ceiling but suggest painting it semi gloss white to reflect light. Hang sheer white panels several inches from the ceiling to the floor to create height and airiness. Remove the shelf over the bed and hang a large horizontal mirror on that wall. And if you have lots of energy, pick up some cheap flooring (@ Habitat), nail it to the wall behind the bed for a ship lap look (also paint it white). Add color with your bedding and area rug. You CAN do this and still have it all budget friendly. Best of luck.

  • Agnes Chrzanowska Agnes Chrzanowska on May 31, 2021

    best answer is to strip off the wallpaper and using a acrlylic filler for the cracks and picture nail holes and emulsion with (erhum) magnolia. eric