One possible way is the use of a wallpaper with a vertical stripe or pattern. Another option would be the use of recessed lighting instead of any type of suspended fixture. If you are using ceiling fans use a flush mount so the fan appears higher. Avoid the use of tall furninsings that just clear the ceiling with the exception of built-ins. Hang art work more a eye level.

In another day and time, high ceilings in home were use to kind of air condition a home. In this time of high utility bills it actually costs more to heat and cool homes with high ceilings. Hope this helps.

You can add some crown molding. If you paint the crown the same color as the walls it will make the walls appear taller (conversely if you paint the crown the same color as the ceiling it makes the room look wider but the walls shorter).

If your attic will allow it, raise the center of the ceiling. Come in about 2 feet and ramp up the sides another foot. I can't do the whole graphic but from the side it will sort of look like this...

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The width of the ceiling in the center is not shown and would depend on your room dimensions. Unfortunately trying to illustrate an HTML page sucks.

You did say that money was no object, right?

I painted the walls and ceilings the same color. It leaves less of a line of demarcation at the ceiling. Light at the top of cabinets helps (hide christmas lights behind molding and things of that nature. Wall hangings in vertical patterns. Try to stay away from horizontal lines anywhere. Furniture is horizontal. Straight floor to ceiling drapes. Put iron or decorative molding over windows or doors to visually raise their height. Hope this helps.

I would say darker floor, white/light ceiling. Hang drapes as close to ceiling as possible. Low-to-the-floor furniture shows more wall, making room seem taller. The occasional tall, narrow piece of artwork or furniture adds height too.

A surprisingly effective fool-the-eye trick is to apply moulding (or architectural moulding wallpaper) to the ceiling where it meets the wall. The eye just assumes that the moulding must be applied to the wall, not the ceiling, and voila - higher ceiling.

We have an open area in the center of the house with a dining room on one side and the living room on the other separated only by the fireplace and wide chimney area. We have white tile floors with area rugs, walls painted in "linen" off-white, white ceilings, a wall of windows on each side reaching from a foot above the floor to 18" from the ceiling. The sofa is a colorful floral print with chairs in solid colors to match. Simple sheer curtains on draw rods. Our architect who is doing remodelling ideas for other parts of the house would not believe that the ceilings are only 8' until she got out her tape measure and checked it herself. The light, airy decor makes the ceiling seem higher than it is.

Does anyone know what the process is to raise the ceiling on a 8ft ceiling? We are purchasing a 2 story home in a great location, but the ceilings make the rooms look small. Is there a way to increase the depth of the ceiling?