Here’s our gallery of vaulted ceiling ideas including living room, kitchen and bedroom designs.
What is a Vaulted Ceiling?
Another common term for a vaulted ceiling is cathedral ceiling. As the term suggests, these types of ceilings are commonly seen in churches and cathedrals. A vaulted ceiling makes a building seem spacious and airy and, as is was considered an architectural feat – something that wasn’t easily replicated, it was supposed to fill the parishioners with awe and make them think about the wonders of God’s grace.
The difference between vaulted ceilings vs cathedral ceilings is that vaulted designs do not need to have two equal sloping sides that are parallel to the roof’s pitch. Cathedral ceilings always have two equal sloping sides with a ridge in the center that runs the full length of the room.
These days vaulted ceilings are much more common but they are still meant to make a space feel larger and also grander. Usually, if we are talking about residential or commercial spaces, a vaulted ceiling is about 11 or 12 feet high at the peak of the arches. A flat ceiling is usually around 8 to 10 feet.
Cost to Vault Ceiling
Another reason why a vault ceiling could cost more is because of certain considerations that you need to think about when installing one. For example, a higher ceiling will need more insulation and a better heating system as heat rises so it will take longer to warm the room. A room with a vaulted ceiling will also be a bigger and longer paint job as there is more space to cover.
Say you have a room that’s about 20 by 20 feet, with a flat ceiling and you want to install a vaulted ceiling. First you will have to plan your ceiling and for this you will need to hire the services of a structural engineer and maybe an architect. You will also need to get the necessary building permits.
Planning and permits : $1,000-5,000
Next you will need to demolish your roof and properly dispose of your old roofing material,
Demolition and disposal of materials: $3,700-4000
After you will need to reinforce the roofs frame and remove the old ceiling joints.
Reinforcing the roof: $3,600-4,500
Finally, you will need to install new wiring, insulation, and dry wall before painting.
Electrical wiring: $2,900-3,000
Installing insulation: $1,300-1,500
Drywall: $3,900-4,000
Painting: $1,600-2,000
With this, the total estimate of installing a vaulted ceiling will be around $18,000 to 24,000
Vaulted Ceiling Lighting
How do you light a vaulted ceiling?
As we mentioned before, vaulted ceilings can cost more than flat ceilings because of the cost of electrical wiring. As these ceilings are higher and take up more “space” there needs to be more wiring connecting the light fixtures to switches. There’s also the fact that you might need stronger and brighter light sources to adequately reach an illuminate all the corners of your room.
Below are three of the best options for vaulted ceiling lighting features. You can also choose to layer your lighting features and use a combination of two of these types of fixtures, just make sure that they fit the overall look you are going for.
Vaulted Ceiling Recessed Lighting
These types of recessed lights are also referred to as sloped ceiling recessed lighting or shovel cut can.
Vaulted Ceiling Chandelier
When it comes to hanging a chandelier at the proper height for vaulted ceilings it’s recommended to suspend it around 8 feet high from the floor. There should be at least 7 feet of distance between the fixture and the floor to avoid bumping into the light. A general rule of thumb if your ceiling is higher than 8 feet is to install the chandelier 3 inches higher for each addition foot of ceiling height.
Vaulted Ceiling Pendant Lighting
The best place to hang pendant lighting on a vaulted ceiling is to have them on your rooms center beam or arc. Make sure they are strong and maybe use a shade to ensure that the light is cast down on a wide angle. You can also strategically hang pendant lights on various parts of the room where you want the most illumination.
You can find lighting manufactures that create pendant light fixtures specifically for sloped ceilings that can ensure they are compatible for this type of ceiling.
Painting Vaulted Ceilings
It also requires a little more specialized equipment such as longer ladders and brushes or rollers. If you hire a professional they might need to set up special platforms instead of ladders to make the job easier.
Some tools tips to keep in mind when painting is as follows:
- Use an 18” roller with an extension pole
- Use a paint brush with extender attachment
- Have painters tape to tape off areas you don’t want painted
- Have rags and water bucket for cleanup
- Have plenty of drop cloths to lay down to avoid paint damage to floors
- Have 2 ladders of different heights
How To Decorate High Vaulted Ceilings
Vaulted Ceiling Beams
Ceiling beams are a necessary part of a vaulted ceiling. They are what make up the arches that hold the entire roof up. They are also a design element.
Most vaulted ceiling beams are made of wood or faux wood and you can have them in a variety of finishes. They make a nice dramatic contrast to a painted ceiling.
If you want a contemporary type look, go for painted beams. You can either paint the beams to match the rest of the ceiling or paint them a different color to accentuate the room and add some texture. Tip, if you really want to enhance the airy and spacious feel of a vaulted ceiling, consider light paint. Read more about different types of ceiling texture here.
There are also ceiling beams that can come in metal or steel or that are fabricated from fiberglass to look like metal. These beams will look great if you want to create a room with a modern or industrial feel. Wood beams are also often used to create coffered or box beam ceilings which can add a sense of elegance and sophistication to a room design.
Vaulted Ceiling Kitchen
What to Do With High Kitchen Ceilings?
A high kitchen ceiling, is an important design element for those looking to have a rustic or country style kitchen. This homey and cozy design evokes memories of home-cooking and creates a space that’s not just good for preparing meals, but also to hang out and enjoy each other’s company.
You should also make sure that you take advantage of the natural light. It might be good to install big windows or even a skylight to ensure that your vaulted kitchen ceiling is always well illuminated.
High kitchen ceilings also ensure that you have plenty of storage space. You can install top to bottom cupboards and cabinets. Some of course, are of practical use, but many can be decorated. A few glass door cabinets or even open shelves will be a nice place to place decorative items that will help personalize the room.
Vaulted Ceiling Bedroom
How to Make a Room With Vaulted Ceilings Cozy?
One way to enhance the coziness of the room has to do with the furniture you use. Surrounding yourself with furnishings and room accents in plush materials and warm dark colors helps create a soft feeling space. A plush rug and generous use of draping fabrics or throw pillows will also help.
Don’t leave the walls bare. Surround yourselves with bookshelves and open cabinets filled with your favorite things. Hang paintings, artwork, and pictures of things you love and people who are important to you to make use of the space and make the room truly reflective of your personality.
The key here is to use the abundance of space that a room with a vaulted ceiling has to make sure you create an atmosphere that is welcoming to you and that makes you feel safe. That is how you make a bedroom a cozy sanctuary and a retreat from the outside world.
Shiplap Vaulted Ceiling
A shiplap vaulted ceiling can be used for almost any room in a home. Traditionally it is made of wood so it can be a bit expensive. However, you can also opt to use faux wood or remolded beams to cut costs. There is also wall paper that can be bought in a shiplap ceiling design.
It cost between $3.00 to $7.00 per square foot to shiplap a ceiling with real wood. For most ceilings this will cost a total of about $900 to $2100 for a 300 square foot room.
Beadboard Vaulted Ceiling
Beadboard is most commonly used on walls, but can also be used on a ceiling. Installing a beadboard vaulted ceiling is a great way to add some interesting texture to the room. Many designers like to install beadboard panels on a vaulted ceiling that are a different color or material from the ceiling beams as the resulting contrast helps add an element of interest in what might otherwise be a dull part of your room.
Tongue and Groove Vaulted Ceiling
Of the three types we’ve mentioned here, a tongue and groove ceiling is the most versatile. You can install it over drywall or plaster and can either be left as is or painted. The cost to install tongue and groove wood planks on the ceiling is approximately $2.50 to $4.00 per foot.
Vaulted Ceiling Designs