The Top Vaulted Ceiling Lighting Ideas

Vaulted ceilings are a popular choice for many reasons. They effortlessly complement any interior design or style, adding a touch of grandeur to your home. And if you’re lucky enough to have vaulted ceilings already, the right lighting fixture can take your space to a whole new level of aesthetic. Add your personal touch by picking out stylish and eye-catching lighting options to give that perfect finishing touch to an already amazing space. Get ready to be inspired as I showcase some of my favorite stunning homes with captivating vaulted ceiling lighting ideas!

Before getting started It’s important to know the difference between a vaulted ceiling and a cathedral ceiling. While they are awfully similar and often used interchangeably there are in fact some key differences.

Vaulted Ceiling vs Cathedral Ceiling

I have already done a post on the differences between these two and you can check it out here vaulted ceilings vs. cathedral ceilings. Here I will just give you the key differences so you can get a basic understanding before checking out the rest of this post.

In the simplest sense, vaulted and cathedral ceilings both imply height. However, there’s a subtle yet important distinction between the two. Vaulted ceilings, do not necessarily follow the roof’s pitch and can have arched, domed, or even flat appearances. They’re versatile and can be incorporated into various room shapes and sizes to elevate the overall appearance of the space. On the other hand, cathedral ceilings mirror the exact pitch of the roof, creating a symmetrical, triangular peak in the space. These ceilings are typically found in spaces designed to be awe-inspiring and are ideal for creating an open, spacious environment. Now, when it comes to lighting, each ceiling type requires a different approach. Here I will talk extensively about some of my favorite vaulted ceiling lighting ideas.

Down the Side Vaulted Ceiling Lighting

Starting off with what might just be my favorite design of the bunch. In this living room the designer did something totally unique and certainly something I haven’t seen before. They installed 8 lights on the side of the ceiling pitch. There is no doubt that this room is not lacking light. The addition of the skylights ensures that there is plenty of light in this bright white living room.

String Lights

String lights are a playful and fun approach to lighting your vaulted ceiling. Imagine a cascade of tiny, twinkling lights draped across the length of your high ceiling – it’s simply magical! This isn’t just lighting; it’s a design statement that adds a touch of charm and warmth to your space. This design is effective both aesthetically and functionally, string lights can fill large areas with a soft, ambient glow, perfect for creating a cozy living room atmosphere (which is everyone’s goal, right?). Plus, string lights offer the flexibility of being arranged in a variety of ways, allowing you to get creative. This idea probably isn’t for everyone but it is fun and definitely worth considering.

Low Hanging Vaulted Ceiling Lighting

Low hanging light fixtures can sometimes be hard to pull off but this design does it beautifully. The hardest part about low hanging lights is that they can sometimes block sight lines in your home so when hanging your fixtures consider this to determine how high you should hang your fixture. Obviously, you want to avoid people hitting it as well so typically low hanging fixtures are used over kitchen islands or dinner tables.

Can Lighting on Vaulted Ceiling

Can lighting, also known as recessed lighting, is a versatile lighting option that pairs perfectly with vaulted ceilings. Installed directly into the ceiling, recessed lights are tucked away, maintaining the clean lines of the vaulted design. This type of lighting offers focused illumination, making it an excellent choice for highlighting architectural features, artwork, or specific areas within a room. Additionally, can lights in a vaulted ceiling can be used in conjunction with other lighting types for a layered look or to add a decorative light fixture to your space.

Circle Ceiling Lighting

Circle lighting is another incredible option for your vaulted ceiling, bringing a modern and sleek touch to your high ceiling space. This type of fixture can truly become the centerpiece of your room, setting the aesthetic tone and creating a visually balanced atmosphere between the low and the high. Not only is circle ceiling lighting functional, but its distinctive appearance makes it an art piece in your home when displayed.

Skylight on a Vaulted Ceiling

One of my absolute favorite elements to pair with a vaulted ceiling is a skylight. The blend of high ceilings and natural light streaming in from above creates a room that feels both spacious and sun-soaked. It’s amazing how a skylight can transform a space, adding an airy, open atmosphere that truly breathes life and light into your home.

Vaulted Ceiling Fan Lighting

Who doesn’t love a ceiling fan, but often times they are more functional than design. Why can’t they be both? In this case, we have the perfect combination of design and function. There are so many varieties and styles of ceiling fans available these days I am certain you can find one that coordinates perfectly with your existing home decor.

Bubble Vaulted Ceiling Lighting

Bubble light fixtures, are another personal favorite of mine, bring a chic modern element to your vaulted ceiling space that is both visually impressive and inherently functional. This lighting style features a cluster of ‘bubble’ lights that hang at varying lengths, creating a cascading effect that truly captivates the eye. Each ‘bubble’ casts a soft light that spreads evenly across the room, providing ample illumination.

Hanging from Beams

Hanging lighting fixtures from the beams of a vaulted ceiling is another way to add functionality and style to your space. I like this option because it allows you to hang the lights lower in the room so the light has a greater impact. Plus I just think it looks amazing having rustic ceiling beams with a beautiful farmhouse style light fixture.

Chandelier Hanging from Vaulted Ceiling

Using chandeliers in a space with a vaulted ceiling is always a great idea. I love the way chandeliers add a touch of grandeur and class to any space. Chandeliers are a great choice for a lot of reasons but primarily for their elegance, in this example, there is a small white chandelier with a few lights. Chandeliers can also be very complex with crystals and tons of lights. The key is to find one that coordinates with your existing decor and balances the space it’s being used in.

Pendant Lighting

Pendant lights are probably the most popular style of light fixture. They are everywhere and they can certainly be used with success on vaulted ceilings. The most important things to consider when considering pendant lighting are: which pendant lights to use and how high to hang them. You should choose light fixtures that coordinate with your space and ones that provide enough illumination to keep the space functional. The other key aspect is to ensure that you don’t obscure the sight lines of your space with a too low or too large light fixture Pendant lights can be a great choice for your high ceiling space but it is important to remember these things to pull it off.

Cylinder Lighting

This light fixture is simply a unique form of pendant lighting. I like this for its unique design and its small enough that it won’t obscure sightlines for the space.

Globe Lighting Vaulted Ceiling

Globe lighting is a light that projects light in all directions. They are usually encased in a glass bulb, hence their name. I might be a little unconventional in preferring the frosted glass bulbs over the clear glass ones. either way you truly can’t go wrong with globe lighting it is timeless and relatively inexpensive.

Beaded Light Fixture

Here is another fun little light fixture that I absolutely adore. I love how this designer used various wood tones in this space and even though the light fixture is not made of wood it somehow blends in amazingly and is a great focal point in this space.

Wicker Vaulted Ceiling Lighting

I am a big fan of wicker lighting fixtures and have used them extensively in my own home. I especially love them in spaces that have vaulted ceilings. The natural texture and warmth of the wicker add a cozy element to the space. There is something about wicker lighting fixtures that gives off a beachy/ coastal vibe without being too over-the-top. It’s a great way to add some character and charm to your high ceiling space.

Rattan Light Fixture

Similar to wicker you have rattan light fixtures and the way they let light into your home is simply amazing. The natural look to them offers a warm overall feeling in any space. I love everything about this one from its modern look to its size to the wood paneling it’s mounted to. This is truly a great design.

Vaulted Ceiling Lighting in Closing

I hope you have enjoyed this list of amazing vaulted ceiling lighting options. They truly come in all different shapes, sizes, and designs. Your home is a reflection of who you are so make it beautiful, add your personal touch with one of these stunning light fixtures, and make your vaulted ceiling the focal point it deserves to be.