If you're looking for vaulted ceiling lighting ideas, here's what you need to know. A vaulted ceiling is a unique design opportunity that shouldn’t be taken for granted!
But many homeowners are overwhelmed by the prospect of selecting light fixtures for such a space. Vaulted ceilings can support a wide variety of light fixtures that wouldn’t fit in a room with a standard ceiling.
They can also make it more difficult to fully illuminate the living area underneath. From traditional to avant-garde, there’s no shortage of great vaulted ceiling lighting ideas out there just waiting to be incorporated into your home.
Keep reading for instant inspiration!
Quick Look
- Low-Hanging Chandelier
- Recessed Lighting
- Skylights
- Statement Ceiling Fan
- Oversized Pendant Light
- Multi-Source Lighting
- Globe Pendants
- Multiple Chandeliers
- Wall Sconces
- Tiffany Chandelier
- Pendant Cluster
- Integrated LEDs
- Task Lighting
- Macrame Chandelier
- Track Lighting
- Spiral Chandelier
16 Unique Vaulted Ceiling Lighting Ideas for Your Home
1. Low-Hanging Chandelier
You may be thinking that the whole point of a vaulted ceiling is to create extra space overhead. But there’s no reason for that space to sit empty.
A low-hanging chandelier, like HungGwun's Crystal Chandelier, can help the space above your living room or dining area feel functional without sacrificing that vast, airy aesthetic.
Most chandeliers include adjustable chains — you can customize the height to fit your exact needs. If you have a fixture in mind that’s not quite low enough, upgrading to a longer chain is an easy fix!
2. Recessed Lighting
Recessed lighting probably shouldn’t be your primary light source. But it is the perfect sidekick for a larger fixture for those times when you need a little extra illumination.
Despite gaining a bit of a negative reputation over the years, modern recessed lights are incredibly versatile and stylish.
Space recessed lights around the room to ensure every corner is well lit. Invest in dimmable fixtures for even more control over your home’s inner ambiance.
3. Skylights
During the day, skylights are wonderful sources of natural sunlight. At night, you can even enjoy the moon and stars from the comfort of your home’s interior. Cathedral-style ceilings are ideal for installing a set of skylights.
When planning out the room’s lighting, think about how the sun will enter the space at different times of the day. Include powered light fixtures as well for those days (and evenings!) when the sun is out of sight.
4. Statement Ceiling Fan
A chandelier isn’t the only fixture you can use to fill the space created by a vaulted ceiling. You can check two boxes at once by installing a stylish ceiling fan like TFCFL's 42-Inch Tiffany-Style Ceiling Fan.
On top of looking great, adding a ceiling fan to your vaulted ceiling can help circulate air throughout the room.
As with a standard hanging fixture, the height of your new ceiling fan is very important. Consult with a professional installer to determine the perfect height!
5. Oversized Pendant Light
If a traditional chandelier is too antiquated for your taste, consider hanging a statement pendant light in its place.
A pendant light is essentially a chandelier with only one light bulb like Westinghouse Lighting Store's Mini Pendant.
While both fixtures work the same, pendant lights tend to offer a more contemporary aesthetic than their bulkier counterparts. There are countless styles of pendant light to choose from!
From dramatic to refined, you’ll have no trouble finding a new light fixture that suits your personal style.
6. Multi-Source Lighting
Illuminating a standard-sized room is already hard enough. So it should come as no surprise that ensuring a space with a vaulted ceiling is adequately lit is no small task!
While there’s nothing wrong with including a statement fixture in your room design, think twice about using it as the sole source of light.
Multiple light sources are much more practical for a large space with vaulted ceilings. Plus, with independent switches, you can customize the room’s lighting at any given moment.
7. Globe Pendants
Light fixtures don’t need to be over the top to match the grandeur of a vaulted ceiling. In many homes, simpler lighting ideas are the most impactful!
Globe-style pendant lights, like MOTINI's Large Globe Pendants, are the perfect addition to an understated living room or dining area.
Globe pendants are available in a variety of sizes and even colors — the height of each fixture can be easily adjusted at installation. You can hang several matching pendants in a row or stick to a single accent fixture in the very center of the room.
8. Multiple Chandeliers
Why limit yourself to one chandelier when you could have several? With a tall vaulted ceiling, you might just be able to pull it off! Hanging multiple chandeliers in a single room might seem like overkill.
But countless homeowners pull off this lighting setup every day without issue. The secret to making this idea work is to invest in matching chandeliers that are not too bold.
Be sure to scale your chosen light fixtures to the rest of the room. Chandeliers that are too large will easily overpower the rest of the space.
9. Wall Sconces
It’s easy to focus solely on ceiling fixtures when planning out a room’s lighting. But you shouldn’t ignore the potential of a few well-placed wall sconces.
Using uplit wall sconces, like Designer Fountain's Wall Sconce, in a space with vaulted ceilings is a great way to draw the eye skyward. This will make the room feel even larger than it actually is!
Be sure to select wall sconces that coordinate with the existing fixtures. Think of wall sconces as accents rather than the main attraction.
10. Tiffany Chandelier
Many contemporary living spaces would be overwhelmed by a Tiffany-style chandelier like Chloe's Tiffany-Style Victorian Ceiling Pendant.
But that’s not the case for a larger-than-life room with a vaulted ceiling. Whether you opt for an authentic Tiffany product or an inspired imitation, there are a wide variety of sizes and styles to choose from.
This type of chandelier is ideal for any space in need of some mood lighting, like a formal dining area. For better illumination, pair your vintage-inspired fixture with recessed lighting around the room’s perimeter.
11. Pendant Cluster
Enjoy the sleek look of a pendant combined with the multi-bulb design of a chandelier by clustering several hanging pendants together like Linea di Liara's Glass Cluster Pendant Lights.
You can recreate this design with practically any pendant light of your choosing. Hang lights at varying heights for a unique aesthetic and more consistent illumination.
You can even mix and match different pendants to create an entirely one-of-a-kind light fixture.
12. Integrated LEDs
Emphasize the impressive height and angle of your vaulted ceiling by installing integrated LED strips throughout the space.
This type of recessed lighting creates a cozy atmosphere while drawing attention to the unique architecture inside your home. It works particularly well alongside a cove- or dome-style vaulted ceiling!
Pair integrated LEDs with more traditional hanging fixtures or lamps for a custom lighting arrangement. For ultra-modern appeal, invest in custom color-changing LEDs.
13. Task Lighting
Task lighting is just as important to a living space as ambient lighting. Lamps of all kinds are wonderful examples of task light fixtures. Adequate task lighting is especially crucial in a space with vaulted ceilings.
Often, the overhead light fixtures won’t offer enough illumination for detailed tasks. The number and type of task lighting sources in a room are largely dictated by its day-to-day use.
Take the time to note where the space could use additional lighting before investing in new tables, desks, or wall lamps. You could check out CO-Z's Modern Arc Floor Lamp.
14. Macrame Chandelier
Despite all of their benefits, vaulted ceilings can make some rooms feel cold and unwelcoming. Incorporating soft textiles throughout your decor can help counteract this common complaint.
Macrame chandeliers like GO&SO Store's Bohemian Handmade Macrame Chandelier, are a trendy alternative to fixtures made exclusively of metal and glass.
Use a woven macrame light fixture anywhere you want to create a more relaxed atmosphere. These chandeliers come in a variety of sizes and styles and can be paired with a vast number of decor aesthetics.
15. Track Lighting
Lighting an interior room means striking a balance between form and function. If you find your home lacking in the latter, a set of stylish track lighting like DLLT's Flexible Track Lighting, may be just what you need.
Many people associate track lighting with commercial buildings. But this style of light fixture has become incredibly common in residential design as well.
Traditional track lighting works best in spaces with an industrial-inspired edge. Don’t be afraid to explore the many styles and finishes of track lighting available for your home.
You may be surprised by the diversity of possibilities!
16. Spiral Chandelier
Some light fixtures, such as the spiral chandelier, require a plethora of space to even consider installing. These fixtures are the perfect candidates for homes with ultra-high vaulted ceilings.
Whether mounted in a foyer or over a formal dining table, a spiral chandelier like Artika's 5-Pendant Spiral Chandelier, is one of the most dramatic light fixtures you can include in your home.
With a head-turning light fixture like this one, you may be tempted to go as big as possible. However, selecting a chandelier that is an appropriate size for the space is essential to a high-quality finished design.