High ceilings are a beloved feature in a home and one that many homebuyers seek out in particular. They make the room feel larger and more open and often allow for more natural light to move through the space.
With high ceilings comes the modern interior lighting question: what is the best ceiling lighting for high ceilings? How do you incorporate them into the space? Read on for some ideas to help you get started.
What Kind of Vaulted Ceiling Lights Are There?
Before anything else, it’s a good idea to get familiar with the different kinds of high ceiling light fittings you have to work with:
- PENDANT LIGHTS. For high ceilings, few lighting types work better than a good pendant lighting. Hanging lights provide beautiful, thorough ambient lighting while also making use of all of that vertical space high ceilings afford.
- WALL SCONCES. Sconces for high ceilings allow you to get a little more creative with your lighting placement. You can install them on the slopes of the ceiling to provide illumination all the way up.
- RECESSED LIGHTS. A great choice for modern decor, recessed lighting for high ceilings provides a minimalist appearance while generating ample lighting.
- UPLIGHTING. Using interior uplighter wall lamps for high ceilings will help you visually extend the height of the ceiling itself. They will draw attention to the vertical climb of the walls and make a great choice for accent lighting.
- TRACK LIGHTS. Similar in idea to the recessed light, track lighting for vaulted ceilings brings minimalist charm while providing a lot of light.
How To Implement Vaulted Ceiling Lighting
Now that you have an idea of the styles of LED lights for high ceilings, here are some tips and tricks on incorporating them into your space.
Pendant Lighting
Pendants, whether statement lights or average size, work well to take up the vertical space of a vaulted ceiling. It is a good idea to get a hanging pendant lights with a long, adjustable drop cable so you can adjust it to the height and slope of your unique ceiling.
Standard ceiling heights of eight feet require at least seven feet of space between the floor and the bottom of the fixture. For vaulted ceilings, you will need to lengthen the drop height by three inches for each foot above the usual eight-foot height.
If you are installing multiple pendant lights for vaulted ceilings, it is recommended that you install them at staggered heights. This will give the space extra dimension and depth to improve the visuals in the room.
Spotlights and Recessed Lighting
Spotlights are particularly useful as task lights. It is best to place them around three feet from the wall to eliminate strong shadows.
How much space you place between each light depends on the dimensions of the room as well as the lighting effect you’re after. Even so, it is generally recommended that you place them around four to six feet from one another.
Directional recessed downlights are helpful on a sloped ceiling. You can turn them to shine light at an angle that corresponds with your specific ceiling.
Track Lighting
Track lights are popular for vaulted ceilings and can be attached to exposed beams or anywhere else on the sloped ceiling. They do not have to necessarily be at the very top if you have any unique features you want to accentuate on the way up.
Wall Sconces
Wall lights can help extend illumination throughout the vaulted area if there are any dark spots. Place them along any flat portion of the wall or at the base where the vaulted ceiling starts to take care of these easily neglected areas.
Beyond that, modern sconces and uplighter interior wall lamps can be a source of beauty and decoration in and of themselves. Choosing interesting looking lights can enhance the overall appearance of the room while providing pleasant accent lighting.
General Tips and Advice for Vaulted Ceiling Interior Lighting
Keep the following in mind when installing your lights.
Mind the Rule of Thirds
With this rule, you will divide the room into three levels: top, bottom and centre. Lighting each level will ensure even lighting throughout the vertical space.
The top third is where you’ll install the ambient lighting. Hanging lights for high ceilings work well for this, as do recessed lights. If you want to add any statement lights, this is also the place for them.
In the middle area, you can install accent lighting. LED track lighting and even indoor wall lamps are a good choice for this area.
The bottom level is where you’ll find task lighting. Table lights, floor lamps and other portable lighting are ideal in this area.
Layer Your Lights
In all of these sections of the rooms, you will want to layer the lightning together. There are three layers to a lighting scheme: ambient, accent and task lighting:
- AMBIENT LIGHTING. Ambient lights provide the main source of illumination across the room.
- ACCENT LIGHTING. Accent lights enhance the mood and atmosphere of a room. They can also be used to highlight focal points.
- TASK LIGHTING. Task lights are used in places where activities take place. Reading, writing, cooking, knitting and working on your laptop are all easier with good task lighting.
In a room with a vaulted ceiling, combining these lights will ensure even illumination and eliminate any hot spots. Layering is therefore essential to making sure a room is well-balanced.
Stick to a Theme
It is a good idea to keep to a certain theme when it comes to lighting fixtures. Pendants, lamps and indoor wall lights should have similar finishes and material compositions to ensure streamlined decor throughout the room.
Take Advantage of Natural Lighting
Many vaulted ceilings have windows installed towards the top. This allows natural lighting to pour in during the day. Use natural lighting when possible to illuminate the space in the daytime, and stick to artificial lights at night.
Know How Much Light You Need
Consider the amount of light you’ll need in the room. Choose lumen counts and the number of light fixtures according to how much illumination you’ll want. You want to ensure you have enough light without making the space too bright and glaring.
Choose the Right Colour Temperature
Both outside and inside lights have certain colour temperatures to choose from. Colour temperature is simply how warm or cool a light is.
Lights exist on a spectrum of colour indicated by units Kelvin. The higher the Kelvin rating, the cooler the light. Conversely, the lower the Kelvin rating, the warmer the light.
For interior domestic spaces, it is recommended that you use warm white lights. A range between 3000k and 3300k is best for lighting a vaulted ceiling.
Use LEDs
LED lights have many benefits that make them the clear choice against halogen and incandescent light. They are energy efficient, cost-effective and versatile. They also last tens of thousands of hours as opposed to the 1,000 or so hours of halogen bulbs.
LED lights come in a variety of colour temperatures and lumen counts. With them, you can really specify just how bright and in what colour you want the light to shine.
Add Dimmers and Controls
You want to be able to easily control the lights you have for your vaulted ceiling. One way to do this is to install dimmer switches. Dimmers allow you to alter the brightness of a light depending on the time of day or the mood that strikes you. It provides just another way to customise your lighting scheme.
You may also choose to have multiple switches for the different lights in your space. Having various controls will allow you to use certain lights without having to turn all of them on.
Whatever you choose to do with your lighting controls, be sure they are within easy reach. Otherwise, you can incorporate them into your smart lighting scheme. Doing so will allow you to control them with your voice, through an app or with a timer.
