Best Feature Lighting Ideas for Vaulted or Tall Ceilings
Interior lighting is a fundamental element of any good interior design project especially if your room has a vaulted ceiling or very tall ceilings. Combining a good mix of functional and feature light fixtures is often the key to a winning lighting scheme.
What is a vaulted ceiling?
Vaulted ceilings are architectural arched or pitched forms in your ceiling. Originally used in cathedral architecture, they offer the interior a sense of grandeur by providing large amounts of space and beautiful architectural lines.
A vaulted ceiling can be the most beautiful architectural feature in a large living space such as a kitchen, lounge or dining area; often found in barn renovations or schools and churches with exposed beams that give the space rustic style. Vaulted ceilings can provide vast amounts of ceiling space, so there is an opportunity to hang large feature lights to create a wow factor.
Consider architectural style lighting over domestic style lighting to ensure you achieve the right balance in the space. We have selected our top pick of architectural style feature lighting for vaulted ceilings.
Pendant Lights for a Vaulted Ceiling
Large vintage copper cargo ceiling Light, £975. These beautiful cargo ceiling lights were made by Wiska a German manufacturer of industrial grade fixtures and fittings. We reclaim them from decommissioned cargo ships and fully restore and rewire them, making them compatible with LED light bulbs. They can be tilted making them practical directional lights to illuminate any darker areas or decorative wall space that you want to highlight.
Large EOW Aluminium Explosion Proof Ceiling Light, £565 also available in black.
Large Aluminium Explosion Proof Ceiling Light, £635
Or the X-large aluminium searchlight pendant, £989 compatible with LED light bulbs.
Rustic Vintage Lighting for Barn Conversions
Often barn conversions will have a tall or vaulted ceiling. The conversion below uses reclaimed copper pendants suspended on very long chains which are beautifully in keeping with the overall rustic vintage look and feel of the converted barn.
These reclaimed pendants can be suspended to any length and have characterful rustic appeal, fully rewired and restored.
Copper Cage Ceiling Light, £205
White Cage Ceiling Pendant by Killark, £355
Vintage Cast Steel Explosion Proof Cage Pendant by Kokosha, £325
Light Fitting for Sloping Ceiling
A sloping ceiling or pitched roof can be tricky to contend with especially where space is limited. If your bedroom or bathroom has a sloping ceiling, it can be tricky to design the space to include the furniture whilst ensuring there is enough light. This is where smaller functional wall lighting might come in handy, instead of using pendant lights where height might not allow it. These reclaimed small industrial spotlights, £72, are great to mount on walls where space is tight and they are waterproof as well, so can be used in bathrooms or outdoors.
They can be mounted next to each other in multiples as can be seen in the bathroom below, or spread around the room as singles. The aluminium spot light has been painted (powder coated) black to match the black fixtures & fittings throughout the bathroom. If you're looking for unique lighting that can't be found on the high street then using vintage or reclaimed lighting is a great option for creating a characterful interior.
Inject Character with Feature Lighting
Love them or hate them, a vaulted ceiling or pitched roof is an opportunity to add some fantastic feature lighting to make the most of the lofty space and stamp your character on the space. With the extra space of a vaulted ceiling comes the challenge of illuminating it perfectly. Using a standard ceiling pendant typically used in a room with a 8-9 foot ceiling height might not work very well. The room could dwarf the pendant and make it look tiny in the space. This is a great opportunity to inject your personal style into the room by using large statement or architectural ceiling light fixtures whether it’s a rustic, industrial or contemporary style interior décor you want to achieve.
Ever thought about using a retro strip light? The 4ft flameproof aluminium tube lights by Aqua Signal are uber cool. At 145cm long they are a great idea for spreading light and ooze bags of original industrial character to boot.
Vintage Industrial Edison LED Strip Lighting
Hang in multiples
If you have the opportunity to hang multiple light fixtures in a row, not only is it a good way to spread the light throughout larger spaces but a great way of making an impact with feature lights. This reclaimed rusted aluminium ceiling pendant mimics the shape of a vaulted ceiling creating a lovely design aesthetic. Perfectly placed over a kitchen island in a row of two or more.
Include Industrial or Rustic Features
A vaulted ceiling is a lovely excuse to incorporate reclaimed beams or industrial style conduit and metal brackets to round out your look, too. If you love the authentic industrial look or rustic farmhouse appeal then a large cage light is a great feature light to create the character you're after. This bronze cage ceiling pendant by Kokosha will make that necessary statement and those wooden ceiling beams will make the perfect hanging spot for them.
Explosion Proof Steel Cage Light by Kokosha, £297
Tips for Hanging Lights in Vaulted Ceilings
- Ensure you can reach your light fitting to be able to change the bulb. Consider a rise and fall style light if the fixture is suspended very high in the ceiling.
- Use LED bulbs so you don’t have to change them so often
- Check the weight of the light fixture and ensure you have adequate support. If you are unsure always ask a professional electrician.
- Check the size of the light fixture. Make sure it is not too small.
- Follow our guide on getting the correct amount of lighting in your space
Your goal is not only to provide adequate lighting but also to create visual interest, by adding a layer of style into an otherwise empty space.
We have plenty to offer so browse our full range of vintage & industrial light fixtures and don't hesitate to get in touch with any questions
