If you have a vaulted ceiling, you might be wondering about your lighting options, as traditional ceiling-mounted lights can look awkward on vaulted ceilings and produce inferior lighting. This guide will help you learn about the possible options and find the best lighting for your vaulted ceiling.
Best Recessed Light For Vaulted Ceilings: TORCHSTAR 13.5W 6 Inch Gimbal LED Recessed Light with Junction Box
Best Pendant Light For Vaulted Ceilings: Licperron Industrial Pendant Light 3-pack
Best Track Lighting For Vaulted Ceilings: Globe Electric Kearney 6-Light Foldable Track Lighting
Best spotlight For Vaulted Ceilings: Westinghouse Lighting Three-Light Multi-Directional Flush Mount Interior Ceiling Fixture
Vaulted Ceiling Adapter: WAC Lighting SK14S-DB Flexrail 1 Sloped Ceiling Adapter
SkyLight For Vaulted Ceilings: ICON RV Skylight
Buying Guide
When it comes to vaulted ceilings, there are four different types of lighting to choose from, which work well, and each has different advantages and disadvantages, so it will very much depend on your personal circumstances and preference over which will work best in your space. The four best types of lighting for vaulted ceilings are:
Recessed Lights
Recessed lights are built into the ceiling and therefore require holes being made in your ceiling. This makes them a more permanent lighting solution as you’ll need to have your ceiling re-finished if you get bored of the lights and want to change them. Recessed lights are popular because they flood the space with evenly dispersed light, making them a great option for areas where good vision is required, such as in a kitchen, bathroom, or study.
Recessed lights are typically circular, but they can come in square-shaped. They come in a variety of finishes to suit different interior styles, such as brushed steel, silver, and black. Recessed lights can be a fire hazard if fitted incorrectly, so it is always a good idea to get a professional to install them.
Track Lights
Track lights are exactly that; a metal track with individual lights fitted along the length of it. The track can be fitted flush to the ceiling or hanging down slightly. Track lights are great because you can customize the type of light in the room by angling each individual light in a particular direction. Track lighting comes in a wide range of styles and colors, from basic utilitarian track lights to modern or funky twisted track lights. They also come in various sizes, such as smaller tracks with just three lights or longer tracks with as many as 12 lights for larger spaces.
Pendant Lights
Pendant lights are a stylish option for vaulted ceilings, and they can easily be installed without requiring a professional. The length of the cord on pendant lights can be adjusted to suit your space, which works well for vaulted ceilings as the ceiling will be at various heights. Many types of pendant lights can have their shades swapped out, which means you can inexpensively change up your decor later on.
The choice of pendant lighting is enormous; they can feature glass shades, metal shades, fabric shades, among others, and come in a huge range of colors, sizes, and designs. They can also vary dramatically in price so that you should be able to find a pendant light to fit your requirements no matter what your budget is. The downside of pendant lighting is that depending on the shade, the light produced can be patchy. Pendant lights point streams of light downwards, and you may need several pendant lights to create a well-lit space.
Skylights
Skylights are a great way to illuminate a space without the need for electricity. This can drastically cut down power bills and also make a contribution to becoming more environmentally friendly. As well as allowing light in, skylights can also help to heat up a space as the sun warms up a room. Skylights allow natural light into a room, which can give an airier feel to a space compared with artificial light. Skylights can also provide a feature in a vaulted ceiling, adding a connection to the outdoors.
Skylights will need to be installed by a professional, and in terms of a lighting option, they will likely be the most expensive; however, they can also help to add value to a home and make it more appealing to future prospective buyers.
Things to Consider
Price
If you have a tight budget, then this will restrict your options to pendant lighting and track lighting. Skylights are very costly to both buy and install, which rules out this option. Though recessed lights are fairly inexpensive to buy, they do require professional installation, which can be costly unless you’re able to install them yourself.
Required Illumination
The level of light you need in your room will largely affect which type of lighting you should go for. Skylights will give you plenty of natural light, but you’ll still need additional lighting if you want the room to be bright in the evenings. If you want consistently bright light to work in, for example, for cooking or for using a computer, then spotlights are a great option. For a more moody or atmospheric space, pendant lights can create a low-lit romantic atmosphere, for example, for dining or in a bedroom.
Style
The style of your lights will need to work with the rest of your decor, so this is an important consideration. If you want to make a statement, pendant lights are a great option as they come in a wide range of styles, from traditional to industrial. Pendant lighting is a good way to add interest to your decor and make a statement. Track lighting can also have this effect but to a slightly lesser degree, as track lights tend to be flat against the ceiling and so are out of most people’s general eye line. Spotlights are a fairly neutral choice of lighting, and they are best for evenly illuminating a space more so than having any style implications.
Installation
The installation of your preferred lighting will impact the cost and the timescale of having the lights fitted. If you want a quick lighting solution, then track lighting or pendant lighting will be best, as you can simply pick these types of lights up from your hardware store and fit them yourself the same day. Spotlights require slightly more planning and should be installed by an electrician. This will usually entail a visit from the electrician to plan out the spotlights and quote you a price, with the installation done at a later date. Depending on the schedule of your chosen electrician, you may have to wait several weeks.
A skylight is the most expensive and most time-consuming option in terms of installation. You will need a professional window fitter to measure up a skylight, order the skylight, and have it fitted. This process typically takes several weeks but can take months if you have the skylight specially manufactured.
Lighting For Vaulted Ceilings – Reviews
With all the above considerations in mind, these are what we’ve found to be the best options for vaulted ceilings.
Best Recessed Light For Vaulted Ceilings
TORCHSTAR 13.5W 6 Inch Gimbal LED Recessed Light with Junction Box
This recessed spotlight is dimmable, from 10% to 100%, allowing the user to customize the level of illumination. The light has a frosted cover which means the light dispersed is soft and won’t cause any glare. It has an 800lm output which is energy-saving to help the environment and cut energy bills. This light is able to rotate, allowing the user to point the light in a series of directions to which area of the room they wish to illuminate; this is ideal for vaulted ceilings as the light can point directly downwards even though the fitting will be at a diagonal angle. The light has a lifespan of 40,000 hours, giving the user peace of mind that it will last a long time.
Users of this light rate it highly for use with vaulted or slanted ceilings. Users especially enjoy how they are able to adjust the lights from a dim glow to very bright depending on the time of day or the atmosphere they want to achieve in a room. Users found the installation of the lights to be very easy and were impressed with the transformation they made for a reasonably low cost. Users also noted how well the lights blended into their ceiling.
The main complaint amongst users of these lights was that if you do encounter a problem, it can be difficult to get a response from customer services.
Pros:
- Dimmable
- Energy saving
- Rotatable
- Easy to install
- Long-lasting
Cons:
- Customer service can be patchy
Best Pendant Light For Vaulted Ceilings
Licperron Industrial Pendant Light 3-pack
This pack of three pendant lights is made from black metal with gold accents. They are designed in an industrial retro style which will make a stylish statement in any space. Each light has a diameter of a little over 10 inches. The cords for these lights are 47 inches long, but they can be made shorter if necessary. The top plate which fixes the light to the ceiling has a diameter of 4.7 inches. These vintage-style lights are compatible with E26 bulbs with a maximum wattage of 60, which are not included. The lights are compatible with dimming switches. They come with a one-year warranty.
Users of these lights comment that they are easy to install and even those with very limited experience at fitting lights found that the installation was complete in under an hour. Some users were concerned by the low price because they thought the lights would be low quality as a result, but fortunately, the users were pleasantly surprised and found that they look much more expensive than they were. They are a classic color that blends well with various interiors and adds a touch of style to a space. Users note that the construction of these lights is very high quality, with them being heavy and sturdy.
The only issue found by people with very high ceilings is that they would have liked the cord to be longer. Overall, users of these lights were overwhelmingly happy with their purchase and would recommend them highly.
Pros:
- Easy installation
- High quality
- Low cost
- Stylish
Cons:
- Cord too short for very high ceilings
Westinghouse Lighting Indoor Mini Pendant
This pendant light has a cord length of 50 inches which can be reduced in size, and the pendant has a maximum diameter of 7 inches. The light shade is made from hand-blown clear glass with a seeded finish. The clear glass allows the user to customize their level of illumination depending on the light bulb they select. The style of this light is elegant and vintage. It adds a touch of glamor to a space and could work in modern or classic interiors. The metal components of the light are finished in brushed nickel. The light comes with a five-year limited warranty against workmanship and material defects.
Users of this pendant light love the look of them and are very impressed with the quality considering the low price. Users found that the cord was plenty long enough even in rooms with very high ceilings, and the lights are compatible with dimming switches. The lights add a stylish accent to a room and give off a good level of light when used in a row.
One issue that was found by several users who ordered multiple lights was that the level of seeding on the glass varies considerably between each light, with some pendants having just a few bubbles and some having a huge amount. This wasn’t considered to be too much of a problem for most users, but it might be an issue if you’re keen on the lights being a perfect match to each other.
Pros:
- High quality
- Low cost
- Long adjustable cord
- Stylish
Cons:
- Glass seeding pattern varies between lights
Best Track Lighting For Vaulted Ceilings
Globe Electric Kearney 6-Light Foldable Track Lighting
This track light features six individual lamps which can be pointed in any direction to focus light in a specific area. The light is made from metal with a rubbed bronze finish. The lamps have a lattice pattern around them in a modern style, and the interior of the lampshades is finished in a champagne gold color. The track can be folded to customize the track lighting in different positions. This light is compatible with a dimmer switch and comes with all the six necessary bulbs included.
All mounting hardware is included with the purchase of the light, including a canopy mounting plate to ensure a quick and easy installation process. These track lights are suitable for use on flat, vaulted, or slanted ceilings. The full length of this light is four feet long, though it can be folded to reduce this size.
Users of this light were pleased with the look of it and found that it provided ample light in spaces that required bright illumination. The main complaint among users was that the included light bulbs were halogen, which is not an energy-efficient type of bulb, and most users replaced these with LED bulbs.
Some users also found that the included bulbs were very sharp, and they caused cuts on their fingers while fitting them, so it is strongly recommended to avoid using the included bulbs. Users found that the track lighting was of reasonable quality and quite lightweight. It is easy to install and comes with useful instructions.
Pros:
- Provides bright light
- Looks stylish
- Easy to install
- Lightweight
Cons:
- Included bulbs are halogen
Best spotlight For Vaulted Ceilings
Westinghouse Lighting Three-Light Multi-Directional Flush Mount Interior Ceiling Fixture
This light is designed to be mounted onto the ceiling and has three lights that can be pointed in multiple directions. This is an easy and inexpensive way to achieve the effect of recessed spotlights if you don’t want to go through the hassle of having holes cut out of your ceiling and getting an electrician in to install the wiring.
The light is made from metal and finished in a gloss white. It is compatible with E26 light bulbs, which are not included. The light has a diameter of a little over 10 inches and a depth of 8 inches. This is a no-frills design of light fixture which focuses more on functionality than style. It will work well with low, high, and vaulted ceilings. It comes with a five-year limited manufacturer’s warranty against workmanship and material defects.
Users of this light found it easy to install and were very impressed with the level of light it gives off. Some users even compared having this light on to being outside in bright sunlight. The multi-directional bulbs are great for focusing light in specific areas and reducing glare. Users note that the light should be used with LED bulbs and halogen bulbs avoided as they will get too hot and cause damage to the light fitting. Users were pleased with the classic design of the light and felt it blended in well with their decor.
The one issue brought up by users is that the light fitting is not white, as shown on advertising images. In fact, the light is grey, so this should be factored in when buying the light in case you are specifically looking for a white light fitting.
Pros:
- Gives bright lighting
- Easy to fit
- Manufacturer’s warranty included
- Classic design
Cons:
- Light fitting is gray, not white
Vaulted Ceiling Adapter
WAC Lighting SK14S-DB Flexrail 1 Sloped Ceiling Adapter
This product isn’t a light fitting itself; it is an adapter that can be used alongside other light fittings to make them suitable for vaulted or sloped ceilings. It is a simple yet genius design that screws onto ceiling lights to allow them to point downwards. If you have a semi-flush light or a pendant light with a stiff bar instead of a cord or chain, then this adapter can be used to enable you to fit your light to a vaulted ceiling. It is finished in matte black metal and will blend flawlessly to black metal light fittings.
Users of this adapter are very impressed with it, and many have referred to it as having ‘saved the day,’ allowing them to fit a light fitting on their vaulted or sloped ceiling that they would otherwise have had to return. It is easy to install, sturdy and works exactly as described. The one complaint amongst some users was that this adapter isn’t available in other colors. If your light fitting is not black, then this fitting would stand out too much and look a little out of place. Users expressed an interest in also having the option to purchase bronze, silver, gold, or white adapters.
Pros:
- Solves lighting problems for slanted ceilings
- Easy to use
- Sturdy
Cons:
- Only available in black
SkyLight For Vaulted Ceilings
ICON RV Skylight
This skylight is made from polycarbonate, a type of strong, clear plastic. It is molded into a rectangular domed shape, with a total measurement of 18 inches by 26 inches, while the domed part measures 14 inches by 22 inches. The dome is 4 inches deep. This is a universal skylight that will be compatible as a replacement for other skylights of the same size. As a replacement, it is easy to install by the user, but if this is a new skylight, you will need a professional to install the light to ensure it is watertight and meets building regulations. The plastic is UV resistant to prevent damage from UV rays, and it is also impact resistant.
Users of this skylight found it to be made from thick, durable plastic and were impressed with the quality. Users commented that the skylight let plenty of natural light in and also enjoyed being able to see the stars at night time.
Some users had trouble installing the skylight, noting that the screws caused the plastic to crack, though this may be a user error as many others did not have this issue. Using a screwdriver rather than a power tool may help to prevent this problem. Most users found this skylight to be of reasonable quality for the cost and experienced good customer service from the manufacturer.
Pros:
- Reasonable quality and price
- Allows lots of natural light in
- Good customer service
- Strong and sturdy plastic
Cons:
- Screw fittings may crack the plastic
