Use lights to accent a room with a vaulted ceiling.
The irregular angles in a room with a vaulted ceiling can make the task of lighting seem like a challenge. Lamps that are closer to the ground are great for providing localized light, but can make the room seem shorter and less open. When placed inappropriately, lights in a room with a vaulted ceiling can cast unwanted shadows or create glare off reflective surfaces. By combining different lighting styles, the room's lighting will be practical, easy on the eyes and will make the space look attractive.
Instructions
1. Make use of natural light. One of the best ways to flood a room with light is to install large windows on the walls, including on the taller portions of the walls, and a skylight on the vaulted ceiling. When you install such items, you'll depend less on artificial sources of light during the day, which can lower your power bill.
2. Install recessed ceiling lights. Generally used to highlight objects, recessed lights in a vaulted ceiling act similarly to light fixtures that are close to flat ceilings, providing a downward light that's not harsh because of the amount of space the lights illuminate. Recessed ceiling lights also compliment skylights well. Because recessed lights don't provide sufficient lighting alone, particularly if you want to read or work on a project at night, use this type of lighting in addition to supplementary lights, such as lamps.
3. Hang pendant lighting or a chandelier from the middle of a vaulted ceiling. Best when used sparingly, if you decide to use pendant lighting, distribute them evenly across the room so the open space above your head doesn't look cluttered or uneven. Only allow a pendant light to hang as far down as a flat ceiling would reach.
4. Use track lights if your vaulted ceiling has exposed beams in lieu of using recessed lights. Install the track lights on the exposed beams, directing the light to the areas of the room you want to illuminate. If you don't use pendant lamps on the track, supplement the lighting in the room with lamps. If you don't have exposed beams, you can use cable lights instead of track lights.
5. Use wall sconces around the perimeter of a room with a vaulted ceiling. If you don't want to use lamps to supplement the lighting in your room, consider placing evenly spaced sconces 6 feet from the floor around the room.
Tags: vaulted ceiling, room with, room with vaulted, exposed beams, recessed lights