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21 Vaulted Ceiling Ideas Highlight Contemporary Design Trends

Craftsman-style kitchen with barrel vault with wood-plank barrel vault ceiling.

A vaulted ceiling is an architectural term referring to any type of ceiling taller than eight feet that has some sort of self-supporting arch. Vaulted ceilings can create a dramatic visual impact in any room of the house. We’ve put together a curated gallery of vaulted ceilings to provide inspiration for your own design ideas.

1. Asymmetrical Space Features Clerestory Windows

A modish formal living room with a stylish fireplace with a TV on the wall. The area also features a nice sofa set.

A formal living room in the corner of a home features an asymmetrical vaulted ceiling with recessed lighting and clerestory windows. The space includes beige sofas surrounding a coffee table set on an area rug spread over white cement flooring. They face a linear fireplace and flatscreen TV set into a gray cement accent wall, which at the top follows the angular slope of the ceiling. Sliding glass doors lead out to a pool area.

2. Copper Fireplace Extends Full-Height to Top of Cathedral Ceiling 

A contemporary great room with dark finished walls and a vaulted ceiling with beams. The fireplace looks perfect together with the dark shade surrounding the space.

Contemporary great room with cement flooring features a dark gray wood-plank cathedral ceiling with exposed beams. A wood-burning fireplace, clad in copper, is centered on an accent wall flanked by a flat-screen TV and picture window. A sofa and armchairs face the fireplace and TV, while an eating area, breakfast bar, and kitchen take up the other half of the space.

3. Exposed Wood Beams Add Support for High Ceiling

Vaulted ceiling living room with glass doors and a fireplace together with bookshelves and white sofa set.

Living room features a cathedral ceiling with exposed wooden ribbed supports, light hardwood flooring, and a wall consisting of French doors with transoms and picture windows. The space also includes a sofa set facing a wood-burning fireplace with a stone surround flanked by shelving and cabinetry.

4. Clerestory Windows Draw Natural Light into Massive Space

An elegant-looking formal living room with brown leather seats and a classic piano set on the hardwood flooring. The chandelier looks wonderful together with the high vaulted ceiling with beams.

The great room in a modern Tennessee farmhouse features a cathedral ceiling with exposed rustic wood beams and a wrought-iron candlestick chandelier. The massive space has two separate sitting areas, one focused around a stone fireplace and the other more music-oriented. Upholstered sofas and chairs face the fireplace, which is flanked by shelving units. The music area includes an antique upright piano and various electric and acoustic guitars. Near the instruments is a seating arrangement that includes a long wooden bench, two leather armchairs, and a faux cowhide ottoman set up on a Persian area rug spread over distressed wood plank flooring. Natural light is drawn in through a series of glass doors and windows as well as large clerestory windows. 

5. Exposed Wood Beams Serve as Area Dividers

A great room under the vaulted ceiling with exposed beams and is surrounded by white walls.

Vaulted Ceiling in great room features exposed wood beams that visually mark off the kitchen and living room as separate areas. The space also includes white walls, marble flooring and clerestory windows.

6. Four-Poster Bed Set in Front of Rustic Wood Accent Wall

A very attractive primary bedroom featuring gray walls and vaulted ceiling lighted by a glamorous chandelier.

Primary bedroom features a four-poster bed with a dark wood dresser set in front of a rustic wood accent wall. The space also includes carpeted flooring and a crystal chandelier suspended from a vaulted ceiling.

7. Four-Poster Bed Set in Front of Rustic Wood Accent Wall

A classy home featuring sparkling tiles flooring surrounded by light gray walls and under the high vaulted ceiling.

A classy home featuring sparkling tiles flooring surrounded by light gray walls and under the high vaulted ceiling.

 

Craftsman-style kitchen with barrel vault with wood-plank barrel vault ceiling.

Craftsman-style kitchen with rustic wood-plank barrel vault ceiling.

Large white formal living room with a cozy sofa set under the white vaulted ceiling with beams. The wall decor looks absolutely attractive.

A modern home with unique style featuring white vaulted ceiling and hardwood flooring.

A large great room featuring a stunning vaulted ceiling and classy hardwood flooring. The room boasts a nice sofa set and a charming dining table set.

A large great room featuring a stunning vaulted ceiling and classy hardwood flooring. The room boasts a nice sofa set and a charming dining table set.

A large kitchen boating a massive center island set on the hardwood flooring. The vaulted ceiling with exposed beams provides magnificent bright lights.

A large kitchen boating a massive center island set on the hardwood flooring. The vaulted ceiling with exposed beams provides magnificent bright lights.

 

A massive primary bathroom boasting marble tiles flooring and a large deep soaking tub under the vaulted ceiling with skylights.

A massive primary bathroom boasting marble tiles flooring and a large deep soaking tub under the vaulted ceiling with skylights.

An elegant formal living room featuring hardwood flooring and a vaulted ceiling with beams lighted by a modish chandelier. The sofa set looks perfect together with the stylish fireplace.

An elegant formal living room featuring hardwood flooring and a vaulted ceiling with beams lighted by a modish chandelier. The sofa set looks perfect together with the stylish fireplace.

A contemporary great room with dark finished walls and a vaulted ceiling with beams. The fireplace looks perfect together with the dark shade surrounding the space.

This kitchen and dining combo under the rustic vaulted ceiling look so elegant with its classy white walls and floors.

A simple formal living room with beige sofa set on top of the hardwood flooring. The fireplace looks perfect together with the white vaulted ceiling.

A simple formal living room with beige sofa set on top of the hardwood flooring. The fireplace looks perfect together with the white vaulted ceiling.

Related: Groin Vault Ceiling | Kitchens with Vaulted Ceilings | Cove Style Ceilings | Ceiling Design Ideas 

A great room featuring hardwood flooring and vaulted ceiling lighted by recessed lights, pendant lights and a chandelier.

A great room featuring hardwood flooring and vaulted ceiling lighted by recessed lights, pendant lights and a chandelier.

A classy formal living room with a nice sofa set on top of a graceful carpet flooring. The fireplace with a brick wall extending to the vaulted ceiling looks very stylish as well.

A classy formal living room with a nice sofa set on top of a graceful carpet flooring. The fireplace with a brick wall extending to the vaulted ceiling looks very stylish as well.

A stunning primary bedroom surrounded by wooden walls and ceiling and is lighted by a glamorous chandelier.

A stunning primary bedroom surrounded by wooden walls and ceiling and is lighted by a glamorous chandelier.

A large classy formal living space with an elegant sofa set on top of a lovely carpet flooring. The fireplace looks stylish.

A large classy formal living space with an elegant sofa set on top of a lovely carpet flooring. The fireplace looks stylish.

A small living space featuring a cozy couch on top of the gray carpet flooring surrounded by white walls and ceiling.

A small living space featuring a cozy couch on top of the gray carpet flooring surrounded by white walls and ceiling.

A large formal living room featuring a nice set of seats on top of a classy rug. The fireplace looks perfect together with the room's style.

A large formal living room featuring a nice set of seats on top of a classy rug. The fireplace looks perfect together with the room’s style.