A vaulted ceiling is an architectural term referring to any 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. I’ve put together a curated gallery of vaulted ceilings to provide inspiration for your own design ideas.
1. Open-Concept Blend of Modern and Contemporary Styles
Natural light pours into this formal living room featuring an asymmetrical vaulted ceiling with recessed lighting and clerestory windows. The open-concept space includes beige sofas surrounding a coffee table set on an area rug spread over white cement flooring. The seating faces a linear fireplace and flatscreen TV set into a gray cement accent wall, which at the top follows the angular slope of the ceiling. Elongated recessed light fixtures on the accent wall add to the room’s modern aesthetic. The room promotes indoor-outdoor living with sliding glass doors leading out to a pool area.
2. Copper Fireplace Extends Full-Height to Top of Cathedral Ceiling
This contemporary great room 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. A skylight or pendant light would help to illuminate the space.
3. Exposed Wood Beams Add Support for High Ceiling
The 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
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
The vaulted ceiling in this 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.
- Designed by: Barrett Studio Architects
6. Four-Poster Bed Set in Front of Rustic Wood Accent Wall
The 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.
- Designed by: Luxe Homes & Design
7. Stone Fireplace Provides Focal Point
This vaulted ceiling living room blends elements of rustic charm with the sleekness of modern design. The soaring ceiling gives the room a sense of grandeur and spaciousness, while the stone fireplace provides a focal point. A wrought-iron chandelier hangs from the ceiling, which also has multiple recessed lights. The high-gloss finish on the floor reflects natural light streaming in through the large windows and transom.
- Designed by: Luxe Homes & Design
8. Eclectic Kitchen Space Embraces Rustic Modern Vibe
The kitchen ceiling is a standout feature in this marvelously eclectic space, with its barrel vault design adorned with wooden planks. I love the wood plank flooring, which complements the high vaulted ceiling and adds continuity to the overall design. White subway tiles line the walls, offering a clean look that contrasts nicely with the wooden elements. The hanging pendant lights with a cage design give the space an industrial vibe.
- Source: Garrell Associates
9. Neutral Living Room with Bursts of Color
This living room is a great example of how a space can be both sophisticated and cozy, balancing neutral tones with bursts of color. The white vaulted ceilings with exposed beams lend a sense of openness and architectural depth. The room uses neutral shades like beige, gray, and white as a backdrop for the art. The wall decor has a bunch of stuff going on visually, making it tough to find the right spot to hang art. I might have tried a different configuration or maybe something completely different with the wall space.
- Source: Kentfield Residence
10. Attic Space Drenched in Natural Light
The high, pitched ceiling creates a sense of zen spaciousness and is accentuated by white wooden paneling, which provides warmth and texture. The most striking feature is the diamond-shaped window that frames the view outside and offers a unique design element. The attic space is drenched in natural light, emphasizing the clean lines and natural wood tones of the flooring.
11. White Vaulted Ceiling Features Cross-Beam Pattern
This great room offers a cozy ambiance emphasizing the combination of traditional elements with modern accents in the home decor. The white vaulted ceiling, with a unique cross-beam pattern, contrasts beautifully with the dark-hued walls and rich hardwood flooring. Large, floor-to-ceiling windows draw in natural light and provide panoramic views of the sea and trees outside.
12. Kitchen Island the Center of Work and Play
This massive kitchen strikes a balance between modern luxury and rustic charm. The overall design benefits from the vaulted ceiling with exposed wooden beams, which gives the room a sense of height and spaciousness. Skylights and large windows flood the space with natural light. The central dark wood island, with a light-colored quartz countertop, acts as a focal point as both a workspace and entertainment center.
13. Mirrors Amplify Bathroom’s Sense of Space
The monochrome palette with deep charcoal walls contrasts with the white marble surfaces, creating a sophisticated and timeless bathroom design. The extensive use of mirrors not only amplifies the sense of space but also reflects light around the room. The geometric ceiling, with recessed lighting and skylights, adds dimension to the room.
14. Wooden Beams Add Architectural Interest
The living room features a vaulted ceiling with dark wooden beams, adding depth and architectural interest. The overall design combines a rustic, natural feel with modern furniture, including a chandelier with several pendant lights. The stacked stone fireplace serves as a strong focal point, with recessed nooks housing a television and shelving. Hardwood flooring extends into adjacent rooms.
15. Minimalist Furnishings Make Bold Statement
The ceiling height combined with an open layout gives the area a spacious, airy feel. The exposed wooden beams and trusses add rustic charm, while the geometric design evokes a cathedral-like atmosphere. Almost every furnishing in the minimalist design makes a bold statement, with the block island particularly striking for both its functional and visual interest.
16. Living Room Combines Traditional and Modern Elements
This living space combines traditional architectural elements, such as the arched windows, with modern furnishings. The white color of the vaulted ceiling contrasts with the green walls, accentuating the room’s height and emphasizing the geometric design.
Related: Groin Vault Ceiling | Kitchens with Vaulted Ceilings | Cove Style Ceilings | Ceiling Design Ideas
17. Open-Concept Space Emphasizes Flow
The combined living, dining, and kitchen areas emphasize flow between different zones of the house. The high, vaulted ceilings add a sense of spaciousness, making the room seem larger. The soft gray walls paired with white trim and ceiling provide an elegant backdrop, allowing the furniture and decor pieces to stand out.
18. Furniture Spread Out Over Large space
Earth tones predominate in this living room which blends mid-century modern aesthetics with contemporary elements. The angular, vaulted ceiling enhances the sense of space with the furniture spread out over a large area. The brick fireplace wall, reaching up to the ceiling, acts as the room’s focal point.
19. Wood Reinforces Rustic Chalet Aesthetic
The use of wood on walls, ceilings, and ceiling beams, evokes a rustic chalet aesthetic. A distressed wooden panel behind the wood-burning stove serves as an accent wall, adding depth and texture to the space. The sloped ceiling, supported by dark wooden beams, provides a sense of spaciousness and reinforces the room’s rustic decor.
20. Expansive Mantel Fills Up One Wall
This living space combines classic design elements with contemporary comfort. The neutral palette, accented by touches of purple and gray, creates a sophisticated ambiance. A massive white sectional sofa surrounds a coffee table and faces towards the fireplace, which has an expansive mantel that takes up one wall.
21. Space Connects Indoors with Outside
The skylights, transom windows, and large sliding glass doors seamlessly connect the indoor living area to the outdoor space. The room is made up of neutral tones like beige, white, and gray, allowing the numerous decorative elements to pop. Plush sofas and armchairs are oriented towards both the fireplace and the flatscreen TV mounted above it.
- Source: Houzz
