Home Building Details: Vaulted Ceilings
Are vaulted ceilings the right decision for your home?
When describing your dream home’s initial design, are you thinking about the ceiling heights? We think you should be! Years of experience have taught us how extremely difficult, and in some cases impossible, it is to retroactively build vaulted ceilings into your space after the fact. We encourage our homeowners to make the decision early on if they want to incorporate traditional ceiling heights or vaulted ceilings into their dream home, and when they ask us our take on vaulted ceilings here is what we tell them.
Builder’s Note: A vaulted ceiling in our definition is a ceiling higher than the typical 8-foot flat ceiling height. Typical vaulted ceiling height in previous projects can be anywhere from 12 - 25 ft.
Vaulted ceilings make your room appear larger
One reason we like to incorporate a vaulted ceiling into our custom builds is because it can add more visual space to a room adding a sense of grandeur and dramatic volume. While the footprint of the room remains the same the heightened ceiling can give the illusion of more space. If you love an open and airy space, a vaulted ceiling is ideal.
Vaulted ceilings enhance the natural light
A vaulted ceiling creates the wall space for additional (and bigger) windows, in turn, allowing the opportunity to enhance the room's ability to bring in more natural light.
We love how the sun shines into our Tuckborough Urban Farmhouse. The Great Room's vaulted ceiling creates the perfect opportunity for large windows that overlook a private backyard and a beautiful sunset.
The extra overhead space created by vaults also allows for bigger and more dramatic light fixtures which can add additional light. Vaulted ceilings can be a great backdrop for those statement light fixture pieces you've been eyeing!
Vaulted ceilings create the potential for additional ceiling details
A vaulted ceiling can be radically more interesting than a traditional flat drywall ceiling, and with your room having more space you have the opportunity to add in details that will bring in more character. Ceiling details of natural materials, like wood beams, for example, can add a rustic appeal and warm a large modern space. You can also add these materials to create a partial drop ceiling or soffit like we have done in the past.
You can also add natural materials to create a partial drop ceiling or soffit like our ModernPrairie Rambler’s great room. The rift white oak drop-down ceiling soffit in the great room in addition to the limestone fireplace that scales up to the ceiling, adds warmth and texture to this modern design.
A few items that could be your deal-breakers for a vaulted ceiling:
- Does not allow for finished rooms on the upper level over the vaulted room
- Potential for increased energy costs to heat / cool the additional space
- Less conducive to have an intimate cozy-like feeling
If you’re looking to add visual interest, incorporate an open and airy feel, along with increasing the amount of natural light a vaulted ceiling could be the right choice for you. Let us know what questions you still have about vaulted ceilings!