In the sections that follow, you will read more about vaulted ceilings vs cathedral ceilings. Additionally, we discuss both styles’ benefits and drawbacks. Read on!
But while all cathedral ceilings are vaulted ceilings, not all vaulted ceilings are cathedral ceilings. The sloping and upper framework of a cathedral ceiling and a vaulted ceiling is primarily what differentiates them.
Are you considering remodeling a portion of your roof? And you’re debating between a cathedral ceiling and a vaulted ceiling, and you want to know how they differ from one another? You’ve found the right place because we’ve done our research and have the solution for you.
Table of Contents
What is a Cathedral Ceiling?
Cathedral ceilings have symmetrical, tall, and central heights. Churches and cathedrals are where these vaulted ceiling designs have their roots, thus the name.
A cathedral ceiling has parallel sides that taper toward the center, mimicking the roof’s shape. As a result, the room’s middle is formed by a peaked ridge.
Unique ceiling types can occasionally have quite high construction costs. However, prefabricated roof trusses make it much simpler today to build a cathedral ceiling than it was in the Middle Ages. As a result, incorporating this style into a contemporary home is now simpler than ever.
Cathedral Ceiling Advantages
Conventional flat ceilings are unable to maximize the vertical space in a room like a cathedral ceiling can. Your home’s appearance will be immediately improved by the installation of a cathedral ceiling.
This type of higher ceiling is both significantly more space-efficient and visually more appealing than a flat ceiling. With a higher, vaulted ceiling, it will be possible to place larger furniture and elaborate lighting fixtures that wouldn’t look right otherwise.
Cathedral Ceiling Disadvantages
It will be more challenging to install new lighting fixtures, clean the blades of ceiling fans, or switch lightbulbs due to the increased vertical space.
Additionally, a small rise in your energy costs may result from warm air becoming trapped in the extra vertical volume. A cathedral or vaulted ceiling may present this problem.
What is a Vaulted Ceiling?
A self-supporting arch between the walls and the roof makes up a vaulted ceiling. It doesn’t always adhere to the roof’s pitch. Consequently, depending on how the vaulted ceiling is designed, it may have uneven sides.
A vaulted ceiling is located below a cathedral ceiling, which is positioned to match the roof pitch.
Vaulted Ceiling Advantages
There are many different styles of vaulted ceilings to choose from, and they add a touch of drama. They might also make room for bigger windows, which would let in more natural light into otherwise dark spaces.
Increased sun warmth is provided by the additional natural light that larger windows or a skylight provide. Any vaulted ceiling style will make your home more appealing to prospective buyers, too.
Vaulted Ceiling Disadvantages
The disadvantages of cathedral ceilings are similar in that changing lightbulbs can be challenging and that you might need more heating in the winter as warm air rises higher inside your home.
Two Types of Ceilings That Offer Considerable Space
Cathedral and vaulted ceilings have become more common over time, in part because they use less vertical space. A small, dark room can also be made into a light, airy space by adding windows or skylights.
Are Cathedral and Vaulted Ceilings Energy Efficient?
Because heat rises, a cathedral or vaulted ceiling with poor airflow might make your heating costs go up. In order to prevent all of the heat from being released into the vertical space, more heating will be necessary.
In light of this, a vaulted or cathedral ceiling can help keep your home naturally cool in the summer and reduce heating costs in the winter by combining with a sufficient ventilation system and roof insulation.
Ideas for Cathedral Ceilings
Cathedral ceilings can be used to make dramatic rooms, ones that have a glitzy feel, or even ones that have a rustic cabin feel. The environment’s decor in your living spaces will determine everything. Such high ceilings offer a lot of vertical extra space and are better suited for large rooms or open-concept layouts.
Dining Hall Glamor Cathedral Ceiling
A cathedral ceiling will instantly transform a large dining area in a bed and breakfast lodge or inn. However, this also applies to large dining rooms and master bedrooms in your house.
Add a chandelier to the space for an extra dash of glitz. A chandelier and a cathedral ceiling go together like bread and butter.
Modern Art Drama Cathedral Ceiling
A cathedral ceiling will give a large apartment with an open floor plan a significant advantage. If the ceiling was high to begin with, this would work best.
The cathedral ceiling’s symmetrical angles are contrasted with abstract art that is strategically placed throughout the living area.
Rustic Barn-style Kitchen Cathedral Ceiling
Possessing a sizable kitchen with a high ceiling? With a cathedral ceiling that has exposed beams, a lot of pottery, and wooden furniture, you can create a rustic look.
As a lot of paneling might give the room the appearance of being darker, install skylights to increase the natural light. For a charming, cottage-style appearance, hang cafe curtains at the lower windows.
Keep It Clean and White
Painting a cathedral ceiling and its exposed beams white will give the room a light and airy appearance. This is excellent if your home has an open floor plan and a smaller space. It gives the impression that everything is lighter and bigger.
Another excellent way to create a stylish, contemporary appearance that still feels warm and welcoming is with a cathedral ceiling made of white wood panels.
Vaulted Ceiling Ideas
If you do not have the luxury of purchasing a home with distinctive features, consider adding a vaulted ceiling to your current home. With our vaulted ceiling kits, you can create a variety of vaulted ceiling designs.
Create a Grand Entrance Hall With a Barrel Vaulted Ceiling
Made popular in Roman architecture, a barrel vault will give an entire room a new look and feel, but it is often preferred for entrance halls and corridors. This ceiling design might be the best option for a minimalist interior design theme.
A semi-cylindrical vaulted ceiling is a barrel vault. Imagine the appearance of a sizable barrel mounted from the roof, cut in half lengthwise. Barrell-vaulted ceilings have a similar appearance. A barrel vaulted ceiling, also known as a wagon vault or tunnel vault, has a single consistent arch.
A Vintage Flair With Groin Vaults
A groin or cross-vaulted ceiling can add a vintage feel to a modern house. Warm colors, antique wood furniture, and classic paintings or sculptures, however, will complement it the best.
A double barrel vault or cross vault are other names for groin-vaulted ceilings. This pattern is created by intersecting two barrels at right angles. The arches of groin vaulted ceilings can occasionally be pointed.
As with the barrel vault, a groin vault is equally at home in a corridor or grand entranceway. This design will make the most of a particularly large entry hall, entertainment space, or corridor.
Elevate the Living Room Or Entertainment Area With a Cloister Vault
A barrel vaulted ceiling, like a groin vault, is used to create a cloister vaulted ceiling. Occasionally, people will refer to it as a pavilion vault. A constant springing point along the walls is the source of four concave surfaces that form a cloister vault ceiling.
Any room with a large open floor plan, like a large foyer or living room, will look more sophisticated and elegant with a ceiling like this, which is similar to a barrel vault ceiling. A cloister style can also be a real conversation starter on a large deck or patio used for outdoor entertaining. Keep the surrounding area’s color scheme light and airy.
Keep Things Classic With a Dome Vaulted Ceiling
A spherical shape at the top distinguishes this particular style of vaulted ceiling. One of the simpler vault ceiling designs to construct is a dome vault. Almost any room would benefit from having a vaulted ceiling of this kind.
A domed ceiling will look stunning above a foyer with a sweeping, circular staircase. However, it works just as well in a large study, kitchen, or master bedroom. With velvety floor-length drapes, muted colors, and subtle lighting, this look works well for a classic interior design theme.
What Do You Call a Vaulted Ceiling With a Central Circular Arch?
A dome vaulted ceiling is a version of a vaulted ceiling that includes a central, circular arch. It can be mounted on a standard ceiling to produce a circular dome in the center of the recess.
Due to the high installation costs, larger dome vaulted ceilings are uncommon. As the dome grows larger, the installation and insulation also become more difficult.
It’s common to find dome vaulted ceilings in bathrooms and offices. Due to its ability to give the appearance that a smaller space is larger, it is frequently installed in them.
FAQs
Do Vaulted Ceilings Add Value to a House?
Installing vaulted ceilings—this includes cathedral ceilings and other types of vaulted ceilings—in small to regular homes can increase their value by as much as 25%. Older homes with vaulted ceilings may also have the same added value.
Sadly, in cases where a home is at the high end of the price range, the added value is not always applicable. An expensive home’s value will most likely only go up a small amount. This is because vaulted ceilings of one or more types are typically already present in these homes.
How Are Vaulted Ceilings Supported?
You can add vaulted ceilings to an existing home. However, compared to installing a vaulted ceiling when building a house, the installation cost is significantly higher.
The assessment of the current roof support system, the modification of the existing ceiling joists, and the extensive recalculation of supports are all necessary for retrofitting a vaulted ceiling.
To make room for the new vaulted ceiling installation, the existing roof support system will need to be significantly altered.
How Do You Make a Room With a Vaulted Ceiling Feel Cozy?
Here are some of the things that you can do to make a room with a vaulted ceiling feel cozy:
- Paint the walls with a two-tone color
- Accentuate the room with tall potted plants
- Install curtains on windows with colors that match the two-tone walls
- Avoid decors that are shiny and visibly hard
- Install decors with textures like wood, soft textiles with warm color tones, books, and faux fur
- Paint the ceiling with a color that is a couple of shades darker or lighter than the paint on the walls to create a subtle emboldening effect
- Create cozy conversation areas by installing furniture close to each other
Conclusion
It is essential to first take into account the surrounding costs and preexisting architecture before installing a cathedral or vaulted ceiling. If not used in accordance with the architectural style of the building, these grand ceiling types risk overwhelming a home.
There are options for both rustic and more modern builds due to the difference in pitch between cathedral and vaulted ceilings, though traditional builds might benefit more from the Cathedral style. Vaulted ceilings, however, are the best representation of modern homes.
In the end, these ceiling styles are a tried-and-true way to give your house more personality and interest while also gaining more room and natural light.
