It might sound a bit odd to you but recessed lights on vaulted ceilings can work wonders.
Installing recessed lighting cathedral ceiling.
Learn how to install recessed lights without attic access with this tutorial.
For vaulted ceiling lighting it is recommended to install sloped ceiling specially designed recessed light fixture parts.
Unlike the typical way of installing recessed lights you need special housing cans also known as shovel cut cans that are angled to fit up to a 45 degree slope for fitting the lights.
You will need a sloped ceiling housing type that fits your ceiling slope angle to allow the output light to be directed down rather than directed at an angle.
For more lighting tips see our lighting and ceiling f.
This will give good spacing for general room lighting.
But there s a twist.
Learn how to install recessed lighting also known as can lights with our light installation tutorial.
Recessed lights are fitted into the ceiling and create downward facing light.
A good general rule for placement if to divide the height of the ceiling by two.
This is a suitable option if your cathedral ceiling is in a room where you want to work read or.
Basically it will compromise the insulation of the roof.
But there s a twist.
One contractor i spoke with suggested not doing that because the rafters are shallow only 6 inches which does not leave much room for the light housing and not much room for insulation and a channel for moisture to escape.
Recessed lighting fixtures made specifically for remodeling projects allow you to add light to any room.
At least as important in your case is that ic fixtures are designed to be airtight.
This detail stops the upward migration of warm moist indoor air into cathedral ceiling spaces and this is key.
Despite the added height of a cathedral ceiling recessed lighting is commonly used as a general lighting option.
Non ic recessed lights typically require a minimum of three inches of separation from insulation materials because of the heat generated.
Attic access is not needed and you won t need to patch the ceiling after.
The result is the amount of space to leave between each light.
While standard recessed lights are extremely energy efficient led recessed lights can operate for years before a bulb change is required.
For example recessed lighting spacing for an 8 foot high ceiling would be 4 feet between each light.