20 Cathedral Ceilings You'll Want to Recreate at Home

Cathedral ceilings add drama and the feeling of extra space to the home, so it's no wonder they're so popular. But cathedral ceilings can be done in many different ways and styles, highlighting certain features or areas of the home. We gathered some of our favorite cathedral ceiling ideas so you can find the one that's perfect for you.

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Paint Beams

Jenn Pablo Studio

Add a bold accent to your cathedral ceiling by painting any exposed beams it may have. The deep brown beams in the bedroom above from Jenn Pablo Studio add a little drama to this relaxing and stylish space.

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Make It the Centerpiece

Bespoke Only

Most of the time, cathedral ceilings are more of an accent to a space, rather than the main feature. But cathedral ceilings can be a stunning centerpiece of your room too—just check out the multifaceted cathedral ceiling in the breakfast nook above from Bespoke Only.

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Hang a Statement Light Fixture

Jenn Pablo Studio

Take advantage of the extra support an exposed cathedral ceiling provides and hang a statement light fixture (or two). Pick one that fits well relative to your space—a small light fixture in a small bathroom or hallway, or a larger one in a large bedroom or great room.

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Add Shiplap

Mindy Gayer Design Co.

To give your cathedral ceilings a subtle farmhouse touch, try installing shiplap on the walls surrounding them. If you don't want to go all-in on shiplap, consider adding to a statement wall or two.

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Hang Wallpaper

Mindy Gayer Design Co.

The front and back walls that frame your cathedral ceiling are a great candidate for some wallpaper. We like what Mindy Gayer Design Co. did in the bedroom above, as the whimsical wallpaper gets an extra-tall wall to be hung upon.

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Try Narrow Rooms

Mindy Gayer Design Co.

Even narrow rooms can have cathedral ceilings. In fact, cathedral ceilings can make even more of a difference in small spaces, where the extra height makes a tight space feel much larger.

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Pair It With a Fireplace

Desiree Burns Interiors

An extra-tall fireplace pairs perfectly with a cathedral ceiling. Consider this combo for your next family room or living room—you'll get extra drama and style.

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Expose Your Ceiling Beams

Jenn Pablo Studio

Many cathedral ceilings are smooth and are created by placing a ceiling below the roof line. However, the roof doesn't need to be covered up, especially if it's got some beautiful wooden beams to show off. Consider exposing your ceiling beams and supports to get this down-to-earth look.

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Add Cathedral Ceilings to Hidden Spaces

Desiree Burns Interiors

Cathedral ceilings aren't just for the 'main' spaces—they can be added to more hidden or private spaces too, like the primary bathroom. The cathedral ceiling in the bathroom above from Desiree Burns Interiors makes the space feel all the more luxurious and spacious—perfect for a spa-like bathroom.

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Add Fun Color

Desiree Burns Interiors

Don't forget to use some fun color in your cathedral ceiling rooms. Consider using playful colors like mint green or pastel pink to provide contrast to the grown-up look that a cathedral ceiling brings.

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Try Black and White

Desiree Burns Interiors

Struggling to nail down a color pairing for your cathedral ceiling? Try the forever-classic combo of black and white. The bold look will add a modern touch to your space, and the pairing matches with nearly any other color in your room.

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Go Lighter

Desiree Burns Interiors

Consider painting your cathedral ceiling just a shade or two lighter than your wall color to make the ceiling look even more expansive and to make the space feel brighter and airier too.

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Use Your Stairwell

Desiree Burns Interiors

With their awkward corners and unique space requirements, stairways are excellent candidates for cathedral ceilings. The extra height the ceiling brings will prevent the space from feeling too cramped, and it will give the oft-forgotten stairwell a stylish touch.

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Paint Facades Different Colors

Desiree Burns Interiors

When dealing with different angles and facades in a cathedral ceiling, try painting flat facades the same color as the wall that sits below them, like Desiree Burns Interiors did in the bathroom above. This adds a sense of continuity and ensures that the more complicated ceiling look feels intentional.

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Use Different Textures

Mindy Gayer Design Co.

Your cathedral ceilings don't need to be all one color (or even all one texture). Mix it up by using different colors and textures for different parts of the ceiling, like a cream-colored ceiling with gray beams and pockets of faux wood paneling.

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Install Lights and Speakers

Mindy Gayer Design Co.

Unique cathedral ceilings can have just as many things added to them as regular flat ceilings can. Don't shy away from installing speakers or light fixtures to your cathedral ceiling—the extra attention they bring will make your ceiling stand out all the more.

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Bring Elegance to a Rustic Look

Desiree Burns Interiors

For an exposed wood cathedral ceiling that's a little less rustic, paint the main beams of the ceiling. This will create a finished and elegant look that still holds the style of beautiful exposed wood.

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Go Minimalist

Bespoke Only

For a minimalist approach to cathedral ceilings, don't bother with ceiling trim or adornments. Instead, let the walls and ceilings have a more bare-bones look, painting them a soft gray or beige. This look works even better when the rest of the space is decorated in a more minimalist style too.

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Try a Subtle Ombre

Bespoke Only

Neutral hues are always a great pick when it comes to adding color to your cathedral ceilings. We like the color combo in the bedroom above by the Bespoke Only—dark wood floors, the brownish beige walls and the creamy ceilings create a subtle and satisfying ombre effect.

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Use Shorter Ceilings

Bespoke Only

Your cathedral ceilings don't need to be extra-tall. Instead, you can work with the roof line you've got, even if it's fairly shallow. You'll still have a space that feels airy, bright and stylish.

FAQ

What is a cathedral ceiling?

Cathedral ceilings are a type of slanted ceiling that follows the roof line of a home to create an extra-tall space. The ceilings are straight lines that run parallel to the slope of a roof and are typically symmetrical.
What's the difference between a cathedral ceiling and vaulted ceiling?

While cathedral ceilings parallel the slope of a roof, vaulted ceilings take a more freestyle approach, often using curves and other cutaways to create rounded, more complex ceilings.
Are cathedral ceilings expensive?

Cathedral ceilings are a stunning choice for the home, but they often come with a hefty price tag. They're least expensive when done during the construction of the home costing around $16,000 to $20,000. Converting an existing ceiling into a cathedral one, however, is typically more expensive at an average price tag of $18,000 to $35,000.

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