Our Best Tips For Hanging Pendant Lights On A Vaulted or Sloped Ceiling
If you’re planning to hang pendant lights on a vaulted or sloped ceiling, you have come to the right place. We absolutely love tall ceilings, and vaulted or sloped ceilings can make a space look bright and open while also allowing some great opportunities for drama in a home.
While the tall ceilings make a great statement, they can also bring more complications when it comes to selecting light fixtures. The taller height in the space and hanging lights from a sloped angle can mean it takes a little more planning to find the perfect fit.
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Anatomy Of A Pendant Light For A Vaulted Or Sloped Ceiling
It is important to understand the different parts of a sloped ceiling compatible pendant light to make sure it is clear what makes this type of pendant light unique for this purpose.
Canopy - The canopy is the piece that covers the electrical box and wires that run from where the bulb is located, through the downrod and adapter and into the ceiling above the light.
Adapter - The adapter on a vaulted or sloped ceiling compatible pendant light is the piece that connects the canopy to the downrod and can be adjusted to the necessary angle to allow the pendant light to hang straight down. Without an adjustable piece here, a light with a downrod would stick straight out from the sloped angle of the ceiling. Sometimes vaulted or sloped ceiling compatible pendant lights hang by cords or chains and that allows them to hang at the correct angle without another type of adapter.
Downrod or Chain - The downrod or chain is the piece of the pendant light that allow the length of the fixture to be adjustable. The wires also run through the downrod or chain in order to get up to the electrical box in the ceiling to have power to the light.
Shade - Depending on the pendant light, there can be open bulbs or a variety of different kinds of shades made from glass, fabric, metal or other materials. Inside of the shade is the bulb or bulbs that light the fixture.
Choosing Pendant Lights For A Vaulted Or Sloped Ceiling
There are two important things to look for when searching for pendant lights to install on a vaulted or sloped ceiling:
Pendant Lights Must Be Adaptible To A Vaulted or Sloped Ceiling -
The very first step you need to take is make sure to choose pendant lights that are adaptable to a vaulted or sloped ceiling. What that means is that the light can be adjusted to allow the canopy to be attached to a sloped portion of the ceiling with the adapter being manipulated to create an angle which lets the pendant light hang straight down from the ceiling.
Overall Hanging Length of the Pendant Light Cord, Chain and/or Downrods -
When dealing with a vaulted or sloped ceiling, you’ll often have a taller than average height measurement to consider. Make sure to measure the height of the space to ensure there will be enough cord, chain and/or downrods to allow the pendant light to hang at your desired height.
How To Make A Pendant Light Vaulted or Sloped Ceiling Compatible
If you have your eye on a specific pendant light and it doesn’t appear to come compatible with a sloped or vaulted ceiling, there may be another way to make it work.
There are options available for sloped ceiling adapters that come in various finishes and sizes. The adapter comes with two threaded ends, one that screws into the canopy and the other that would attach to the downrod.
Some of the adapter kits can also be a nice option if you have a light that hangs by a chain or cord but you would actually prefer the aesthetics of a downrod.
How To Make Two or More Pendant Lights Hang Evenly On A Vaulted or Sloped Ceiling
When planning to hang two or more pendant lights level with each other on a vaulted or sloped ceiling, it is good to think ahead to ensure the outcome will be what you’re envisioning.
Unlike hanging pendant lights from a flat ceiling, a sloped or vaulted ceiling can mean that lights installed just a foot or more away from each other could potentially need to have significantly different lengths of chain or downrod in order to have the bottom of the lights hang at the same height.
A good example of when you may want two or more pendants level and in line with each other is over a kitchen island. This specifically becomes an issue when they will be in a line along where the ceiling slopes up or down. The problem in this situation comes when the lights are installed at different heights and you’re left with the task of figuring out how to get them level to one another.
When we have encountered this issue with clients in the past, the most complicated problem to solve came up when the pendant lights had downrods. The downrod makes it more complicated to get the lights even because most pendant lights with downrods come with a selection to choose from in certain lengths such as 24”, 12” or 6”. Unfortunately, it isn’t always possible to get the lights even with those specific dimensions of downrod. In this case, we have learned to become creative.
A more simple way to adjust the length the pendant lights hang from the vaulted or sloped ceiling is to add a section or even just a couple pieces of chain. The chain lengths offer the ability to adjust the length by an inch or a few inches instead of 3-6” or more that the downrod pieces allow.
If you decide to go this route, we have a few recommendations:
First, we would say if you add chain to one, it makes sense to add it to all in the row. This is to ensure it looks like it was intentional and not a mistake. We would use the same length of downrod for all of the lights and then have the chain make up the difference in height between them.
Our next recommendation would be to add the chain at the top of the pendant light, near the canopy, because the lights will likely have different amounts of chain and it will be less noticable to have the difference closer to the ceiling. This allows the aesthetics of the lights to be similar closest to your line of sight, and the lowest part of the pendant light to all be downrod.
3 of Our Favorite Places to Shop for Vaulted and Sloped Ceiling Compatible Pendant Lights:
Wayfair - Huge Selection of Vaulted and Sloped Ceiling Compatible Pendant Lights!
Wayfair is one of the absolute best places to find a vaulted or sloped ceiling compatible pendant light. There is a huge selection available with designs for every aesthetic, budget or vision. The search function is one of the biggest selling features for why we love to shop there. It helps you filter out only the options that will work for you and your space with options like “sloped ceiling adaptable” and “high ceiling compatible”.
Shades Of Light - A Stunning Curated Collection Of Vaulted and Sloped Ceiling Compatible Pendant Lights
If you are someone who is always on-trend and wanting to see a beautiful selection of current, modern pendant lights for your home, Shades of Light is the perfect place for you.
Amazon - Vaulted and Sloped Ceiling Pendant Lights Galore!
Without a doubt, Amazon is a great choice to search for vaulted and sloped ceiling compatible pendant lights! With nearly endless options for designs and an awesome selection available in all price points, you can feel confident that your new pendant lights are waiting for you on Amazon!
Conclusion
Vaulted and sloped ceilings are a beautiful design feature for any home. When considering lighting, it is important to keep in mind the unique qualities that a vaulted or sloped ceiling offer and also the extra considerations for the height difference and angle at which pendant lights may have to hang. Using the tips we shared above, we are confident that you’ll be able to find the perfect pendant lights for your vaulted or sloped ceiling to fit your style and budget.
Now we want to hear from you! What area of your home has a vaulted or sloped ceiling or would you like to have a vaulted or sloped ceiling?
