Software
Houzz Logo Print
webuser_456405289

Lighting advice for Beamed Ceiling

2 years ago
last modified: 2 years ago

We're moving into a new house which has beamed ceilings and no existing ceiling lights - would like advice/ suggestions on the best way to add some.

Recessed lighting doesn't seem to be an option, since there's no attic and the roof is pretty low already and we don't want to make it look cramped by adding a false ceiling. According to our contractor, track lights across the beams are the only option if we want to avoid something unsightly like perpendicular beams running across to install lights (see second picture). Are there any other options, either in terms of installation techniques or types of lights, which'll allow for anything besides rows of tracklighting?




Comments (12)

  • 2 years ago
    1. How much vertical space is there above the ceiling (for recessed lights)?
    2. What is the height and width of a beam?
    3. What is the length, width, and height of the room?
    4. What will the room be used for?
  • 2 years ago

    Thanks for the reply!


    1. I'm not sure, but less than 6" which is what i understand is needed for recessed lights

    2. Each beam is 2.5" wide x 5 3/8" tall. The spacing between each beam is 21"

    3. It's an open layout, with entryway/familyroom/dining. The total space is ~24 (width)x 20(depth). Roof is shaped like /-\, heights (from floor to edge of the beam) are (85 -> 97 - 96)

    4. Open layout. We're going with a chandelier for the dining (which is ~10x8), mostly trying to figure out the "Family room" portion of the open-space (~13.5x19). There's a tv on 1 wall, so a chandelier would likely be in the eye-line.


    There's an alcove where the beam meets the wall (see last photo). This alcove is 6" tall and 3 5/8" deep. This may be a good place for hidden ambient lighting, but I haven't seen anything like this in practice so I'm not sure how much light anything here will give / what the effect will be.





  • PRO
    2 years ago

    White track lights with a very minimal head seem like the answer.

  • 2 years ago

    Thank you, this is amazingly helpful!


    Quick q on the last option (Cylinders), in the absence of a recessed ceiling, I'm assuming that'd still need wires running across the beam or somewhere else on the ceiling to install right?

  • 2 years ago
    • For recessed and cylinders, wiring would run from the wall switch or dimmer to the ceiling and within the ceiling to each light
    • For ceiling-mounted track lights, wiring would run from the wall switch or dimmer to a ceiling junction box to which the power adapter would attach. See example. I like this solution because you would have the flexibility to be able to add/remove/move track heads anytime.
  • 2 years ago

    Here's another 4" gimbal recessed light that can fit in a ceiling whose depth is as low as 1-1/2". It has the added benefit of adjustable color temperature.

  • 2 years ago

    Thank you!

  • 2 years ago

    In your second picture, what is on the other side of the far wall? If possible, I would run two tracks along the top edge of two of the beams and, hopefully, power them from the far end. Then have fixtures hanging just below the bottom of the beams.

  • PRO
    2 years ago

    Install single pendants directly into the ceiling.




  • 2 years ago

    That looks great! But unfortunately I don't think my ceiling is tall enough for that (~8ft) :)

  • PRO
    2 years ago

    We make them custom so any wire lenght you need that will make. You just have to pick the glass design you like. You can see them at our website in our hand-blown collection. There you have the prices per pendant. https://www.galileelighting.com/shop-hand-blown-glass