Build Journey
What is a raked ceiling (and why everyone loves them)
02-05-2023
There are few things that make you say “wow!’ upon entering a room like a grand ceiling. The lofty sense of space, the brightness, the clean lines and tailored look – there’s plenty of reasons to opt for a raked ceiling if you are choosing to build new.
Not only are raked ceilings a beloved architectural point, but there are also plenty of benefits to them as well. Here’s the low-down on raked ceilings and how they can impact your home.
Also known as vaulted or incline ceilings, raked ceilings soar upwards before meeting at a single point – just think of the way a cathedral ceiling looks. Booming in popularity recently, raked ceilings have actually been around for many of years and originally were associated with great wealth, as it cost more to heat a room with a vaulted ceiling as opposed to a traditional flat ceiling. With heating and cooling technology having moved ahead in leaps and bounds, these days raked ceilings act more as a design feature than a status symbol and have become increasingly popular upgrades to new homes.
You could be forgiven for believing that raked ceilings exist simply to look pretty – but when you dig a little deeper, the benefits become apparent.
If you have a small home, introducing a raked ceiling – particularly above an open plan living area – helps to create an instant sense of space. It also helps to make the area feel light, bright and airy, claiming any wasted space overhead to portray depth. In addition to this, taller ceilings mean that you have more space for windows, allowing you to create a spectacular space in your home.
Say goodbye to stuffy rooms and hello to improved airflow in your home. Raked ceilings are a particularly good choice for Australian homes, as they allow hot summer air to rise and even escape through an overhead window. Your Arden home comes with reverse cycle ducted heating and cooling so, you’ll find yourself to be comfortable all year round.
If you love a bit of drama in your life, a vaulted ceiling is for you. They can turn a very generic space into something much grander without being an impossible financial decision. A raked ceiling also requires very little styling beyond lighting and colour, meaning that you can add a grand visual flair to a room without needing to invest in furnishings or other décor (but considering a vaulted ceiling alongside other interior design elements can really add substance to a room). As the eye is drawn upward, the beauty of the room is immediately admired.
In addition to adding more light to a space via larger window areas, raked ceilings tend to reflect both natural and artificial light to make your home seem even brighter. You’ll be able to take full advantage of the sun with vaulted ceilings, creating a beautiful aesthetic while flooding the room with natural light, which is highly desirable to many people.
Due to the meticulous craftsmanship that goes into raked ceilings, they aren’t a feature you’ll find in every Australian home. This makes a home with a raked ceiling a special find, and by including this architectural feature in a new build, you’re increasing the resale value of the home in the future.
There is a lot to discuss when it comes to what is a raked ceiling and how it can add beauty to the home. For example, there are different styles of vaulted or raked ceilings, including barrel vaulted (a uniformed arc that extends across the entire room) and groin vaulted (where multiple barrel vaults meet together at a right angle) to create a dramatic finish to the ceiling. In general however, more traditional single raked and double raked ceilings are more achievable.
It’s also worth looking at the best lighting for raked ceilings. Overhead windows can be a fantastic way to add natural light during the day, but once the sun goes down, different light sources need to be considered. When developing a lighting plan for any high-ceilinged home, there are three areas you need to look at: ambient recessed lighting, functional pendants, and lamps for strategically placed lighting.