Decorative Ceiling Beams: Types, Materials, Style and Color Options

Features of low and high ceilings

• In an interior with low ceilings, simple ceiling crossbars will look harmonious, for example, along or across the room.
• In a compact room, it is better to replace the timber with a board or plastic. They will save space.
• To prevent the ceiling from appearing low, it is better to use a light palette.
• In a room with high ceilings, complex structures and dark-colored finishes will look appropriate.

Types and materials of ceiling beams

Load-bearing

This type of ceiling can be considered the “skeleton” of the building, without which it cannot exist. Load-bearing ceiling beams can be hidden or played up in the interior of the apartment.

Concrete floors

They are most often used in the construction of urban multi-story buildings and industrial premises. A concrete ceiling beam will look harmonious in an interior with a modern style, such as loft, grunge, minimalism.

Wooden floors

Rarely used in the construction of urban housing, more often in cottages, summer houses or in individual repairs. Solid or glued beams have a square shape. It is most often used as a ceiling covering.

A log is round. The material is more expensive than a beam, but it looks better in the interior from an aesthetic point of view.

Metal floor

Metal is stronger and has a longer service life. In the interior of the house they can be decorated or hidden, in the open state they will look harmoniously in the urban industrial style.

The photo shows a spacious attic room in the high-tech style, the ceiling beams are made of metal.

Imitation

Beams, acting as a decor for the interior, should support the overall style.

Wood

Wooden ceiling beams will add rustic coziness to the interior. Ceiling beams made of timber look luxurious and massive, it is better to use them in a spacious room, as they are quite voluminous and large structures will take up a lot of space.

For finishing standard city apartments or small rooms it is better to choose boards, they are more compact. The board can also be part of a structure where a solid beam is used as a base.

Plastic

Polyurethane or plastic false ceiling beams can become an analogue of wood. The material is not environmentally friendly, but wins in price and variety. Visually, such ceiling beams will differ little from natural wood.

Drywall

By finishing the ceiling with drywall panels, you can hide communications, while emphasizing the desired style in the interior. In addition, it is possible to install lamps in the plasterboard ceiling beams.

In the photo, the ceiling beams are constructed of plasterboard, decorated with concrete-like plaster.

Ceiling finishing material

Stretch fabric

Stretch ceiling is one of the most common finishing options. Its popularity is due to its ease of installation, wide variety and relatively low cost. The stretch fabric is heated to 60 degrees and fixed on each side of the room. The material can have a glossy or matte surface, which allows you to choose the best option for the interior style.

Clapboard

Wooden clapboard will look harmonious in a room with high ceilings. In a city apartment, the paneling can be painted in a light shade, so it will visually hide a minimum of space.

Suspended

A plasterboard ceiling can have a flat or multi-level surface. The ceiling will be decorated with beams, moldings or built-in lighting, depending on stylistic preferences. The structure is made of a metal frame and plasterboard sheets attached to it.

Painting

Requires a perfectly flat surface. This finishing method is easy to apply and has a wide variety of colors. The ceiling will be decorated with baseboards, moldings or crossbars.

The photo shows a stylish minimalist bedroom in eco-style.

Wallpaper

A prepared surface will also be required for gluing wallpaper. An interesting option would be to use photo wallpaper.

Arrangement options

Across

The transverse arrangement of the ceiling beams will visually bring the room closer to a square shape, expanding the walls. In a spacious room, you can use a full-fledged beam, complementing the picture with low chandeliers or spotlights. In a compact room there will be enough boards that will support the interior in the desired style.

Along

Longitudinal arrangement of ceiling beams will make the room longer. By decorating the panels with LED lighting, you can achieve the effect of hovering in the air.

Diagonally

Diagonal arrangement of ceiling beams will make the room more spacious. This type of decoration looks interesting in a modern living room interior. The crossbars can be located along the entire perimeter of the ceiling or occupy only part of it.

Half of the ceiling

Partial ceiling finishing will visually divide the room into two zones, while preserving the area. For example, in the kitchen this way you can separate the cooking area from the dining area.

Criss-cross arrangement

This arrangement of ceiling beams will make the space three-dimensional. To emphasize the relief and unusual arrangement, the color of the beams can be made contrasting with the main color.

Dividing the room into zones

A great way to zone the space. The design on the ceiling will mark the desired area or divide the room into two areas. For example, in a studio apartment, beams can be located in the cooking area, thereby separating the rest of the space, or in the bedroom, a complex structure will decorate the sleeping area, designating the sleeping area.

Roof structures

An interesting interior solution would be to erect a structure on the ceiling based on the principle of a roof structure, for example, a “post” or “truss”. These are the structures that are located under the roof of a building, holding it up. Such structures are suitable for decorating interiors with high sloping ceilings.

The photo shows a light kitchen-living room, the ceiling crossbars are made according to the principle of a roofing structure.

Unusual installation method

The arrangement methods can be completely different from beautiful patterns that make up some kind of picture to complex geometric shapes. Complex ceiling structures will look harmonious in a room with high ceilings.

Decor methods

Aging

The aging effect is typical for many styles, such as Provence, shabby chic, rustic. In the interior, such items look rustic, cozy and warm.

Painting

You can highlight the ceiling beams by painting them in a color that contrasts with the ceiling, for example, red beams on a light background. In this way, you can play up a theme or add a few bright details to the interior.

Varnishing

Varnished wooden ceiling beams will preserve the unique wood pattern. Varnishing will make the material brighter and protect it from harmful effects. This type of finishing is suitable for interiors in country, loft, and chalet styles.

Patterns, carving

Painted patterns or wood carving will look not just luxurious, but unique. Patterns and openwork carving will perfectly match the Russian style. A more restrained type of carving will suit the design of a classic interior.

Choice of color

White

White ceiling beams on a light background will look very gentle. The ceilings do not seem low and the design will get its own “zest”. White beams look interesting against the background of a pastel-colored ceiling.

In the photo, the whitewashed boards on the ceiling look very gentle, they fit harmoniously into the interior of the bedroom with a pastel color palette.

Brown

The classic design is brown wooden ceiling beams against a white ceiling. The contrast of colors can be used to adjust the space of the room.

The photo shows a spacious kitchen-dining room. The ceiling is finished with white wooden slats and contrasting brown beams.

Gray

Gray ceiling beams on a light background do not have a strong contrast, but still stand out in the overall picture. The combination of a rustic detail and a fashionable, relevant today color looks interesting.

Beige

Beige ceiling beams look harmonious both on a flat ceiling and on a slatted one. A light shade, close to the color of natural wood, will decorate the interior of a house or bathhouse in any style.

Black

Contrasting black ceiling beams will successfully complement a room in a modern style, echoing other finishing details or furniture.

Bright

Ceiling Brightly colored beams will decorate a modern interior or a children’s room. The bright color can be combined with other interior details, such as textiles, decorative elements or small pieces of furniture.

Photo in the apartment interior

Kitchen

The location, color and material of the ceiling beams depend on the size and stylistic direction of the kitchen. Minimalistic straight beams on a glossy surface will look harmonious in a compact room. Another technique for saving space is light-colored ceiling beams. In a spacious kitchen, the layout will depend entirely on the layout of the room or the style of the interior.

The photo shows the interior of a kitchen with a black furniture set. Partial ceiling finishing with crossbars separates the cooking area.

Living room

The ceiling in the hall will be decorated with beams against a flat surface. Depending on the area of the room, the beams can have a light palette, identical or similar to the main color of the ceiling finish. Or they can contrast with the general background, thereby playing the role of the main object in the room.

Bedroom

Wooden beams will make the bedroom more comfortable. The structure can be along the entire perimeter of the ceiling or only above the bed, designating the sleeping area. The color of the finish depends on the style of the room.

The photo shows a delicate bedroom in pastel colors. The ceiling is made of plasterboard and decorative crossbars.

Children’s room

In the children’s room, ceiling beams will support the theme of the design, for example, marine or eco style. Crossbars can become part of the room’s image.

Hallway and corridor

If the hallway or corridor is small and lacks natural light, then the best solution would be a modest ceiling structure in the form of several crossbars along or across the room.

Bathroom

When decorating a bathroom, it is worth considering the constantly changing humidity. The optimal solution would be to use plastic or polyurethane false ceiling panels, which can also imitate the desired material.

Photo in the interior of the house

With sufficient area of a private house, there are more opportunities for the implementation of ideas. In log houses with load-bearing log or timber beams, there is no need to mask them; finishing in the form of sanding or painting will be sufficient.

The photo shows a country house in chalet style. The finishing and filling are made of natural materials.

The interior of a cottage or a country house with a high sloping ceiling will be decorated with a volumetric structure made of wooden beams, repeating the roof structure.

In country houses and baths, finishing made of natural wood will look most harmonious, emphasizing the proximity of nature.

By finishing the attic with beams, you can create your own secluded corner, which will turn into a cozy bedroom or a place to relax.

The bathhouse will also radiate the warmth and comfort of a real Russian bathhouse; load-bearing or decorative beams can be sanded and covered with special paint or varnish.

Suitable styles

Loft

The loft style is characterized by minimal or complete absence of decorative finishing. If the room has metal, concrete or wooden ceiling crossbars, they should definitely be left. In their absence, false beams will help, which can also correct the space.

Provence

Provence style interior is done in light pastel colors and mainly from natural materials. Wooden beams can be painted in one of these shades or have an original color and texture of wood. This style is characterized by artificially aged furniture and finishing.

The photo shows an olive-colored kitchen in Provence style. The ceiling is finished in one color with an aging effect.

Country

It is difficult to imagine the country style without wooden beams. A spacious room will be decorated with complex timber structures, while a small room will be enough with simple wooden boards in the right direction.

Scandinavian

The interior in the Scandinavian style has a light, most often white color scheme. Natural materials such as wood or stone are used for finishing and filling the room. Bleached wood ceiling beams will look harmonious in the interior.

Modern

A modern ceiling can be decorated with beams made of wood, metal or plasterboard. The arrangement can be simple or form a complex geometric figure. The design will be complemented by stylish lamps, LED strip or spotlights.

Classic

The interior in the classic style will be decorated with smooth wooden or plaster beams. The cross-on-cross laying will look harmonious.

Chalet and rustic

Chalet and rustic styles are characterized by the cozy atmosphere of an Alpine house. Wooden ceiling beams do not necessarily need to be painted, the original color, texture and pattern of the wood will be just right. In such a design, it is appropriate to use lamps with warm light, emphasizing the coziness and warmth of the interior.

The photo shows a chalet-style attic. The decoration is entirely made of natural wood.

Lighting and backlighting

Different types of lighting will have completely different results. Spotlights can be mounted in the crossbars or between them in the ceiling.

For complex volumetric structures, mobile lights can be attached directly to the beams and change their position if necessary.

The chandelier should reflect the overall stylistic idea, for example, in a country-style room it can be a low forged chandelier, and in a Provence interior a neat one with several textile shades.

The unusual effect is created by the LED strip, which is sunk into the sides of the beam, creating a feeling of hovering in the air.

DIY

Before you start repairing, you need to decide on the size of the beams and the distance between them. The distance between the beams depends on the area and height of the room.

• In a room with high ceilings, it is permissible to place the beams close to each other, so the room will seem a little lower.
• Accordingly, in a small room, it is better to attach the ceiling beams at a sufficient distance.
• The length of the beams depends on the desire to decorate the room along the entire length or highlight only a part.

One of the easiest ways to build ceiling crossbars is to make them from polystyrene foam.

1. The polystyrene foam sheets are cut to the required size and glued together into a bar.
2. After that, they can be covered with a film imitating wood or plastic and fixed to the ceiling. Installation is quick and easy.

How to attach beams to the ceiling

Each material has a different weight and properties, so the fastening is also different.

• Before starting work, it is necessary to reproduce the marks on the ceiling where the future crossbars will be fixed.
• Liquid nails are sufficient for foam beams.
• To be sure of the result, the ceiling can be primed.

Wooden decorative beams are secured with bars, which are attached to the ceiling at a distance of 1 meter. The wooden false beam is fixed with screws on top of the bars.

The photo shows a diagram of the installation of wooden and polyurethane beams.