Can You Use Faux Wood Beams for Ceilings?
Written by Milan Jara on 3rd Oct 2022
You can use faux wood beams for ceiling in many styles. They are best suited for areas where there are high ceilings to add elegance.
In any room, an exposed ceiling beam provides an architectural element, adding charm to the space or permitting rooms to have a higher ceiling. Aged real wood beams are currently the most sought-after element by most homeowners. However, since this is very costly, with many being warped or suffering damage, many people opt to use faux wood beams for ceilings.
A traditional ceiling beam was merely exposed wooden joists across a ceiling. Most homes will either box them in or hide them within the ceiling. However, the appearance of this decorative element is reappearing in homes lately. Homeowners are now adding non-structural beams of plastic, foam, wood, and resin.
Faux wood beams provide the option for recessed lighting and can break up a flat-looking ceiling by adding interest to the décor. If you want to create the appearance of exposed beams but don’t require them for support, faux wood beams are an excellent way to go.
What Exactly Are Faux Wood Beams?
These faux beams use high-density polyurethane, lightweight foam, vinyl, or fiberboard. Design-wise, they look like natural wood. They can be found easily and come in hundreds of different textures and styles suitable for any space.
Faux wood beams are lightweight, making installation easier than with actual wood beams. You can use them in many areas. However, we have outlined several applications that most homeowners found exceptional.
Why Do Homeowners Use Faux Wood Beams?
Most incorporate faux wood beams to add interest to the home. However, you can use them in the following ways:
- Balance. Houses with dark wood flooring or dark wood trim will benefit from adding a wood beam in the same color to the ceiling. The repetitive nature of the finish creates a cohesive appearance.
- Rustic Charm. From Tuscan to farmhouse, many home designs are subtly enhanced by decorative ceiling beams. To complete the design, you should use a texture that complements the room’s style.
- Very High Ceilings. Beams can decrease the scope of a room while generating visual interest.
How to Generate the Look
Most beams are comparable to others in terms of dimension. You should keep the following in mind when recreating this classic wooden look:
- Skill: You will need basic carpentry skills like using a saw, screwdriver, hammer, and measuring
- Installation: You can use the same block installation used for a boxed wood beam on a faux beam installation. You should do all other forms as per the manufacturer’s specifications.
- Stain: Some faux wood beams come pre-stained. However, you can use a regular stain on rigid polyurethane foam decorative beams. However, before staining them, check all recommendations for paint and stain finishes, as some may not work well on different types of materials.
- Use: Since they are lighter than boxwood or real wood beams, you can use them on ceilings that may not support the weight of an actual wood beam.
Different Applications for Faux Wood Beams for Ceiling
There are different ways homeowners can incorporate faux wood beam products into their design. You can use them for looks that are modern, vintage, rustic, or even elegant.
Farmhouse Bedroom
Break up a white bedroom by using faux wood beams for the ceiling. If the ceiling has a ship-lapped appearance, add distressed wood beams horizontally to create interest in the room. This look provides a wonderfully warm feeling to an otherwise sterile appearance of a white room. The brown tone will add a lovely depth of warmth to the room and a touch of vintage appeal.
Living Room
Many homeowners search for that aged, classic look for more formal areas of the house. They add a touch of elegance to a room and can significantly elevate it with minimal effort. Incorporating faux wood beams can add a bit of a rustic look to rooms with a high cathedral-style ceiling. They can also provide a gorgeous contrast to lightly colored ceilings or walls.
Modern homes also tend to have two-storied heights when it comes to ceilings. By adding faux wood beam products, you can obtain a quick visual solution to remove having a tall ceiling emphasized. By installing them underneath an upstairs landing, you can create the effect of a lower ceiling, providing a cozier atmosphere.
You can use faux wood beams for a coffered ceiling as well.
Modern Office Space
Create a modern home office design by using exposed ceiling beams. You can provide an artistic appearance by cutting out a square space in the ceiling, then making cutouts in decreasing widths over the central area of the space. The wood is cut in a zigzag pattern, but you need to leave just enough ceiling to provide proper support.
First, you must measure your ceiling and create a scale-sized representation on graph paper. Then, draw a zigzag pattern to the layout. Transfer your measurements to the ceiling to ensure you make accurate cuts. Chalk lines should mark and guide each cut.
Remove the remaining ceiling and use faux wood beams for the installation. Ensure each beam is long enough to look like it goes through the wall. Install a few additional ceiling lights to complete the look.
Conclusion
While installing faux wood beams for ceilings isn’t perfect for every home, you can incorporate them into many designs. Before installing them, you must consider the room’s size and ceiling height before committing yourself to a particular design.
You should attempt to match existing wood trim or color to the floors or trim to complete the look, providing for a more authentic appearance. Faux ceiling beams can be painted, left natural, or stained depending on what look you want for your home.
