How to decorate a wooden beam on the ceiling. Decorative ceiling beams - varieties, manufacturing methods, experience of portal participants. Modern designs: loft, high-tech

The Middle Ages left us a legacy in the form of beamed ceiling decoration. But if earlier beams were used exclusively as a supporting structure for floors, now their functionality has expanded significantly. Modern materials, fashion trends, a lot of ideas - all this makes it possible to stylishly beat and decorate the ceiling with beams.

How to decorate a beam on the ceiling: stylish and modern options

The ceiling, decorated with decorative bars, is already a full-fledged element of the room that works for the interior. In this case, the beams can be made in different styles.

The style distinguishes:

  • Beams in a classic style, made, for example, from oak, hail, aspen (or with an imitation of a characteristic woody look);
  • Modernly designed beams (metal beams or painted in bright colors);
  • French style;
  • Rustic and ethnic style beams. (for this, they use the texture of cracked beams, beams with chips and roughness);
  • Baroque and art deco beams. (carved beams forming rectangular sections - coffered ceiling);
  • Asian style (wooden beams arranged in a grid).

Modern materials make it possible to use the principle of ceiling beams even in modern nano-interiors. We decorate rooms in a minimalist or high-tech style with metal beams, which can be curved and multi-level.

You can add functionality to the beams with the help of additional decor.

Popular ways to decorate beams include:

  1. Fixing lamps and chandeliers with brackets;
  2. Cutting fixtures into beams;
  3. Use of LED lamps;
  4. Painting the beams with special paints (depending on the material from which the beams are made);
  5. Wood carving beams;
  6. Attaching hooks (you can hang accessories on hooks depending on the style of the interior, for example, in a rustic style - dried herbs, mushrooms, flowers, dishes);
  7. Decorating beams with textiles;
  8. Mounting flower pots on brackets;
  9. Forging decoration, leather bracelets, etc.

The decorated ceiling not only with beams, but also with additional decor looks thoughtfully and harmoniously. It also expands the possibilities of the ceiling from a functional point of view.

Installation of decorative beams: the easiest ways to mount

Work on the installation of ceiling bars is carried out as standard. Thanks to drywall and polyurethane, you can mount false beams yourself - no special skills are needed. Installation of natural whole bars is carried out by specialists.

When working with decorative beams, you can not do without the following tools:

  • Circular and hand saws;
  • Drills;
  • screwdriver;
  • Hammer;
  • self-tapping screws;
  • level;
  • Roulettes;
  • decorative belts;
  • The beams themselves;
  • Metal, plastic or wooden profiles.

The following stages of work can be distinguished:

  1. The stage of measuring and preparing the room and beams;
  2. The stage of fastening profiles;
  3. Stage of preparation of beams with a saw;
  4. The stage of mounting bars on profiles.

Beams can be fixed in different ways. It all depends on the material of the beam, the size of the room and the beams.

To fix the beam, you can use a system of fastening with wedge-shaped bars, which must be made according to the dimensions of the box of the beam itself. The bars are installed in the empty cavity of the beam at a distance of up to 50 cm from each other, and fixed with liquid nails or self-tapping screws.

This method is acceptable if it is not possible to mount beams on a pre-installed profile.

Installation of decorative wooden beams on the ceiling (video)

The availability of materials has adapted this type of ceiling decoration, such as beams, to our modern conditions, making it possible to use this beautiful finish easily and practically. Now you can safely create a ceiling from beams, even on your own, or at least consider this option. The affordability of beams, and the ease of installation, make ceiling beams an increasingly popular way to decorate a ceiling surface.

Decorative beams on the ceiling (photo)

Previously, beams under the ceiling solved a completely functional task - they supported the ceiling. Now this extremely decorative element is most often found in interiors made in a rustic or old English style, in Provence, country and chalet styles. It is not bad to integrate beams into modern interior styles: loft, modern, minimalism, hi-tech.

The most advantageous decorative look in rooms with high ceilings, which dictates their placement mainly in houses with a ceiling height of three meters. Wooden beams under the ceiling are a stylish element of home decoration, emphasizing the spaciousness of the room, and in some cases also carrying a functional load (for example, they are used to hide communications). Most often, beams are placed in kitchens, halls, halls and offices.

Types of beams

Of course, modern houses are rarely decorated with real wooden elements under the ceiling. Although there are connoisseurs of the natural, who prefer real heavy beams for decorating the ceiling, as a rule, of a country house.

Building materials stores offer a huge selection of false beams made of lightweight and easy-to-install polyurethane. Visually, such elements are indistinguishable from natural wood, and in practice they even surpass it in some way.

The advantages of polyurethane false beams include the fact that they:

  • not afraid of dampness, do not swell from excessive moisture;
  • do not crack or deform;
  • very easy to mount under the ceiling (including tension).

However, lovers of naturalness can opt for false beams made of MDF or chipboard, hollow inside. Veneers made of valuable wood species are glued onto such beams. You can find options made from lamellae. Beams come with sharp and rounded edges, U-shaped and L-shaped (for decorating joints).

Table. Comparison of polyurethane and wooden false beams.

To design a high-tech style, some designers use metal beams, but such elements are more difficult to install and professionals need to be involved in their installation.

How to make decorative beams on the ceiling with your own hands

Some craftsmen make beams with their own hands, which takes a minimum of time and is inexpensive. For example, in order to make false beams, you can use ordinary foam plastic, which is left over from the insulation of a garage or loggia.

Step 1. Sheets 4-5 cm thick cut into strips of the desired width.

Step 2 Glue the strips with liquid nails into a U-shaped beam.

Step 3 After setting, cut the beams into segments of the desired length.

Step 4 Paste the beams with a self-adhesive film under the tree (except for the side that will be glued to the wall).

Using the same technology, you can make beams from plywood or even from ordinary boards. The boards can then be aged, stained and varnished.

If there is a desire to make beams from natural timber, you can buy edged polished timber, for example, 70x50. When choosing, be sure to check that it is even and dried. Then you need to process the stain and varnish and cut to the required length. It is also an inexpensive and affordable option.

Beam decoration

Each interior style will require its own style of beam design.

  1. For classic and Victorian styles, you can decorate the beams with gold carvings, decorate with patterns and vignettes. You can find such ready-made polyurethane beams for sale.
  2. White, black, brown, as well as colored beams are the perfect solution for modern interiors.
  3. For high-tech style, the design of metal-like beams is suitable.
  4. To create a country style, wood will need to be aged.
  5. The rural style (country) is characterized by an emphatically rough texture.

Options for placing beams on the ceiling

False beams can decorate any type of ceiling: stretch, plasterboard, plain painted, etc. With their help, you can zone the room or create such a popular decorative element as a false window on the ceiling with imitation of stained glass. Decorative beams can imitate window coverings, between which a canvas with photo printing, mosaics, frescoes and even mirror panels are glued in the process of work. The modern European trend is very interesting, when the beams go to the walls.

Beams can be decorated with LED lighting on top, which will give a special decorative effect. The beams in which the ceiling lights are mounted look amazing. All wiring in this case is hidden inside the hollow structure.

In general, the beams on the ceiling will give a feeling of warmth and comfort to the living space, bring a twist to modern interior styles and allow you to create the necessary authenticity in public places such as clubs or pubs.

How to position the beams

If the room needs visual expansion, then the following points should be considered when arranging the beams.

  1. If you need to make the room wider, then the beams need to be placed on the short side.
  2. If you need to increase the length, the beams should be placed along the entire length of the ceiling.
  3. The criss-cross arrangement will give the room a visual dimension.
  4. With one beam, you can select a separate zone: for example, a bar counter.

Location frequency also plays a big role. For example, if the ceiling height is very high (which happens on the first floors of buildings), the close location of the beams to each other helps to reduce it a little. If the ceilings are of medium height, the beams should be fixed at a greater distance from each other. Also, beams can be laid "herringbone". Attic rooms without a ceiling look especially impressive if the ceiling beams pass through the columns and the ends are attached to the walls, creating a hut effect.

How to fix beams to the ceiling

The features of the procedure depend on the material from which the false beams are made. Let's take a closer look at each of the options.

How to glue foam false beams on a regular ceiling

This is the easiest option for placing false beams in a modern apartment. If you want to decorate a kitchen or hall quickly, inexpensively and on your own, you won’t find a better option.

Step 1. First, marks are applied on the ceiling and on the walls to indicate the places where the false beams will be glued. Places of the sticker must be primed for better adhesion.

Step 2 Then the beam is smeared with liquid nails and glued to the required place. Styrofoam products are almost weightless, and liquid nails seize literally instantly.

Some instructions advise to spread the wall at the same time, but in case of excess glue, the beam may begin to slide down the wall. Therefore, the golden mean must be determined empirically.

Step 3 If the room is narrow, you can stick 2 beams along the long walls of the room, and simply place the cross beams perpendicular to them. Such a simple ceiling will help hide the irregularities of a conventional concrete ceiling and will look very advantageous.

How to quickly fix wooden beams to a wooden or concrete ceiling

This is also not very difficult and not expensive to do.

Step 1. On the ceiling we draw lines for placement.

Step 2 We drill holes in the beam with a 12 mm drill with a depth of not more than 0.5 cm every 30 cm.

Step 3 In the same holes we drill 8 mm holes, into which we drive 120 mm self-tapping screws.

Step 4 We apply the timber, mark the places for the holes on the ceiling.

Step 5 On the ceiling in the marked places with a perforator, we drill holes of 8 mm.

Step 6 We drive chopsticks into them.

Step 7 We fasten the beam.

Since the head of the self-tapping screw goes in, we cover these places with putty on wood. After drying, tint with stain, then with varnish. You can cover the caps of the self-tapping screws with wooden corks or special decorative overlays imitating the caps of forged nails. You can attach nails to ordinary dowels - this is an even faster option.

If you plan to cross-distribute the beams, then unevenness may occur at the joints. The design of these nodes depends on the style in which the room is designed. If this is country music, for example, then these places can be covered with leather decorative belts or large string glued in several rows.

Installation of polyurethane decorative beams on beams

This is a professional installation.

Decorative beam B1 made of polyurethane (wenge, cherry, oak, olive, walnut, light oak)

Step 1. For a polyurethane false beam, wedge-beams are made of wood, which fully correspond to the internal cavity of the beam.

Step 2 The ceiling is marked: lines are drawn along which the beams will be attached.

Step 3 Wedge bars are installed along the line every 1 meter on self-tapping screws or dowels.

Step 4 When installing a false beam, glue for polyurethane is applied to the ceiling. This is necessary not for fixation, but for a tighter fit to the ceiling so that there are no gaps left.

Step 5 The beam is tightly put on the bars and screwed through the sides with screws.

Step 6 The screws that fasten the false beam to the beam and the joints of the beams are covered with decorative leather straps with rivet imitation.

Features of the installation of beams on a stretch ceiling

To make a stretch ceiling and decorate it with decorative tanks, you should install embedded parts similar to those installed for hanging chandeliers. A mortgage for a decorative false beam is just a wooden block of the required thickness. It is attached to the main ceiling, and the stretch ceiling is stretched so that it passes touching the lower plane of the bar. Then false beams are attached through the ceiling to the timber.

You can use the fastening of beams with suspensions. Hangers are attached to the base. and after stretching the ceiling, cuts are made in the canvas. The specific steps depend on the type of material.

If the stretch ceiling has been hanging for a long time, but you want to somehow diversify the interior without dismantling the canvas, you can use external consoles with fasteners to the wall or internal bars screwed to the walls. Beams will be attached to them with self-tapping screws.

Features of the installation of beams on a plasterboard ceiling

Since the plasterboard ceiling is suspended, you can’t just attach beams to it. You will have to remember / tap the places where the frame profiles go, and attach the beams to them. You can fasten it in any convenient way: with a long anchor through a beam, gypsum board and profile or on a bar attached with a self-tapping screw to the gypsum board and profile. A self-tapping screw screwed exclusively onto drywall will not hold the beam for a long time.

Some nuances

The joints of the beams or the exit points of the self-tapping screws are covered with various kinds of decorative overlays, among which the following can be distinguished:

  • masking with a decorative rope;
  • masking with a wax pencil;
  • masking with forged copper plates;
  • decorative leather belts.

To decorate the space, you can use decorative consoles that are sold with beams and create an imitation of supports on the walls. If cables for lighting devices pass inside the polyurethane beam, they must be hidden in a corrugated protection.

Video - Installation of wooden decorative beams on the ceiling

In this way, you can get a very beautiful unusual interior with an emphasis on wooden beams under the ceiling. This interior does not require a large investment of money, and you can fix the beams with your own hands in just a few hours.

Beams on the ceiling are a modern and stylish design solution. The ceiling, decorated with beams, is a beautiful and attractive solution for interior decoration. Perhaps a standard apartment will not always allow you to use this technique due to low ceilings, but a private house or suburban housing is the best option for installing ceiling beams.

Benefits of an unusual design

Decorative beams on the ceiling have the following advantages:

  • The interior acquires a certain style (rural, country, Provence, eco and other areas very often involve the inclusion of such decor elements in the design).
  • They well hide the flaws of the draft ceiling, for example, joints between sheets of drywall, differences between concrete floors, etc.
  • Hollow elements allow you to hide wiring and communication systems under the beam structure.
  • You can mount pendant lights to them, embed LED strips, TV brackets, etc.


Decorating ceilings with decorative beams has other advantages:

  • With high ceilings, such items will highlight the volume of the room. And placed low, they will reduce the height of the ceiling, making the room more cozy and comfortable in feel.
  • For attics or attic spaces, they are an integral part, helping to streamline the look of the space.
  • Ease of installation and reasonable price add pluses to such decorative elements for the ceiling.

Criterias of choice


There are several factors that need to be taken into account when choosing ceiling beams for interior decoration:

  1. Ceiling height and room size. In narrow and low rooms, it is better not to use this technique, since the room will visually become even smaller.
  2. Interior style. Not all areas allow you to include such a finish in the design. For example, baroque or rococo will look ridiculous with such brutal variations. But courageous, rough - an ideal option for decorating space with similar designs. They will also organically fit into a classic living room or high-tech bedroom.
  3. Financial opportunities directly affect the choice. With a limited budget, you can purchase, which form the basis of false design.


The choice of material for ceiling beams

Depending on the material used in the manufacture, beams are of the following types:

  • From natural wood. Usually they are made from cedar, larch, ash wood, less often pine or oak are used, since pine is a very soft material, and oak is not resistant to high temperatures and can crack when dried. To increase the strength of the products, a layer of decorative paint or stain is applied to the finished elements. The decisive role in this case is played by the stylistic orientation of the room. So, wooden structures on the ceiling look organically in rustic or classic interiors. Another solution is the design of unusual ceilings with open beams, which are made of wood and acquire the necessary shade during the painting process. If the house has two floors, you can make an interfloor overlap with an open structure in this style.


From what tasks the design sets before the design, it is necessary to build on when determining the location of the decorative beams. And it is better to do this at the stage of housing construction, since such calculations will enable the correct distribution of loads, rational wiring, etc.


They can be placed on the ceiling surface itself, a little lower, attached to the walls, mounted on ceilings with a transition to the wall surface. For example, you can attach wooden beams to the ceiling in the middle of the room, visually zoning the space, or hang it above the sofa, highlighting the place of rest. In such cases, lamps or other decorative elements are hung on the beams.

  • From metal. It's no secret that wooden ceiling beams are expensive. Also, it is not always advisable to include them in the interior from a technological and decorative point of view. Therefore, those who do not want to give up such an unusual design of their homes can use metal alternatives.


Such metal products will favorably emphasize a clear, minimalist style, complemented by strict geometric proportions in the form of furniture or accessories. Such beams can be painted in any color for complete harmony with the overall style of the room and

  • From drywall or polyurethane. These materials are mainly used for the manufacture of false beams, with the help of which an imitation of beams is recreated on a ceiling made of wood or metal, depending on the method of external coating and color.


U-shaped, under which you can hide communications and electrical wiring, lightness, budget price - the main advantages of these products from such materials, thanks to which their finishing is inexpensive, but in appearance it is in no way inferior to the design of the space with wooden ceiling beams or metal structures.


Beams on the ceiling: color choice

Such products organically fit into any style of interior and very rarely go unnoticed. As a rule, finishing with such objects is a common technique for giving the room texture and its own unique style. In order for the beams to match the interior, it is necessary to choose the right color shades and the location of the structures in the room.


In living quarters, parallel lines will look relevant, contrasting in color with the flooring. You can also finish the surface with wooden beams that match the color of the ceiling. If financial possibilities are limited, it is worth resorting to the possibility of decorating the space with drywall beams. Clearly imitating wood in color, they will not give guests the slightest opportunity to doubt the quality of a natural material.


In the living room, you can mount beams like a lattice or herringbone. Even in the attic, this design can turn a nondescript room into a cozy room. Therefore, among the design solutions, the decoration of attic spaces of this type is very common.


If you choose these interior items by color, you can also find many variations here. A rich palette opens up spaces for designers to implement their ideas. A slight departure from the classic interior allows you to add bright colors to the room.


The color of the beams can match the curtains, furniture, wallpaper. So, deep blue beams with a white ceiling or baguettes for curtains of the same shade will look advantageous. The original design of the room can be created if the beams on the white ceiling are painted in bright blue. The main thing is that after the repair, the owners should live comfortably and comfortably indoors.

Making the ceiling in the bathroom with wooden beams: an unusual design technique

Such an original design with ceiling beams of a wooden type of an ordinary bathroom is extremely rare. Especially if it is an apartment located in an apartment building, with low ceilings and small room sizes. But for private houses, where it amazes with its scale, you can develop your imagination in the design without limits.


The stereotype that most owners are guided by, believing that there is no place for wooden beams in the bathroom, due to the poor water-repellent properties of the material, was destroyed by the manufacturers of these products. They offer to cover them with antiseptic sprays, varnishes that will protect the wood.


However, it is possible to decorate a bathroom with natural wood ceiling beams only if there is good ventilation in the room. Or use an alternative option and include polyurethane or drywall structures painted to look like wood in the interior.


But with the help of such techniques, it will be possible to transform the appearance of the bathroom and create additional security measures by hiding the lighting under the decorative elements, thus isolating them from moisture.

Don't be afraid to experiment! Perhaps it is this design technique that will make the room a favorite room in the house and the envy of others.

Video: beam on the ceiling - do-it-yourself installation

Beam to beam

Regardless of the geographic affiliation of a rural dwelling, most people associate it with a living fire in a stove and wooden structural elements: beams, rafters. Although in our time houses are built not only from wood, and stove heating is not a priority, however, many owners of country houses prefer to put a stove or fireplace and decorate the ceiling with open beams. These details bring a special charm to the home, creating the atmosphere of a solid traditional home.

Ceiling beams decorate ceilings even in city houses and apartments made of concrete and brick. These elements of an authentic interior are very attractive for a resident of the "stone jungle".

Thus, open beams in our time are, as a rule, not functional, but decorative. This detail is called - "decorative beam". How are decorative beams used in the interior? What effects can this interior element achieve and how is it constructed?



Why are ceiling beams good in the interior?

If the ceilings are high, the beams will emphasize the volume of the room. If the room is too high, which deprives it of comfort, the beams can be placed low under the ceiling - this will visually lower its level, and the volume of the room will feel more comfortable.

In attics and attics, the design of a pitched ceiling with beams helps bring order to the space - the room becomes more harmonious.

"Hollow" beams (or "pseudo-beams", false beams) can mask the wiring and other communications running along the ceiling. Structures imitating beams are also used as boxes for mounting fixtures.

And, of course, it should be said that decorative beams are a simple, easy-to-install and very inexpensive way to make the ceiling original.

What styles are suitable for ceiling beams?

Beams can decorate the ceiling in the interior in almost any style: from historical classics to ultra-modern. Well, if we are talking about interiors in ethnic styles, then the beams are exactly what the “designer ordered”.

If this is a classic with a claim to luxury, the beams can be decorated with paintings, vignettes, and carvings. Coloring in a delicate color or even under silver is also suitable.

Smooth lacquered beams look great in strict classic interiors - dark or white.

Smooth white, dark and gray beams are also suitable for modern interiors. Here, this element looks no less impressive. The difference is that in a modern interior, creativity and bold decisions are acceptable. For example, beams can be painted not only in white, dark brown or black, but also in a bright color - for example, make them red, blue or even pink.

In loft and high-tech interiors, beams can be metal or painted with metallic effect paint. By the way, in modern interiors, beams on the ceiling often coexist with those on the walls. This is an "industrial aesthetic", a reference to the theme of old abandoned factories and warehouses turned into modern luxury apartments.

Elements of this style (“loft”) can be repeated in an ordinary small apartment. A few beams, a little facing brick, a little glass and metal, a few "naked" light bulbs and exposed wires - and you can enjoy the loft atmosphere.

For an interior in a rural style, of course, it is better to choose beams that imitate aged wood. Moreover, the beams here can be both light and very dark. Distinguishes their roughness, texture. The color of the beams can be very contrasting throughout the interior and not be combined with anything.

Beams in rustic interiors

If we are talking about the French country style (Provence), then here the beams are often quite neat and “graceful”. Preference is given to light, bleached beams.

Ceiling beams in the interior: color matters

Beams, contrasting to the ceiling, attract a lot of attention. If you want to focus on the beams, let them be very contrasting with the ceiling and the entire interior.

Most often, the contrasting beams are dark wood, while the ceiling is white. But the opposite solution is also possible: a dark ceiling and light beams, although it is far from being so spectacular.

If the beams merge with the color of the ceiling, they draw much less attention to themselves, but their influence cannot be overlooked. Staying in the shade, the beams add volume to the ceiling, make it structural, and bring dynamics. By the way, speaking of beams that merge with the ceiling, they usually mean either white or “wooden” beams on the corresponding ceilings. However, other solutions can be found: for example, both the ceiling and the beams can be blue, lilac, etc.

In the case of contrasting beams, a variety of palettes are also used. For example, the beams can be white and the ceiling blue.

The choice of the color of the ceiling and beams is made based on the style, color design of the interior, shades of furniture and textiles, etc. What should the beams in the interior be in tune with? With anything. They can match the color of wooden floors or furniture. They can be contrasting with the ceiling canvas, but match the color of the walls. There are no strict rules here.

You just need to consider that dark beams look more bulky and heavy. White beams seem weightless. Beams in light gray wood make the interior cool, while calm and serene. Black beams add graphic, bring rhythm, making the interior dynamic and "hard".

How to arrange beams in the interior?

Beams are able to visually change the geometry of the room. To visually expand the room, you need to arrange the beams in width. Well, the location along the wide side will make the room more elongated in appearance.

In order not to change the geometry, the beams can be placed crosswise (lattice). will come out imitation coffered ceiling. This beam finish adds volume to the ceiling.

Beams make out and small sections of the ceiling. It can be a “lattice”, and a “herringbone” made of beams, and other shapes.

Beams are also used to decorate niches in plasterboard ceiling structures.

One large beam on the ceiling can divide the zones: in this case, it is mounted at the junction of the zones - for example, above the dining table, etc. Such a dividing beam is equipped with lamps.

Beams from the ceiling can go to the walls. Moreover, not a beam at all can go along the wall, but a thin bar in the color of the beam. This technique can be used to visually correct such a disadvantage as a low ceiling.

If the ceilings are very high, the beams can be lowered by fixing them on opposite walls. This visually organizes too voluminous space.

Beams and decor

In the kitchen, various hooks and holders can be mounted on the beams by hanging utensils and baskets on them. The beam above the bar can be equipped with glass holders.

In country-style kitchens, bunches of herbs and dried bouquets are hung from the beams.

In rooms, lamps are built into the beams or light sources, including chandeliers, are hung on them. In modern loft-type interiors, lamps on wires or even chains are simply thrown over, tied up or hung on beams.

In fact, you can hang anything on the beams - from photo frames on chains or shelves on ropes to a TV panel on a special ceiling bracket. If these are real beams, they even hang swings or "air" chairs on them.

Beams in the interior: from what and how?

Real full-bodied wooden beams are a luxury that is available mainly only to those who live in their own home. Moreover, the presence of wooden beams as architectural structural elements should be provided in advance, even at the construction stage. Mounting wooden beams for the sake of aesthetics in most cases does not seem appropriate: they are too heavy and expensive. It is much easier to create an imitation of wooden beams, since these imitations are indistinguishable in appearance from the original.

Imitations of wooden beams are usually made of polyurethane. Polyurethane beams weigh very little, which greatly simplifies the installation process. Their cost is not high. They can look different: like beams from old, cracking wood or like smoothly sanded, polished and varnished.

Another advantage of polyurethane beams is moisture resistance. They can, without fear of anything, be actively involved in the kitchen and bathroom.

The U-shaped shape of the pseudo-beams is also a big plus. The beam is hollow inside, so it successfully performs the function of the so-called cable channel, in which you can hide wires, cables and even pipes. These beams are easily and simply mounted.

Install such false beams in different ways. First, you can build on the ceiling in the places of the future location of the beams a kind of crate made of wooden or metal profiles, and then fix the beams to the crate with self-tapping screws. However, if the beams are not too large, they can simply be planted on liquid nails.

With sufficiently heavy beams, a combined method is used. First, wooden blocks (small bars) are fixed on the ceiling. The edges of the beam are smeared with glue and applied to the ceiling. In this case, the beam is additionally connected with self-tapping screws to a wooden block fixed on the ceiling. The beam, fixed with screws and glue, will sit securely in its place.

Imitation of beams can be done independently - for this it is not at all necessary to buy beams made of polyurethane or plastic. Pseudo-beams can be constructed from drywall or lightweight plywood.

First you need to decide on the size and location of the beams, then make markings on the ceiling and mount frames made of metal profiles according to the markings: a separate frame for each false beam.

After that, it is necessary to cut out the details of the desired size from drywall or plywood and screw them with self-tapping screws to the frame. In fact, you get long narrow boxes. When all the structures are ready, it remains to putty them, then sand, prime and cover with paint.

Polka dot walls and confetti decor

Once upon a time, ceiling beams were a necessary architectural element in the tradition of many peoples. Without them, the construction of spacious village houses, domes of temples, theatrical vaults and long covered galleries was not complete. Today, ceiling beams in the interior are rather a decorative element that reflects a certain style. Often they are multifunctional and practical, but in order for false beams to become a highlight of the design, it is important to follow the recommendations of experts.

Children's bedroom design with wooden beams

Decorative beams on the ceiling in the interior

Kitchen design with flowers and decorative beams

Wooden and metal lintels are part of the structure of the roof, ceiling or roof of complex shape. You can’t do without them in the construction of an attic, a large terrace or an extension. In this case, they carry an important functional load.

The main task in arranging a house with ceiling beams is to give the rough logs the most “lived-in” look. It is important that the atmosphere of the living room, hallway or recreation with flights of stairs looks hospitable in a homely way.

Modern decorative ceiling beams in the interior look like wood, although they are made from composite and polymer materials. Most often they are hollow inside, and this is a good opportunity to hide wiring and pipelines, fix lamps or brackets for suspended structures. In this case, they carry an applied load more than a functional one, and a false tree in the interior is very relevant today.

Wooden lintels can be adjacent to the ceiling, make up a separate lattice, or be a support for connecting inclined planes, as in the photo of the ceiling with beams of the original design.

Living room design with corner sofa, paintings on the wall and decorative beams

Apartment design with decorative beams

Interior styles where beam structures are most appropriate

Today it is customary to build houses with an aesthetic reference to a certain style, so that they look like an old “family estate”, and not like a new, unsettled building.

The most popular are buildings in the spirit of Provence, where the floors are made of light wood or whitewashed. In a Provence-style kitchen, decorating with garlands of garlic and onions suspended from beams with dry bouquets of lavender and spicy spices is appropriate.

The natural color of dark wood is used in the style of a chalet mountain house from the Swiss Alps. This style is especially relevant in mansard-type buildings with a habitable attic space. And although here the floors are the basis of the roof, they are insulated and decorated in all possible ways.

The Japanese style was originally focused on collapsible houses, since the elements often destroyed the buildings of the poor and wealthy islanders of the easternmost ridge. Beamed ceilings were easy to build and dismantle after the tsunami and earthquake. This style has taken root around the world, and decorative ceiling beams remain an indispensable attribute of a recognizable minimalist interior, where there is a noticeable tribute to the culture of Japan.

Stretch ceiling with beams in the middle with a chandelier

Bright white design of the combined living room and kitchen with decorative beams

Balcony design in cream color

Loft - this is the reformatting of non-residential premises for urban housing of a large area. Metal or concrete floors, open communications, roughly painted or sheathed with aluminum corrugated beams are appropriate here.

In a classic interior, only well-crafted wood is used, carved, varnished or painted. Neat beams on the ceiling in a classic or traditional interior look light and elegant. The color of the wood should repeat the shade of the furniture and joinery.

Another classic option is ceiling beams and floors made of the same material against white walls. A similar solution is often practiced in imitation of retro or country style.

Beam structures are widely used in high-tech style - as the basis for the original lighting of the kitchen or living room.

A unique design can be created in decor for any historical style, if the use of decorative beams on the ceiling is structurally justified.

Please note: The owners of some buildings try to hide the structural beam base with suspended or stretch ceilings. This is impractical, since you will have to give up a significant part of the height of the ceilings. It is better to think over their decor, down to the fabric upholstery between the painted wooden beams in the bedroom or find another option.

Living room design with stretch ceiling and TV

Wooden partitions in the interior of the kitchen

It makes no sense to hide the marine-style beam structures if the house is designed as a wardroom. They fit perfectly into the styles of bungalows, eco and ethno.

English-style houses are full of natural wood, including ceilings divided into squares with niches. This decision will emphasize the sophistication of aristocratic decoration. It is possible that the old bases will have to be updated and varnished.

Decorative partition in the kitchen

Light kitchen design with brick walls

Bright white kitchen with wooden beams

Imitation of wooden beams

Natural wood today is an expensive pleasure, and massive structures made of natural material are very heavy. They create an additional load on the foundation and walls, there are problems with installation and delivery due to the impressive weight. In addition, high humidity can “lead” them.

Manufacturers of building materials have offered a convenient budget alternative made of polymer materials. Hollow inside false beams are not inferior in design to products made of natural wood, which have to stand for several months to reduce moisture.

Advantages of polymer decorative beams on the ceiling:

  • moisture resistance;
  • fire resistance;
  • attractive price;
  • relatively small weight;
  • large selection of textures and shades.

In terms of strength and some other indicators, decorative beams even surpass wood. They have an undeniable advantage - the ability to imitate any type of wood with a natural texture of various shades. For example, wenge-colored false wood in the interior, in harmony with eco-veneer doors, furniture and laminate of the same luxurious chocolate color with a reddish tint.

Mustard bathroom design

Room design in mustard color with wooden beams

Leafing through the catalogs from manufacturers, it is easy to notice that there are different decorative beams for ceilings:

  • with the effect of varnishing and painting;
  • with cracks and imitation of aging;
  • smooth (polished) and "rough" processing.

For such products, everything is thought out for ease of fastening, and it is difficult to mount natural wood in a hidden way. U-shaped false beams are the best way to hide communications in a bathhouse or sauna, in loft-style, country-style living quarters or in classic-type buildings.

L-shaped pseudo-beams are also produced, which are laid around the perimeter of the ceiling, the goal is the same - to hide pipes and wires, and imperfections in the articulation of surfaces. You can also build a rectangular imitation with your own hands to hide defects in the joints of the floor slabs in the apartment.

False plasterboard beams are covered with film materials that imitate wood. This design is visually no different from the original, as in the photo.

Natural wood is preferred in houses made from natural environmentally friendly materials. The fact is that when everything in the house is made of wood, it reacts in the same way to temperature changes or changes in humidity indicators - it “breathes”. If some of the structures are made of materials that are not as plastic as natural wood, an additional load is created, especially during primary shrinkage or during minor seismic factors.

Stone wall in the interior of the living room

rustic room design

Wooden partitions in the interior

Color selection

Wood with high decorative qualities is considered the most demanded for interior decoration:

  • rosewood (wenge);
  • nut;
  • cherry;
  • ebony;
  • oak (bleached and stained);
  • ash;

When imitation of a cut of wood is used in synthetic counterparts, it is possible to enhance the natural shade or “whiten”.

The color of the wooden beams on the ceiling in the interior is matched to the overall design concept.

TABLE (Classic variants)

House design with wooden partitions

Corridor design in white

A good example in the photo is the design in a white village house.

Advice. When choosing a color, keep in mind that dark wood looks more heavy, white - almost weightless.

Colored floors should be in harmony with the main tone in the interior. Contrasting designs seem to “break up” the space, which is good for spacious rooms with high ceilings.

If the interior design turned out to be costly, but a little nondescript and faceless, you can transfer all your attention to the upper plane, which will become the “highlight” of the decor, as in the photo.

Decorative beams in the interior of the house

Option to use decorative beams for the ceiling

Living room interior with decorative beams

Decor and aesthetics of ceiling structures

There is no point in hiding well-treated wood under the ceilings, it is better to give the interior with beams more importance in the design concept:

  1. Lintels between columns or pilasters perfectly hold ceiling structures. In order to level the shortcomings of the old building, it is better to reorganize the room using zoning techniques. Decorative beams at the top will help break up a large room into a kitchen block, a dining area and a reception area, as in the photo.
  2. For a room with a pyramidal or domed ceiling, decorative structures will help achieve the “open sky” effect if the background is light blue.
  3. A stretch glossy canvas behind the ceilings will add depth to the space.
  4. An inimitable interior will help to create beam structures with different patterns - herringbone, cage, triangles, hexagons.
  5. Overlappings will serve as the basis for reliable fastening of suspended structures:

  1. Behind the decor of the ceiling, it is easy to hide the articulation defects of the surfaces. A complex structure with lintels will hide a leaky ceiling that could not be restored in the usual way.
  2. The low ceiling in the kitchen can be effectively beaten with the help of ceiling beams, a bar counter and hanging modules and other elements for placing dishes and kitchen utensils. It will look natural, as once in village houses.
  3. The interior of the attic looks most organically, where the lintels carry a decorative load. When the room is spacious, the frequency of wooden beams gives some order and meaning. It is better when the entire wooden decor is of the same shade.
  4. The simple design of the ceiling with beams in a country house always looks very practical. This is a lot of additional storage and placement options for kitchen utensils and small items. Various brooms and bundles, bags and knots, hooks and nails were traditionally hung along the perimeter for temporary and permanent storage of anything.
  5. Decorative beam structures in the bedroom are not appropriate in every style. But canopies and other textile decor have long been attached to them. The mirrored ceilings with black lacquered logs in the sleeping area look extravagant and sophisticated.
  6. Beam jumpers are also used to decorate a mini-pool, a spacious bathroom or a bathroom. In this case, false beams made of polymeric materials imitating wood are recommended. They are not afraid of high humidity, but it is convenient to hide pipes and electrical wiring behind a false tree in the interior. If desired, the internal grooves can be made airtight.
  7. In a teenager's room, an interior with wooden beams can be advantageously decorated with diode tape or garlands. Older students love artificial lighting and twinkling lights. Such decor can be a source of special pride; teenagers willingly demonstrate the original decor to their friends.

We offer a video about self-assembly of decorative beams.