A beamed ceiling brings a feeling of homeliness and warmth to the interior of living spaces. Regardless of whether the beams are structural features of the room or serve a purely decorative function, the design of such a space is transformed. A ceiling with beams made in colors contrasting with the entire surface of the ceiling will attract attention and create a special optical effect of the interior. But even ceiling elements painted the same tone as the ceiling will not go unnoticed. Thanks to their structure and distinctive texture, ceiling beams made of wood or other materials become an outstanding element of any interior.
The presence of beams on the ceiling can be caused by various reasons:
- in private urban or suburban houses, beams are an integral part of the building structure, elements of the frame floors to support the attic or attic;
- the desire to give the interior a certain style (for example, country, rural, eco, shabby chic or Provence style is often accompanied by a similar ceiling decoration);
- the ability to hide flaws in the ceiling finishing - placing beams at the joints of plasterboard sheets significantly reduces the cost of final surface finishing;
- in hollow ceiling beams, you can mask various engineering communications - from pipes to electrical wiring lines; lighting elements can be built into the cavities of such beams:
- Various interior elements can be attached to beams made of wood, metal or stone - from pendant lamps to TVs.
So, we have decided that beams on the ceiling can be decorative or perform quite obvious support functions. But what materials can they be made of? As usual, all materials for ceiling beams can be divided into natural and artificial:
- wood is one of the most common, but not cheap, materials for making beams. For country households and private houses located within the city, coniferous wood is most often used, but there are also options for deciduous types of wooden beams (for country or eco style, this type of ceiling decoration is most relevant);
- metal - beams made of steel or aluminum are often used in loft, industrial and hi-tech style interiors (lighting elements are often attached to such structures, but purely decorative use is no less rare);
- polyurethane - this artificial material can imitate almost any surface - from wood to stone. A significant distinguishing feature of polyurethane beams is the low weight of the products. Of course, the cost of artificial finishing elements is lower than their natural counterparts. Such beams can be used in interiors of any stylistic affiliation, it all depends on the size of the room and the quality of the imitation “wood” or other materials.
The choice of material, appearance and configuration of beams in relation to the ceiling will be influenced by the following factors:
- the size of the room and the shape of the ceiling (horizontal surface or vaulted ceiling, multi-level or low room height - all these factors must be taken into account when choosing ceiling elements);
- room design style - classic style or ultra-modern high-tech will require a different approach in choosing ceiling beams;
- budget for repairs - the cost of beams can vary significantly, depending on the material of manufacture, size and complexity of modification of structures.
Design style
Ceiling beams are found not only in traditional rustic interiors such as Provence, rustic or country. Modern “cold” interiors become warmer and cozier with wooden beams on the ceiling. They look especially impressive in tandem with concrete walls and brickwork.
Depending on the method of external design, such decor would be appropriate in a classic style, English, Scandinavian or modern minimalism, loft, or high-tech style.
Interior with beams on the ceiling Source www.houzz.com
In classic interiors, beams of a clear, even shape made of noble wood, decorated with carved decor, elegant floral patterns with gilding or silver, are used on the ceiling. This design attracts attention and gives the interior an atmosphere of luxury and grandeur.
Living room with beams to match the walls Source mit24h.com
The surface is coated with a transparent matte varnish. The color can be deep brown, black or white. You can use lightweight polyurethane structures with a perfectly flat surface or stucco decoration.
The advantage of polyurethane products is their light weight, which allows them to be mounted on any ceiling. Such structures are hollow inside. This allows you to install built-in lighting, making the beam functional.
Scandinavian style involves plenty of natural light. The ceiling and walls are usually white. The floors are made of light wood. The beams on the ceiling can be a natural light wood shade or painted white.
Decorative elements on the ceiling Source sdelaipotolok.com
Minimalist design with highlighted beams Source wuji3yl.com
In high-tech style, ceiling beams made of wood or metal are used. It is recommended to take into account the weight of the structure and the load-bearing capacity of the ceiling.
Beams in a loft-style interior are a must-have attribute. They can be wooden or metal. For wood varieties, a rough, “raw” appearance is encouraged. Metal beams are painted dark gray or black. It is desirable that welds, bolts, and rivets are clearly visible on their surface. If the floor slabs are initially laid on concrete ceiling beams, then they are left open in their natural form without external finishing.
Loft style design Source www.houzz.es
With the help of polyurethane ceiling beams, the loft style can be implemented in an ordinary city apartment. This material is lightweight, easy to process and securely attached to the ceiling. Can imitate any surface, such as wood. In an apartment with a low ceiling, you can imitate beams using boards of small thickness.
Classic living room interior with fireplace Source www.decoracaoeideias.com
See also: Catalog of companies that specialize in interior redevelopment.
If wooden beams in a natural color are suitable for country style, then for Provence style they are painted white. There are options made of very light wood. You can use the technique of painting ceiling beams to match the kitchen unit when it comes to decorating the kitchen interior.
Interior of a bright children's room Source www.remontbp.com
Lighting in the ceiling Source decorationinfo.ru
Finish options
False beams can be placed in a room in different ways, depending on its layout. In most cases, attaching beams to the ceiling is not difficult, so you can even decorate the room with them yourself.
You can decorate an already renovated room with them or install them during the renovation process, when the ceiling has already been painted.
To install the beam, you need to mark the required distance on the ceiling, secure the wedges at the junctions of the beam with the wall or with other beams, align the position of the beam and secure it with self-tapping screws.
You may also encounter the following finishing options:
- Attaching the false beam to the insulated ceiling occurs in almost the same way. However, the ceiling should be sheathed with insulation in advance, since after installation this will no longer be possible. Insulated ceilings are usually created in private homes. This is an easy way to make your home cozy even in winter and save on heating costs.
- If you want to provide lighting around the entire perimeter of the room, you need to think in advance where exactly you want to attach the lamps. If the wires in your apartment require one chandelier, it is better to contact an electrician to install many lamps. To then install the lamps under the false beam, it is enough to accurately calculate their position and drill suitable holes in the beams.
- Decorative elements on the ceiling not only serve as additional decoration in the interior - they can also hide defects. If you have uneven ceilings or there are cracks in them, you need to think in advance about a design that will hide the imperfections of the rough finish and make them invisible.
- Often, false ceiling beams are installed in interiors, which continue on the walls. The installation of such options will be no different from the installation of conventional false beams. You just need to make sure that the joints are even.
Where to use
Ceiling beams are a universal decorative element, so you can find them in any room:
- The beams on the ceiling of a small kitchen are painted white to visually make the room more spacious and brighter. If the room is high, then you can use a contrasting solution in the form of beams made of dark wood. Often the ceiling in the kitchen is lined with wooden paneling. In this case, ceiling beams of the same color would be appropriate.
- If the room is of sufficient height, wooden ceiling beams in the bedroom can create a cozy, warm atmosphere. Beams are often found in bedrooms located on attic floors. Here, structural elements are left untouched in order to maintain the height of the room and the feeling of spaciousness. The beams can be decorated in the same color as the ceiling or create a contrast. They may have a common pattern with the flooring or furniture. If there is not enough height, the ceiling is completely painted white.
- Most often, decoration in the form of decorative beams on the ceiling can be found in the living room. In a spacious room, it is especially important to create a cozy atmosphere and original design. This decor will look especially impressive in a typical city apartment. The use of beams on a suspended ceiling is one of the techniques that creates an unusual visual effect. Lightweight polyurethane is used as the material for manufacturing overhead elements. At the same time, outwardly it may look like a massive wooden or metal structure.
- Since the bathroom is characterized by high humidity, it is worth paying attention to the material of the ceiling decor. Polyurethane copes best with such conditions. If you decide to use wood, then preference should be given to moisture-resistant wood species, for example, larch. For small rooms use light shades. For spacious rooms - contrasting solutions. It is important that the bathroom has good ventilation.
- In the hall. If beams are used in the main rooms, then this element will also be appropriate in the hallway. This will allow you to immediately create an idea of the design of the house and set the necessary mood.
Pronounced beams Source www.blueridgeapartments.com
Cozy bedroom Source uutvdome.ru
Kitchen with island Source izbushkinet.ru
Country style bathroom interior Source uz.lehighvalleylittleones.com
Best color combinations
Modern beams can have a variety of colors. A modern interior can be easily refined with the help of beams in a complex and sophisticated color scheme, and the currently popular country style furnishings can be successfully complemented with massive wooden beams.
To decorate the interior in a truly stylish and beautiful way, the color of the false beams should be in harmony with the color scheme of the decoration and furniture.
The most popular are all kinds of wooden beams for the ceiling, as well as options that imitate wood. Very often, dark or light colors are matched to wooden furniture or parquet. Moreover, if it is not possible to match the tone to tone, it is quite possible to combine radically different shades with each other, especially if you are decorating a spacious room.
For example, wenge can be perfectly combined with red wood, and walnut or cherry look great in combination with light shades. You can even create cross beams in two colors if you want to draw special attention to the ceiling design.
False beams are quite eye-catching things in the interior; they are hard not to notice. If you don’t want to highlight them too much, or are afraid to distract attention from other decorative finishing elements, you should choose beams that match the ceiling. Most often this color is white, excluding country-style interiors in which the ceiling is completely decorated with wood.
White false beams will fit perfectly into the classic or Provencal style, as well as into the eclectic and hi-tech styles. Everything will depend on the materials you choose.
Colored false beams made of plastic or metal will perfectly help you diversify a boring interior. Most often, such options are selected for modern apartments. Please note that the false beams are not the only bright spot in the design project - the richly colored ceiling should be balanced by other bright accents on the floor and along the walls. It is also important that the colors are complex and composed.
Lilac, wine, olive, turquoise and terracotta tones can look great in modern interiors.
Load-bearing beam in the interior
Modern studio design Source schrankbett.access.ly
In some old houses and apartments there are load-bearing beams on the ceiling. In this case, the question arises of how to organically fit this element into the interior. There are several options:
- If the interior is decorated in a loft or hi-tech style, then the crossbar can be left as is, without finishing. In other interior styles, such an element will introduce obvious dissonance.
- The easiest option to make the load-bearing element invisible is to paint it to match the ceiling.
- The ceiling beam can be sheathed with gypsum board sheets when creating a niche, running boxes around the perimeter of the room. Spotlights are usually installed inside, making the structure not only beautiful, but also functional.
- The option when the load-bearing element is completely covered with plasterboard or hidden under a suspended ceiling is suitable only for structures of small thickness or high rooms, otherwise a lot of free space will be lost and the room will become visually smaller.
- If the interior welcomes the presence of beams, then the existing crossbar is duplicated, including it in the overall ensemble of decorative ceiling elements.
- An original technique is to cover the ceiling and crossbar with mirror panels.
The location of the supporting structure in a room with several functional areas can be considered successful. Here the crossbar can visually mark the boundary between the kitchen and the dining room. Also, the element protruding from the ceiling can be made part of the partition.
Large hall with beams Source blog-potolok.ru
Lighting in decorative elements Source decorationinfo.ru
Country design option Source sdelaipotolok.com
Design Features
Brushing
When planning the interior, you need to pay attention to all the details, even the most insignificant ones. When it comes to beams, there are several options: to beat the entire surface or to decorate it partially, making strict structures. You can lay beams in a wide variety of ways, relying on your own taste and discretion, so you shouldn’t be limited by the rules.
Natural wood beams
Natural wood is most often used to make beams. This environmentally friendly material is distinguished by a wide variety of shades and textures. Each product is individual due to its unique wood pattern. Wood fits perfectly into any interior and can be processed in various ways, which allows you to expand the decorative possibilities of wood.
There is nothing easier than fixing solid timber to the ceiling. But this option is heavy and some ceilings simply cannot handle it. Therefore, the best solution would be to make a wooden false beam. The free space inside can be used to install built-in lighting or lay hidden communications.
False beam with a smoke detector on the ceiling Source ok.ru
The process of making such a beam on the ceiling is as follows:
- Using a circular saw, three boards are cut from the timber.
- The resulting elements are set at right angles and fixed with self-tapping screws.
- The joints and screw heads are masked using wood putty.
- To give a natural texture, a thick pobedit nozzle for concrete is passed along the fibers.
- The resulting structure is painted. To give the antique effect, black paint is first used, which is then removed with sanding.
Decoration of the attic floor Source decorationinfo.ru
Hall with a fireplace Source www.remontbp.com
To fix the timber beam to the ceiling, you will need to complete the following steps:
- Apply markings to the ceiling.
- Drill holes in the timber to a depth of 5 mm using a 12 mm drill. The hole spacing is 30 cm.
- Holes with a diameter of 8 mm are drilled inside each hole. Self-tapping screws 12 cm long are placed in them.
- The beam is applied to the ceiling and the locations of the holes are marked.
- At the marked points, holes with a depth of 8 mm are drilled using a hammer drill.
- Wooden inserts are placed inside and the beam is screwed.
Modern solution Source sdelaipotolok.com
High ceilings Source thekomod.ru
To make the screw heads invisible, use wood putty. When it dries, the surface is covered with stain and varnish. To disguise the hats, you can use furniture pads to match or imitate forged hats. The joints of intersecting beams can be decorated with tightly wound thick twine.
Beams as part of the interior Source dizainvfoto.ru
Bright beams in the nursery Source amaro.ru
Polyurethane ceiling beams
It is not always possible to place real wooden beams on the ceiling. Even false beams that are hollow inside have significant weight. Therefore, to attach them, it is necessary to drill a hole in the ceiling and use fasteners. Polyurethane, unlike wood, is lightweight and can be easily attached to the ceiling using liquid nails. Such an element can even be fixed on the surface of the tension fabric.
With the help of polyurethane ceiling beams you can attract attention and enliven the interior of any room. At the same time, the cost of such a beam is much cheaper than natural wood, and in appearance it is almost impossible to distinguish it from it.
Decorative beams Source decor-ad.ru
In addition to aesthetic appeal, such beams are distinguished by functionality. Inside it is possible to lay electrical wiring and other communications, as well as install lamps. This is especially true for rooms with high humidity, where it is important to protect electrical appliances from exposure to dampness.
Artificial decorative beam Source tatarstan.tiu.ru
Unlike natural wood, polyurethane decor has the following advantages:
- Visually the ceiling becomes higher.
- The emptiness inside is used for laying communications.
- The material is environmentally friendly and safe.
- The product is lightweight and highly durable.
- Can be attached to any surface at any angle.
- Polyurethane is cheaper than natural wood.
- Polyurethane is not afraid of moisture, temperature changes, does not absorb dirt, and is easy to clean and install. The material is not subject to fire and mold formation.
Polyurethane product Source prom.ua
Installation of polyurethane beams is quick and easy. You can do all the work yourself. The work is performed in the following sequence:
- Markings are applied to the surface of the ceiling indicating the location of the beam.
- The element is secured to wooden wedge beams. Their size must correspond to the parameters of the internal space of the beam. A standard 3 meter long beam can be secured using three wedge beams.
- Holes are drilled in the bars so that it is 2 mm smaller than the screw for fixation.
- The bars are fixed to the ceiling in increments of 1 meter.
- The surface of the bars and the ceiling is covered with glue to fix the beam more tightly and adhere it to the surface of the base.
- The beam is placed on bars and fixed on the sides with self-tapping screws, the heads of which are subsequently hidden behind decorative overlays, belts with rivets or matching plaster.
Interior in Provence style Source comfortoria.ru
Load-bearing structures as a design element Source www.rmnt.ru
Useful tips and tricks
Before purchasing beams for your interior, you should carefully think through the design project.
Consider the following nuances:
The beams must match the size and layout of the room. Too massive beams will look inorganic in a small room, and in a spacious room, miniature beams will be invisible. In addition, in elongated rooms it is recommended to place beams across, and in square rooms intersecting beams should be avoided. This way you will make the interior more harmonious.
The color of the products is of great importance. If the decor of your room is quite bright and varied, it is worth making false beams that contrast with the ceiling. If you have a more laconic interior, there is no need to make the decorative elements on the ceiling too prominent.
Think about lighting in advance. Most often, beams do not look good with single chandeliers. The best option is to provide lighting around the entire perimeter of the room. Sometimes lamps are built into the beams themselves, and sometimes lamps occupy the space between them.
Decoration methods
Wood beams Source www.pinterest.com
Each interior style requires a certain way of external design of beams. Thus, in a classic and Victorian interior, the ceiling decor will be organically complemented by carvings, gilding, elegant patterns and vignettes. In the store you can purchase a finished product made of polyurethane.
The interior in high-tech style is decorated with beams that imitate a smooth, even metal surface. And for rustic styles, on the contrary, they choose embossed surfaces with a pronounced wood texture.
Large rough beams Source 3d-style-dv.com
To highlight ceiling beams in the interior, use the following techniques:
- Aging effect. Surfaces imitating antique wood are relevant for Provence, rustic, shabby chic, country and loft styles. To create an imitation, you can use a dry planed board made of soft wood. When processing it with a carpet brush, fibers are selected from the surface. The board can be pre-treated with a hatchet, creating grooves and chips on its surface. Then the dust-free surface of the board is covered with oil-wax. After a day, apply a layer of water-based oil. After 30 minutes, rub the coating with a dry cloth.
- Coloring. Regardless of the material of manufacture, the beam can be painted in any color - to match the ceiling or in contrast.
- To preserve and highlight the natural grain of the wood, it is coated with clear varnish. The composition enhances the shade and protects the material from harmful influences.
- Wood is a soft and pliable material, so beams can be decorated with carved decor. The pattern is chosen depending on the style of the interior.
Unusual beams Source comfortoria.ru
Option for hiding beams in a delicate nursery interior Source happymodern.ru
Optical effect depending on the arrangement of elements on the ceiling
Depending on how the beams are located on the ceiling, one or another visual effect is obtained.
| Illustration | Description |
| When the beams are placed transversely, the width of the room visually increases. For spacious rooms choose timber, and for small rooms choose boards that can emphasize the chosen interior style. |
| Using the longitudinal arrangement of the crossbars, you can visually extend the room in length. And if you use lighting wisely, the finish will look lighter. |
| Ceiling crossbars with a diagonal arrangement visually increase the area of the room. Depending on the desired result, the beams are placed throughout the entire ceiling space or in the center. |
| By partially finishing the ceiling, you can visually highlight one of the functional areas in the room. For example, a dining area in a spacious kitchen. |
| The crosswise arrangement of the crossbars gives the room volume. The effect can be enhanced by the use of contrasting shades of the ceiling and decorative elements. |
| In homes with high ceilings, existing or decorative truss or mullion structures will be the main focal point. |
| Arbitrary arrangement of planks on the ceiling allows you to create interesting patterns and geometric shapes.
|
Methods for processing wooden decor
Beams made of natural wood must undergo additional processing for decorative and protective purposes. After this, the wood acquires increased resistance to moisture and hot steam. It becomes invulnerable to mold and mildew. To apply the compositions use a roller, brush or spray gun. For internal use, only environmentally friendly preparations are purchased.
False beam and imitation timber Source artwinn.ru
Whether a wooden surface should be sanded first becomes clear when assessing the appearance of the wood. If there are no noticeable defects on it, then grinding may not be performed.
If the question is what to choose - oil or paint, then for residential premises the best option would be oil, which does not affect the ability of wood to “breathe”.
When choosing a varnish, you should remember that depending on its type, the wood takes on a different effect. Using polyurethane, epoxy or water-based furniture varnish, you can emphasize the natural grain of wood.
Alkyd varnish gives the surface a shiny effect, and wood will acquire a silky shine when used instead of Pinotex varnish. This composition can also protect the tree from rotting.
To obtain a certain shade of wood, stain is used.
Chandelier in beam Source www.whiskeyyourway.com
The process of processing beams on the ceiling is as follows:
- Prepare the surface: clean it from dirt and polish it.
- Apply stain, being careful not to leave streaks.
- After the stain has completely dried, apply varnish. It is worth remembering that a thin layer of varnish is more durable than a thick one.
Living room in brown tones Source ecoohotnadzor31.ru
Creativity in the details Source dafix.ru
