If you’ve been looking for a way to update your home, you may have noticed the trend of using natural elements and exposed wood. Reclaimed wood beams can make a space feel elegant, cozy, and warm. However, installing wood beams in your home can be difficult. Real, reclaimed wood beams are extremely heavy, expensive to purchase, and challenging to install.
As an alternative to real wood, faux wood beams have become very popular. These are made from high-density polyurethane, and can be custom-sized to fit your room or space. They are partially hollow, allowing you to use them in ways that aren’t possible with traditional wood beams. Their lightweight nature also means they can be easily incorporated into your plans without the need for a contractor or team of builders.
To help you find your inspiration, we’ve gathered 10 of our favorite ways to use exposed faux wood beams.
1. Define rooms in an open floor plan
Open floor plans are extremely popular in modern homes. However, sometimes it can be difficult to feel like your space has defined rooms. This makes it hard to create different designs for different areas.
Using faux ceiling beams in your kitchen, for example, allows it to feel and look like a separate space - without having to compromise on the flow of the rest of your home!
2. Use high beams to draw your eye up and open the space
Adding thin faux exposed wood beams to the apex of high ceilings can draw the eye upwards, making the space feel larger. This accentuates and opens up the whole area.
In this case, the high contrast between the light ceiling and dark beams further draws emphasis to the high ceilings.
3. Integrate lighting fixtures into faux exposed wood beams
Having lighting integrated into a ceiling beam is a great way to make your ceiling design look seamless and put together. This can be especially useful if you want to attach lighting into a corner at the apex of your ceiling. It can be difficult to get the lighting flush with the ceiling in this position. In this case, a faux beam can be a functional way to mask wiring.
4. Add exposed trusses to bring an open ceiling down
High ceilings can make a room feel large and elegant, but may take away a desired sense of coziness. Creating trusses with faux beams warms up any room without sacrificing the openness that high ceilings offer.
These beautifully constructed trusses also flow well with the cobblestone feature on the wall.
5. Fireplace mantels
One of the most popular uses of reclaimed wood is for fireplace mantels, and faux wood can produce the same effect. Along with stone paneling, faux wood creates a beautifully organic look.
Your fireplace is the centerpiece of your living room - a place for family and friends to gather. Using a faux wood beam to create the rustic look you desire can change the feel of a whole room.
6. Create unique geometric ceiling patterns
The lightweight nature of faux exposed wood beams and custom options makes it easy to incorporate complicated designs that might be impossible with real wood. Due to the weight and bulk of wooden beams, it can be challenging to cut and hoist, while faux wood beams can be easily altered with common household woodworking tools.
7. Change the look of your home’s exterior
Using faux beams means that you can change the look of your home without worrying about adding undue stress to its structure. Faux beams are also weather-resistant and durable, so they can withstand the elements, making a great design feature for outdoor use as well.
8. Create contrast on light ceilings and walls
Dark beams bring a beautiful contrast to light ceilings. This juxtaposition makes the space look elegant and expensive. You can also utilize the existing ceiling structure and insets as a starting place for your beam configurations.
9. Combine faux exposed wood beams with stone columns to frame in a room
Not only do faux beams make design projects straightforward, but combining these with faux stone or brick paneling can expand your design possibilities. This image shows faux exposed wood beams used to frame spaces and define the living areas.
10. Use faux wood beams to highlight and outline built-ins
Beams can be used to highlight the built-in furniture or cabinetry that you already have installed. Framing a space, for example, for your TV delivers a seamless and professional look.
Try Faux Exposed Wood Beams In Your Next Project
If you’re looking for more ideas, you can check out the numerous completed projects and blog posts available in our design center.