When it comes to adding drama and warmth to a room, large faux wood beams are a homeowner’s dream. Faux wood beams can instantly elevate a space, creating a cozy, intimate atmosphere without the hassle of heavy, real wood.
But the key to a truly stunning look lies in getting the beam proportions just right. Beams that are too small may fade into the background. Beams that are too large can overpower the room.
The toughest scenario tends to be with finding the right size beam for a large-scale project. This guide will help you determine the ideal size for your faux wood beams, ensuring a well-proportioned, beautiful home interior that looks like it belongs in a magazine.
Benefits of Using Faux Wood for Large-Scale Projects
Especially when dealing with a large-scale project, faux wood beams offer many advantages over real wood beams, making them a practical and stylish choice for homeowners and contractors. Unlike natural wood, they are lightweight, easier to install, and require far less upkeep while still achieving the same rustic or elegant look.
Here are some of the benefits of choosing faux:
- Lightweight and easy to install: Faux wood beams are made from high-density polyurethane, so they’re much lighter than real wood. This allows for quicker installation without the need for extra structural support or labor.
- Budget-friendly: Compared to solid wood beams, faux wood beams are more affordable overall – to purchase, ship, install, and maintain.
- Low Maintenance: Unlike real wood, faux beams won’t warp, crack, or attract pests, saving you time and repair costs over time.
- Available in multiple styles and authentic finishes: Available in a wide range of colors, textures, and wood grain patterns, faux beams can mimic reclaimed, rustic, or modern wood looks.
- Durable: Faux wood beams are resistant to moisture, won’t fade in harsh sunlight, and can withstand normal weather conditions.
How to Determine the Perfect Beam Size and Style
Hewn Faux Wood Beams in Log
When designing the perfect interior, the choices you make can dramatically affect the overall feel of your home. One key decision is beam size. For large spaces where you want beams to be a focal point, large faux wood beams can make a big impact.
Before starting your room transformation, consider the look and feel you want and the size of your space. These factors will help you choose the style and size of beam that best suits your needs.
Choose a Beam Style and Finish
Are you going for a rustic look? Contemporary? Aged? Do you want beams with a smooth texture? What color do you want the beams to be? Will they match your existing woodwork? The great thing about faux wood beams is that you can custom-order them to suit your needs.
To help you make the best choice, check out this side-by-side comparison of faux beam styles, including rustic, raised grain, and pebbled options.
The best way to choose the perfect style and color is to order beam samples. Seeing and feeling the materials firsthand ensures you select the finish that will look amazing in your space.
How to Determine the Right Beam Length
Each of our beam styles is custom-made and available in widths and heights from 4” to 36” in height and width, and up to 30’ long. Understanding the difference between beam dimensions is an important part of picking the right size beam.
- Length: How far the beam stretches across the room.
- Height: How tall the beam looks from top to bottom.
- Width: How wide (thick) it looks across its underside.
How to Decide Between Thick vs. Thin Beams
When deciding how thick or thin to make your beams, start by measuring the height of your ceiling. The higher the ceiling, the more width and height your beams can have. Lower ceilings, by contrast, typically look better with narrower beams for the sake of proportion. For example, a tall cathedral ceiling can handle large beams beautifully.
Thick beams work especially well on ceilings, drawing the eye upward and making the ceiling the focal point of your room, which can make the space feel more open. On the other hand, if your ceilings are low, thick beams can create a cozy, intimate atmosphere by visually lowering the height of the room.
If you have a smaller room, large beams across the ceiling might make the space feel crowded. In that case, smaller beams are often a better fit. You can also combine thick and thin beams to create visual interest.
Pro Tip: To get a sense of how the dimensions will look in your home, cut a piece of cardboard to match the beam size you’re considering. Tape it to the ceiling and step back to see if the scale feels right in the space.
How Far Apart to Space Your Beams
If you’re installing your beams on a ceiling, closer spacing will generally make the ceiling feel lower and cozier. Beams installed further apart make the ceiling feel higher and more open.
The most common beam spacing is four feet apart. Overall, beam spacing is a preference and is totally up to you.
How to Order Large Faux Wood Beams
Our faux wood beams are customizable up to 30’ long. If you order a beam less than 8’ in length, your beam will likely be dispatched via a ground carrier service like UPS. Large orders or long beams will be dispatched by a common carrier. Common carriers will deliver during a mutually agreed-upon delivery window.
Beams over 21’ will be cut in half and shipped as two pieces. If you need a 30’ beam, for example, two 15’ beams can be joined together to achieve your desired length.
During installation, you have two options for achieving the beam length you need.
- You can butt the beams up as close together as possible, then caulk the seam and touch up using the touch-up kit included in your order.
- If you prefer to completely hide the seams, consider using beam accessories like straps and beam plates.
Installing Large Faux Wood Beams
Old Barn Faux Wood Beams in Roasted Chestnut
One of the biggest advantages of faux beams is how lightweight and manageable they are. For example, an 8”x10”x20’ faux beam weighs only about 56 pounds, compared to nearly 600 pounds for a solid wood beam of the same size. Because they’re hollow, even larger faux beams remain light and simple to handle, making them ideal for DIY projects and easier installation.
The general supplies you’ll need to install large beams are:
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When you’re ready to install, check out our installation guides and helpful installation video for more detailed information and helpful tips.
Browse Our Collection of Large Faux Wood Beam Styles and Textures
No matter the size of the space, our collection of large faux wood beams offers the perfect blend of style, durability, and practicality. With a wide range of textures and finishes to choose from, you get the same look and feel of natural wood without the weight, cost, complicated installation, or maintenance.
Discover our collection of faux wood beams and elevate your space with the timeless look and character of natural wood — without the weight or hassle.