Ceiling beams are an interesting design solution that makes your home look warmer and more inviting with its aged and rustic appeal. Beams are responsible for holding up the house's structure, but their rugged look gives the room a unique character, not to mention the added natural lighting and height that make the room feel wider.
Open ceilings are ideal for modern farmhouse-style interiors, but they are virtually adaptable to any aesthetic. However, you may not be comfortable with having exposed beams in your home, but still, find the idea appealing. After all, ceiling beams are simply wooden joists exposed in the ceiling and leaving them there instead of boxing them up.
If that's the case, there are decorative faux beams that add to the rustic appeal of your living room without having to expose the real structure of your house. They come in durable materials such as wood, plastic, foam, and resin. They are easy to install, and you'll achieve the aesthetic without having to risk losing insulation.
There are many designs you can choose from, and we're here to show you the visual inspiration that can help with your style choices.
21 Beautiful Living Rooms With Beams
Exposed beams or cathedral ceilings evoke feelings of muted elegance and nostalgia as it reminds us of antique houses in the country. Apart from their aesthetic advantages, their functions can also elevate the atmosphere of your home.
For example, vaulted ceilings will give you better access to natural light, improve ventilation if you live in a warm area, and makes the area feel lighter.
Here are designs you can get ideas from if you want to have exposed beams in your living room.
Read: "8 Lighting Ideas For Cathedral Ceilings."
1. Rustic and Countryhome-Inspired
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Exposed beams give off a rustic appeal that makes our home look more inviting and warm--just like most homes in the country.
Go for this look if you want an effortlessly warm atmosphere. Pair the exposed beams with brick walls and cream-colored couches to create a cohesive palette that can make everyone feel cozy.
2. Elegant and Bright
Paint your exposed ceilings in white to lean into the wideness and brightness that vaulted ceilings are known for. White can make your space feel airier, and it blends in with any aesthetic because of its neat appeal.
A drawback of this could be hiding the rugged texture of the beams that can make the place feel less rustic and more modern. It may be advantageous if that's the look you what you want to achieve.
3. Structured and Cosmopolitan
Beams provide visual structure to a room. The beams in this photo add dimension to the room, transforming the interior to look more modern and cosmopolitan despite having rustic wood elements.
4. Subtle and Clean
Subtle fixtures can be eye-catching, especially if they're in a rich tone. Go for an understated exposed beam if you prefer to go the safe route, but make sure they still stand out.
5. Airy and Refreshing
If you have exposed ceilings, refreshing isn't just about the visual appeal anymore. Access to fresh air is easier because of the added ventilation, and the white paint reflects light better so heat bounces off of it.
Go with refreshing colors such as blues and greens, and layer them over crisp white couches for a relaxing visual.
Read: "What Color Should Ceiling Beams Be?"
6. Deep and Opulent
Exposed ceilings are not just humble fixtures--they can look opulent when styled and stained the right way. For example, the exposed beams in this photo complement the tone of the rich wood in the area.
The play of deep hues makes gives the appeal of old-school elegance, especially when paired with geometric rugs and warm lighting.
7. Warm and Inviting
Honey-colored beams paired with warm-toned fixtures and couches can make the whole place look inviting despite how fancy the living room looks.
Exposed beams are truly a unique fixture since they tone down the embellishments in a place, yet they somehow give off a muted elegance that adds to the interior's mystique.
8. Attractive Contrast
Contrast doesn't have to apply to colors only: it also applies to style. For example, the living room in this photo has hints of vintage and retro styles in the throw pillows.
Try to incorporate other themes into the living room to give it more character, just make those other elements cohesive with one another to create visual harmony.
9. Relaxing Escape
Create a relaxing atmosphere with exposed beams by incorporating a European-inspired design into the living room. Utilize natural light and the fresh air, and go with light fabrics on your curtains for that airy feel.
10. Vibrant and Timeless
Timelessness is all about going for durable and aesthetically versatile pieces that can last for a long time. In this interior, the exposed beams are stained in a dark color, getting rid of the risk of fading.
When the beams last long, the interior has a better chance of looking beautiful after many years. Choose fixtures and furniture with a classic neutral tone, as well as curtains that are cohesive with the rest of the space.
11. Antique Elegance
Incorporate old-style architecture into your home and utilize natural light to create an effortlessly elegant atmosphere. This way, the value of your home is retained even after many years, and the unique and aged charm wouldn't be lost.
Homeowners are often tempted to modernize everything in an area to the point of losing character. However, the point of having exposed beams is to recreate old-style architecture and blend it with modern design to create a timeless look--you're not supposed to eliminate the rustic and old charm!
12. One with Nature
Exposed beams give us the opportunity to lean into the natural elements we can find around us. Make the space look blended with nature and pepper the area with greenery and flowers.
This is ideal if you live in a wooded area and want the place to seamlessly blend into the surroundings.
13. Curated Ruggedness
Lean into organized chaos and go with bold colors. This will create visual contrast with the exposed beams and add personality to your living room.
14. Simple and Sleek
When in doubt, go with a simple design and work your way from there. It's easier to decorate a simple interior, and even if you don't they would still retain their unique charm because of the exposed beams.
15. Soft and Structured
Softer aesthetics which are built with sleek fixtures, warm lighting, feminine decorations, and fluffy furniture, create visual contrast against exposed beams.
The beams create structure and depth in the area, injecting elegance and ruggedness into a soft-looking space. This adds character to the room and gives it a rougher and tougher edge.
16. Harmony with Nature
Make your space work with nature and not the other way around. Incorporate natural elements such as hanging vines and plants that can make your area homier and more harmonious.
If you don't want to wrap your beams in climbing plants, decorate it with artificial plants and wrap the climbing vines in other areas of your home to create a whimsical appeal.
17. Working with Space
Add character and texture to a wide space by exposing the beams. This will add dimension to a wide space without making it feel cramped.
Incorporate neutral colors to draw attention to the exposed beams. However, you can make the space visually balanced by injecting vibrant colors into other elements, such as throw pillows and settees.
18. Understated Sophistication
Exposed beams have a muted elegance that you can replicate in your interior. For subtle sophistication, pepper the space with silver fixtures and crisp couches.
Take advantage of the lighting, and make the fireplace your focal point.
19. Sticking to Classics
A safe route you can take is simply to stick to the classics. Exposed beams already add so much visual interest to the space, so you can simply go for classic furniture designs whose appeal can last for a long time.
20. Harmony with Colors
If you want your space to look even more unique, inject vibrant and deep colors into the area. Go for bold designs in large furniture, and take advantage of the space to decorate the space more.
However, make sure the space is still visually cohesive by going for complementary colors. Also, make sure your walls are in a neutral color, so the colors won't clash with them.
21. Hints of Ingenuity
Match your exposed beams with creative fixtures. Get a custom-made couch and a unique light fixture to act as your room's focal point to create visual interest.
Final Thoughts
Exposed beams are starting to become more in-style as our need for larger spaces has increased over time. Decorating your interior based on it can be intimidating, but knowing your preferences should narrow down your choices easily.
