Ceiling beams as a decorative element are installed in rooms to give the interior originality and uniqueness. These can be either load-bearing beams exposed outside or imitations depicting ceiling beams. In any case, each of them will create an atmosphere of comfort and warmth in the room.
Types of ceiling beams
Ceiling beams are installed in various rooms, such as country houses, city apartments, etc. They are also used to delimit an area, for example, to separate the living room from the dining room. There are ceiling beams made of wood and polyurethane.
The planning of wooden beams is carried out in advance, i.e. still at the stage of designing and building a house. The most common wood for their manufacture is larch. Since they are made from natural materials, are environmentally friendly. Under such beams you can easily hide all communications, wires and existing differences in the ceiling.
To the disadvantages wooden elements It can be attributed to the fact that they have significant weight; they are not so easy to install yourself. They are also susceptible to rotting, spoilage by microorganisms and have low moisture resistance.
Due to the fact that the beams are made of natural wood, their natural beauty can be enhanced by sanding and impregnation with varnishes. You can create a noble look for them by giving the material an artificial age. And in addition they are decorated with either carvings, paintings, or ceramics.
Polyurethane beams are an imitation of natural wooden elements. They are easy to install yourself as they are lightweight. Since they are made from artificial materials, have increased moisture resistance and do not rot. Polyurethane parts are made in a U-shape, so communications and pipes are well hidden under them. You can create them as smooth varnished surface, and the old cracked one.
Ceiling beams: harmony in style
Decorative elements on the ceiling in the form of beams can be used in different styles, ranging from classics to hi-tech. If the interior is designed in an elegant classic style, then the surface of the beams should be smooth and varnished.
If there are luxury elements in the interior, it is best to paint them in light colors, for example, in the tone of silver, and decorate with carvings or paintings. For an interior made in modern style, parts with smooth surface. They can be colored either dark or bright hues, and in a brighter, mischievous color using backlighting on them.
In the hi-tech (loft) style, beams painted with metallic effect paint that are in harmony with brickwork. If the house is decorated in a rural style, then decorate it better elements, made to resemble an old tree. In color they can be either light on a dark ceiling or very dark with a rough finish on a light background.
For lovers of the French rural style - Provence - it is better to use well-treated and bleached wooden beams for decoration. To decorate rooms in an ethnic style, either natural ceiling elements or their imitation made of polyurethane with a wood-like texture are used.
When choosing color range For beams on the ceiling, harmony must be observed. For example, a design with a contrasting color scheme looks great. In this case, to highlight the decor, a combination of dark wood with a white ceiling or vice versa is performed.
And for more bright interior You can combine any colors, for example, yellow ceiling and blue beams, turquoise ceiling and white beams. You can also make the decorative element the same color as the surface of the ceiling. At the same time, parts painted to match will give the room an expressive structure and visually increase the volume of the room.
Choosing for decoration color scheme, you need to remember that the beams installed on the ceiling must match one of the interior elements in color, for example, with the shade of furniture or with the flooring.
You should also remember that dark decor looks bulky and gives the room a graphic feel. Light shades look lighter and more sophisticated, giving the atmosphere a restrained coldness.
Installation of decorative beams
You will need:
- metal profiles;
- screwdriver;
- liquid Nails;
- drywall or plywood.
Beams look great in rooms with high ceilings. In this case, to give comfort to the room, decorative elements are installed, retreating from the surface at a certain distance. In order to visually cover a low ceiling, a structure is made that smoothly transitions to the walls, or strips are placed on them to match the color of the beams.
With the help of decor, you can create the appearance of changing the geometry of the room. In this case, in narrow rooms elements are installed according to their width, and in order to extend the room - along the most long wall. If you need to highlight only part of the room in the interior, then the beams can be arranged in the form of a herringbone or lattice. Or, with their help, you can divide the room into zones, placing decor at their junction and installing lamps in it.
Under decorative elements all communications, such as electrical wiring, pipes, etc., are easily hidden. Therefore, lighting can be installed directly on them. To do this, you can embed the lamps directly into the beam or attach it to it using brackets. The design with an LED strip mounted on its top looks very original.
If installed suspended ceiling, which covers all the wiring, then the beam in this case will serve only as a decorative element. At the same time, various paintings in the form of an ornament can be applied to it, which must be duplicated on other elements of the interior. If the decor is located in the kitchen, then you can place it on it special device with hangers (railing) on which kitchen utensils are stored.
Installation of polyurethane beams on the ceiling can be done in several ways. If the decor is heavy, then first a sheathing of metal profiles or wooden slats(timber). Then the beams are fixed to it using self-tapping screws. Lighter weight elements are attached to the ceiling with liquid nails. For greater reliability, a combined fastening method is used. In this case, the parts are both glued and fixed to the sheathing.
You can make a beam yourself from plasterboard or plywood for the interior of a room. To do this, markings are made on the ceiling, and a durable frame made of metal profiles is installed for each element. After this, parts of the required size are cut out of the material. Then they are screwed to the prepared frame using self-tapping screws. At the end, all the resulting boxes are treated with putty, then a primer and then covered with paint or covered with wood-like film.
To imitate ceiling beams made of wood, lightweight polyurethane false beams are used. Externally, they are absolutely no different from wood products, but are hollow inside. Therefore, false beams are used not only for decorative design, but also as boxes for electrical wiring or ventilation hoses. Spot lighting is often built into such products. Moreover, you need to use only lamps whose power does not exceed 50W, otherwise heating can damage the structure of the beam.
Video: installation of imitation ceiling beams.
Textures and colors of decorative beams
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| Dark oak | Wenge | Cherry |
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| Dark oak | dark olive | Light oak |
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| Nut | Olive | Oak |
Installation of false beams
To fasten false beams, so-called wedge beams are used. This small elements made of wood, the shape of which completely follows the cross-sectional shape of the beam cavity. Such wedges are secured with dowels and screws, screwing them either straight through the middle of the product, or from the longitudinal side at an angle.
Install wedge bars according to pre-applied markings at a distance of 1 m from each other. Polyurethane glue is applied to the ceiling (along the lines of the beams). This is done not to fix the imitation, but to ensure that after installing the beam there are no gaps left on the side.
After this, the false beam is put on wedges and screwed with self-tapping screws. If the room is large and the beams are short, then they are joined together, and the joints are covered with decorative elements. Often, after installing false beams, polyurethane consoles are installed along the walls, which also do not carry a functional load and serve as purely decorative elements.
Installation of ceiling cornices and skirting boards
Ceiling plinths are very easy to install. They are fixed using appropriate glue, pressing tightly to the ceiling-wall joint. In the corners, the skirting boards are cut at 45°. It is better to start installation from the corner.
Ceiling cornices are used for hanging curtains directly from the ceiling level. Install them on a flat base. First, markings are applied to the ceiling, keeping equal distances on both sides of the window. If the ceiling cornice has decorative overlay, then it is secured before installation begins. Then holes are drilled in the ceiling and the cornice is secured using dowel nails.
The distance between them should be 60cm, the distances from the edges of the cornice should be about 2cm. After this, curtain hooks are inserted into the cornice and the corners are closed with plugs.
Such cornices are drilled into plasterboard using butterfly dowels. Sometimes ceiling cornices hung on metal brackets that are attached to the wall above the window. This is done in cases where it is impossible to secure the cornice to base ceiling(for example, with a finished tension ceiling).
Today, home decoration in rustic style, not only because of its extraordinary originality, but also due to the cost savings, since it does not require heavy expenses. Sometimes it is enough to use wallpaper with a floral print, add wooden furniture V large quantities and cozy details. The final point will be the decorative beams on the ceiling. They are never superfluous, regardless of style.
Beams as a universal design element
They can be found in a very unexpected use case. They decorate both modern high-tech and majestic classics. As for the ethnic interior, the main stylistic feature here is the decorative beams on the ceiling, a photo of which is presented below. Without them it is impossible to create a realistic picture. Proper design can highlight belonging to a certain style. Classic interior will add luxury ceiling structure, covered with paintings, carvings and vignettes. Silver design and pastel colors are also used.
In this strict classic, varnished decorative beams for a ceiling made of wood with a smooth texture are suitable. Such models look great in modern house. The difference is that such an interior is more suitable for bold decisions, so it is possible to use both neutral and flashy shades. Among the design solutions you can find blue, red and pink colors.
Metal beams are found in high-tech and loft. It is possible to form a structure from elements of other textures, but they must be painted with a special paint to imitate a steel shine. Brick wallwork will be an excellent companion for beams in such interior options. Loft style furnishing details can be used both in the home and in the city small apartment. The shine of metal and glass, with the addition of “naked” light bulbs, a little facing bricks, beams - the right atmosphere is ready!
Colorful decorative ones with the effect of aged wood are good for a rural interior. They may have a rough texture dark colors, which do not have to harmonize with the main tone of the space, since contrast is very relevant here.
Beams in Provence amaze with their neatness and elegance, so the use of whitewashed options is a priority.
What types are there?
Wooden structures are classics of the beam genre. This is a leading part of rustic interior and eco-style. Traditionally, pine, ash and oak are used to produce high-quality beams. They can be hollow or made of solid wood. The first option is used more often due to the ability to hide communications that are unsightly to the eye.
Metal beams are more modern, but their installation cannot be done without professional help, as they are heavy and oversized. There is no point in saving money here, since poor quality fastening of the structure is too big a risk.
More budget-friendly are decorative ceiling beams made of polyurethane. Their cost is low, and installation does not require much time and financial costs. Such products are hollow inside and quite light. The material is not affected high humidity and does not absorb odors, while imitation of the color and structure of wood is possible, which is why it has become widespread in bathrooms and kitchens.
Installation methods
Installation can be done various methods. If the size is small, the structure is fixed to liquid nails. For other cases, it is necessary to create a sheathing made of wood or metal profile and the use of self-tapping screws. The combined method is relevant for heavy and long beams. Formed on the ceiling wooden blocks, to which structural parts are attached using glue.
Color spectrum
The stylistic orientation directly affects the shade of the beams. To add expressiveness, emphasis is placed on contrast. So the design becomes the main element that attracts attention.
The interior will gain softness through the use of beams that are the color of the ceiling itself. At the same time, they do not go unnoticed and add volume, dynamics and structure to the ceiling. A harmonious combination is made by decorative ceiling beams with a wooden structure or painted white.
There are many options for combining shades, it all depends on the features of the chosen interior solution. Beams can reflect wood furniture or floors, contrast with ceiling coverings, or match the paint on walls. There are no established canons here.
It is worth remembering that the space acquires weightlessness due to the use of white beams, while black ones make the atmosphere rigid and graphic, and wooden structures They bring calm to the interior, although they look a little cold.
Story
The beams that were present on the ceilings of old buildings initially had a non-decorative purpose. They were load-bearing structures, which were used as and took on the weight of the roof. Over time, the beams were considered unnecessary and began to be hidden using finishing. They were rehabilitated due to the longing for colorful design and have now become relevant again, but only as a decorative element.
Where are beams used?
Such details can be found in absolutely any room. They can decorate the kitchen, look organic in the bedroom and living room, and will be useful in the hallway. The size of the room determines the number and their massiveness. For example, in a large living room, decorative ceiling beams can be used in unlimited quantities, while for a modest hallway you should not use more than two. When placed on the kitchen ceiling, it is added functional purpose in the form of hooks for all kinds of utensils and holders for wine glasses.
To each his own
Decorative beams on the ceiling are perceived differently. Someone certainly wants to build a massive structure in an ordinary “Khrushchev” building, and some owners of houses with load-bearing beams they want to add functionality and make them less noticeable.
In terms of expanding functionality, the most common use is to involve structures in lighting the space. It is possible to create very non-standard elements. For example, fixing a chandelier on chains and inserting spotlight elements into beams. Installation of lamps with remote mechanisms is rational when decorating metal beams.
LED lighting can be placed on top of structures. This method will give the beam the effect of floating in the air. This design innovation is especially relevant when combining films and PVC beams.
Rope finishing is a common technique among designers. IN in this case Both the environmental friendliness of the decor and its aesthetic basis remain the same. Decorative wooden beams on the ceiling with rope winding, common in ethnic style, Mediterranean style and country.
If desired, you can get rid of the beams when using radical method- stitching. Suspended ceilings can cope with this task.
How to attach decorative beams to the ceiling
The heaviest elements are made of wood, so increased reliability is required here. You can make them from timber yourself or purchase them already ready-made option. In the first case, it is desirable to choose wood with a shrinkage of no more than 12% and the absence of traces of rot and visible flaws. Worth processing antiseptics to protect the material from insects, mold and moisture.
The correct installation of the structure depends mainly on the correctly applied markings. Before installation, it is recommended to mark the places where the profiles are attached using upholstery cord, tape measure and level, and only then proceed to further work.
Among the main advantages, it is worth noting the efficiency and ease of fastening. All elements are lightweight, so the standard length of a polyurethane beam requires the use of only three wedge bars.
Change of space
It’s easy to make decorative ceiling beams with your own hands. They are able to adjust the geometry of the room. It is possible to visually expand the room due to structures fixed along the width of the ceiling covering, and for lengthening the components are mounted in the form of perpendicular lines.
If the ceilings seem too low, then it is worth making a continuation of the beams on the walls themselves. Laying it crosswise will not make any adjustments to the space, but will add volume to the ceiling. High ceilings allow you to lower the beams to the desired distance and secure them to the walls.
Useful features
Along the longitudinal center line of the future location of the beams, you can place any communications that will become invisible after installation. This solution is very convenient, since there is no need to carry out complex work for laying communications in walls or under the floor with expensive and energy-consuming gating. In this case, there will be no unnecessary material and time expenses, as with separate concealment of air and water heating, air conditioning and ventilation systems.
It is worth noting that communications located in the ceiling space are not only invisible, but also protected from mechanical damage. Moreover, installing decorative beams on the ceiling provides many options for implementing ideas.
Conclusion
The history of beams begins in the distant Middle Ages, and today it is possible to create an interior that resembles an ancient castle and add the appropriate atmosphere. This decoration technique has become in a convenient way hiding certain structural defects of the room. A room with decorative beams on the ceiling takes on a clear, regular shape and is cozy and spacious. Therefore, when arranging country house or apartments are worth paying attention to. Perhaps they will become the main part of the entire interior.
The ceiling beams are good remedy for hiding wiring, unsightly places in the interior. They create a unique interior in the room, it seems as if you are on an old ship or have gone back in time.
In old wooden houses ceiling beams are often present in their present form. Ceilings with beams can be decorated by adding false joists and, for example, fixing lamps in them. Let's look at the main subtleties of how you can make beams on the ceiling with your own hands and highlight the interior. A ceiling with beams is a structure made of hollow U- or L-shaped structures; they do not provide a significant load, but they give a very impressive look.
Beams on the ceiling
Preparation of work
Before you begin, you need to prepare and strengthen the ceiling, especially if the elements are made of metal or wood.
We will need following materials and tools:
- circular or hand saw;
- stapler, knife;
- glue (for belt);
- nails, hammer, square, tape measure;
- block 30x40 mm;
- decorative belt (I used imitation forging, antique).
Before work, it is very important to purchase goggles and a special mask to protect your eyes and respiratory tract from carpentry dust.
After work I had dust in my mouth, I could draw on my glasses, but I still often neglected it myself simple rule, but when I tried to use it, I didn’t regret it, which I recommend to everyone.
Decorative beams
Types of false beams
There are a great variety of them, ranging from traditional wooden ones, which add warmth to any interior and ceiling, to polyurethane and plasterboard, which differ affordable price, long period operation.
Wood is not the cheapest material, but it allows you to make unique interior antique Despite the cost, false ceiling logs made of wood are popular due to the environmental friendliness of the material, practicality and very impressive appearance, with which nothing compares.
False beams made of wood
Metal gives the ceiling the effect of a modern building, but at the same time in such logs there is no that old warmth that is felt in village houses With clay walls and beautiful antique ceilings.
Polyurethane is accessible and practical; such ceiling logs can imitate various materials, which is very convenient, but they are harmful and fire hazardous.
Making a wooden decorative beam with your own hands
I'll tell you about one thing in an interesting way how to make beautiful wooden beams on the ceiling with your own hands. We will need: an axe, and attachments for the grinder: a coarse metal brush, a fine attachment with sandpaper, a soft metal brush, I use discs from the popular Brigadier company, which last longer, although they cost a little more, you also need paint, fine-grained sandpaper, varnish or stain.
Aged wooden beam
To begin with, we make notches and chips with a sharp corner of the ax (which can be done with heavily damaged old wood that has been eaten by bark beetles), after which we pass along the fibers with a coarse brush to clean out the unevenness; small grooves remain from it, which also look impressive.
Then use sandpaper to remove a small layer where burrs and irregularities remain, paint with black paint, and then take fine-grained sandpaper, even a small piece will do, and lightly remove the surface layer on top of the paint and cover it with varnish. The result is a beautiful monolithic block, from which you can then make a false ceiling joist on the ceiling by cutting out the core.
Aged beams
To make a false beam you need circular saw cut three boards from 3 sides of the beam, then align them evenly at an angle of 90 degrees and fasten them with self-tapping screws; the joints and caps are masked with wood putty.
Also, if there is a vertical metal support, you can cover it with 4 boards on self-tapping screws, putty the joints, after which you take any thick attachment, it can even be an old one with Pobedit coating for concrete and pass it along the fibers.
Also, where the grain pattern ends, we continue it on another board, not paying attention to the joints, you need to try to copy the natural structure, otherwise the interior will be unnatural, then we paint, it turns out very beautiful, plus we save time on cleaning and preparation.
Sometimes customers ask original ceiling with beams that would attract attention, for this I cover the ceiling with burnt clapboard diagonally, which visually enlarges the room. Then I first cover it with timber at a distance of 30-40 cm from each other, and then mount the beams on the ceiling.
- The cracks can be filled with wax using a spatula to create the effect of an iridescent shine on the ceiling;
- Using a drill, random holes are made, as if marks from bark beetles; the holes should be made at an angle in order to imitate naturalness as much as possible;
- The corners can be cleaned with a hard metal brush, because previously they were cleaned with an ax;
- A banal but neat burning blowtorch will convey a unique impression to the owner of such a ceiling;
- Pinotex interior is rubbed into the surface with a rag, which gives the wood a special old look, it is important to keep in mind that this is not a varnish, but a decor, and it must be applied with a rag in a minimal amount.
When rubbing in the composition, it is important to do this carefully so that there are no drips; the wood must absorb the composition naturally; in no case should it be painted with a brush or paint brush.
After that, if there are no special “tricks” in the form of wax, then I paint the beams on the ceiling with two layers of Tikkurila paint. The result is an interior with a ship's ceiling, when the floor rests on beams, very effectively emphasizing the interior of transition zones and corridors.
Interior with ship ceiling
Installation
This can be done very quickly on the ceiling with your own hands, despite the advice of many companies providing such services.
To secure the false beams to the ceiling, first install a 30 by 40 mm block with “quick installation” to the ceiling on both sides. That is, to fasten an L-shaped joist as a plinth, you need to fix two slats on the ceiling and wall, a false beam is adjacent and attached to them, and for the U-shaped part, “rails” are made along the entire length of the future joist on the ceiling.
Beam installation
With a marker matched to the color, you can disguise chips on the ends. Also, when installing with self-tapping screws, you can hide the caps by first drilling out places with small nozzles - crowns, plugs are removed from the nozzle, which, after installation, are inserted back into the cracks and covered with sealant that matches the color false ceiling beams.
After which it is usually nailed to the beams, under it you can hide the wiring and place lamps, these options should be thought out in advance, and the joints are hidden with a decorative belt or left as is.
As we can see, you shouldn’t rush to install beams on the ceiling, which happens much faster than other ways to effectively decorate the interior of a room, but you should think a little about the material for the ceiling joists, because it’s easy to decorate it effectively with your own hands.
Installing polyurethane beams on a regular ceiling is not very difficult. Such beams are light in weight, and for their installation, Spantan-1K glue, specially developed by the Amaro company, is sufficient.
Attention: It takes 1.5-2 hours for the glue to completely harden. During this time, props should be placed to support the beams.
With a suspended ceiling the situation is more complicated. Stretch ceilings are one of the most functional and effective design solutions, especially in combination with decorative beams. But simply gluing beams to it will not work. There are several options for installing polyurethane beams on suspended ceiling.
Attention: When working with suspended ceilings, you should use gloves, especially if the coating is glossy. Otherwise, there will be unsightly marks on it.
Let's assume that the suspended ceiling has already been made, and the beams that need to be installed are short in length, for example, about 1 meter. In this case, it should be fixed to the walls wooden blocks, to which beams are attached with self-tapping screws. The screws can be painted to match the beam itself, thus making them invisible. Due to the fact that the false beam is short, it will not sag. The end result will be interesting. design solution as if a beam were supporting the ceiling.
Installation of long beams to a suspended ceiling
For long beams, the first method will not work, since in this case they will sag. The result will be a very unsightly picture in the form of a gap between the ceiling and the beam. This will be especially noticeable with glossy ceiling covering. Therefore, if you plan to install long beams, it is necessary to make mortgages before installing the ceiling. They are attached directly to the base ceiling. After tensioning the PVC sheet or fabric through it, bars are attached to the mortgages. Then the decorative beams themselves are attached directly to the bars using self-tapping screws.
Mortgages can be made from wooden blocks, or you can use universal mounting platforms for a chandelier or special adjustable stands. There is no need to build a massive structure made of durable moisture resistant plywood, as under a heavy chandelier, since polyurethane beams are necessarily light in weight.
The mortgage can also be made from a metal profile for plasterboard structures. However, this method of fastening is more suitable for installing decorative elements with greater weight than for lightweight polyurethane beams.
Mortgages must meet the following requirements:
- Be aligned. Alignment is best done using laser level according to the level of the future stretch ceiling.
- If the stretch ceiling fabric is planned to be made of PVC rather than fabric, then the embedded parts should be smooth and without burrs. Otherwise, sharp edges may damage the canvas.
- Mortgages made of wooden blocks must be plastered in places of possible contact with the canvas to avoid damage.
The bars to which the beams are attached are screwed to the mortgages through the suspended ceiling, which means that holes must be made in the canvas for screws. If the ceiling is woven, such holes can be made without fear that the fabric will break. In the case of a PVC ceiling, holes for screws in mandatory must be reinforced.
Reinforcement of ceiling openings
The most common two methods are reinforced. The first is to use stickers or universal adhesive tape in place of future holes. However, more reliable and the right way The use of special plastic rings is considered.
Apply evenly to the ring thin layer superglue and it attaches to the ceiling. You should make sure that the ring is firmly glued to the canvas, after which it internal diameter stationery knife a hole is cut. It is through this hole that the block is attached to the mortgage.
Attention: The information is provided for informational purposes only. We are not responsible for the consequences self-installation. We recommend contacting specialists.