Final stage overhaul or any redecorating includes finishing work. In progress finishing works Additional ideas and desires arise to decorate the living space with modern decorative elements. Today, one of the popular techniques to change the design of a room is to decorate the ceiling with wooden beams.
The pinnacle of design is, of course, the ceilings made of natural wood. The level of humidity in the room does not significantly affect their design.
Wooden ceiling beams are divided into hemming and load-bearing. Both can be mounted in such a way as to remain open. Load-bearing beams, if they are in multi-storey building floor beams, experience a certain load on the structure, since they are located in the space between the attic and the room.
Application of wooden beams multi-level ceilings nevertheless, it is better to provide for it at the general construction stage during the development period project documentation(design project), observing strict sequence construction work so as not to disrupt the already achieved results in finishing the room. This will allow you to take into account the location of electrical equipment: electrical wiring, lighting fixtures, indoor air conditioning and ventilation devices, etc.
Ceiling beams give the home a certain comfort and sophistication of a country house. Such work may require significant financial investments, so, of course, a lot needs to be thought through and weighed so as not to install low-quality decorative elements. Let's talk about it.
Exposed ceiling beams
Ceilings in the form of open beams are logs, most often of coniferous wood species - spruce, pine, cedar. They are carefully cleaned and processed by various means to ensure their durability and give them modern decor. Larch wood is also used less frequently (due to its high cost). Moreover, in terms of strength deciduous trees(except for oak) are inferior to conifers.
Ceiling beams made of solid oak, despite high quality material, it is quite difficult to install: the large length and thickness of the beams leads to their cracking during drying. Therefore, hemmed oak beams are made in the form of boxes made of thin boards.
Coniferous wood acquires a beautiful color over time, resin coniferous species as it were, “preserves” the array of the future beam, extending its service life.
Antique open beams are made from expensive wood species: mahogany, ebony, etc.
Successful visual effect ceiling with beams depends on the chosen design for the entire floor. This can be an option for the entire ceiling area, or for just one part of it.
The main objective - visual perception the entire interior. Beams can be laid in a herringbone, lattice, or other pattern, creating coffers on the ceiling. Parallel installed beams create the effect of severity, a certain quality factor. Exquisite European style is achieved by the method of transition of beams from the ceiling to the walls.
Decorative ceiling beams in combination with textiles, stone, ceramics allow designers to create ceiling structures V different styles: rustic, country, eco-style, Scandinavian, Victorian, Provence style, Mediterranean.
Techniques for laying beams
Brushing: Provides a clear outline of the grain of the wood grain.
Texturing processing: creates artificial aging of wood (small cracks, notches on the surface of beams). Achieved by using special brushes, protective compounds, rough planing.
Vintage style: artificial aging wood material in combination with “crumbled” paint. Paints and varnishes are used.
Ethnic style: use of forged metal elements, woven twine, ethnic items, etc.
Traditional style: creates a feeling of simplicity and good quality. To process logs, oil-wax or varnish materials are used, which are applied to the surface of the logs.
Brushing
Brushing is more often used for coniferous species. The technology for preparing a product for installation has several “secrets”, knowledge of which will allow you to achieve good results. Firstly, the beams must be dry and of high quality (without blue stains, rot, etc.).
To work with workpieces, an angle grinder is used, electric drill. Three types of brushes are used for brushing: metal - for initial brushing, synthetic - for intermediate brushing; sisal - for polishing logs.
If such a beam is treated with stain and varnished, it will give the impression that it is two hundred years old. Actually, not so much complex work, which you can do yourself, will significantly reduce the cost of work. Well, what if you set a goal to completely impress your guests? appearance beams, then you can imitate traces of the bark beetle on the surface of the beams. The technology for such work is as follows: tools are used - an awl, an engraver with an engraving attachment; the so-called mark from the entrance of the bark beetle is created with an awl, and the furrow of its advance is “drawn” using an engraver.
This video will tell you how to “age” wood.
False beams
At the dachas or in country houses The ceiling is often finished with U-shaped wooden beams, which are actually pseudo-beams. They are also called false beams. Hollow inside, quite light in weight, such beams facilitate their installation and have a number of advantages:
- Application for ceilings in too high rooms, since the beams are mounted on mounting strips or decorative metal fasteners.
- Masking electrical wiring.
- Possibility of successful placement of soffits along the entire plane of the beam.
- Convenience of creating the appearance of an attic (metropolitan or provincial) thanks to a pitched ceiling (the transition of beams to walls).
When creating an ethnic style, artificial carvings, vignettes, and lamps are applied to wooden hollow beams open type, hanging lampshades on chains, kitchen utensils, photo frames, bunches of herbs and flowers (in the form of a herbarium) and even hanging air chairs or swings. Any imagination gives the room its own unique design and originality.
Using false beams, you can create a high-tech style if you use steel beams with a metal or stone finish (for example, marble).
Methods for arranging open beams
The location of the beams visually changes significantly geometric parameters premises. Beams installed along the width of the room can visually expand it, and those located along the room will lengthen it. Crosswise “lattice” beams imitate coffered ceiling, which visually adds volume to the room. Attic spaces with a hut-shaped ceiling, they look especially creative if the hanging ceiling beams are attached with their ends to the walls, while piercing the columns that “arise” along their path.
Beams can be installed on small area ceiling above a certain area - corner or central, above a large bed or kitchen furniture. One long beam can “divide” a room, for example, creating a zone dining table and a bar counter area. Lighting equipment on beams will give such areas a special coziness and comfort. Above the kitchen area, all kinds of holders and hooks for dishes, wine glasses, baskets and any utensils can be attached to the beams. Modern loft interiors include elements of metal plate lamps attached to the beam or casually thrown with eclectic wire over the table, which also creates a coziness and intimacy of the area illuminated by such a device.
The color of the beams can radically change the emphasis of the ceiling design. For example, dark beams (which is more common in modern construction), look heavy, even cumbersome, bring their own rhythm and graphics into the interior, making it tough and dynamic.
Exposed beams in light shades look weightless, serene and calm. Light gray ceiling beams on a light ceiling “bring” a special coolness and freshness into the room.
The contrast of the color of the beams with the color of the area of the ceiling itself creates an expressive effect. Therefore, it is preferable to see dark beams on a light ceiling and vice versa.
The use of ceiling beams ensures the exclusivity of the home, creating in any room the impression of unusualness and a certain mystery that always attracts and surprises. Exposed beams, one way or another, add coziness, comfort and a feeling of a warm home.
Photo of beams on the ceiling
The premises of a modern home, be it a chic country house, or an ordinary apartment in a high-rise building, often become the object of experiments by creative designers.
Stretch ceilings can easily give way to decorated ceilings wooden ceilings with beams. There are more and more people who want to decorate their interiors in this way. It creates a chic atmosphere of comfort and a certain feeling of returning to an already forgotten good past.
The new ceiling design fits perfectly not only in the living room, it should not be neglected in other rooms, especially in the kitchen. A person spends a significant part of his free time from work in these rooms, but there is one important detail that should be remembered.
If earlier our ancestors used massive beams interfloor ceilings, while simultaneously eliminating the need to make the ceilings even. The current antique design of premises is just a bewitchingly beautiful imitation of what was once constructively important elements building.
Wood as the main material for decorative beams
At first glance, it may seem that since we are dealing with imitation beams, it means they must be made of wood. This is not true, since the ceiling elements are only visually stylized to resemble different types of wood.
In our age, polymers and even iron have long been used to create a texture effect.
Thus, to reduce the cost of the final product, manufacturers use polyurethane components.
Wood-like polyurethane beams in the living room interior
And yet the eco-system, especially children's rooms and sleeping quarters, does not tolerate foreign structures. That is why for finishing it is customary to use only wooden structures having a groove on the back side. It both saves wood and serves as a conduit for reinforced insulated wiring.
“Airy” bedroom interior with ceiling beams
This is interesting: the use of decorated beams inevitably gives the room a special historical meaning, if we recall the decoration of Russian estates of the 19th century and count's chambers. They also used artistically decorated (painted) stucco ceiling elements for living rooms and large halls. We are witnessing the reincarnation of styles of the past, previously available only to the wealthy classes.
To fasten false beams, use screw fastenings in hidden places or liquid nails. It is possible to fix it directly through the beam with special long hangers.
In addition to the decorated beams themselves, it is possible and desirable to use light sources and sheet materials between the beams. Decorated beams can be created from any material, including:
- metal
- polyurethane
- drywall
- plywood.
Moreover, a false beam does not necessarily have to correspond to any stereotypes; it can also be anything, including white.
Oddly enough, there is enough room for imagination in the decoration of beams. For example, decor for a false beam with curved shape its contour lines look very original.
Several popular style solutions
Antique styling is just one of the areas of ceiling decoration. For example, metal beam structures that can be enhanced with lighting fixtures and a high-tech ceiling will fit perfectly ( detailed information You can read about how to decorate a kitchen in a high-tech style).
Chandeliers or lamps generally play a key role in the design of any ceiling. They are usually placed in the middle of the room, however, there are also fans built into them.
Here are just a few popular styles, in which it would be appropriate to use beams:
- Russian. Everything here should be in the form of polished wide wood ceiling beams in combination with lamps with wide lampshades.
- High tech. A strict and at the same time laconic ceiling, combining black, white and metallic gloss with a strict geometric shape.
Individual interior features
When choosing a style, you should focus on the parameters of a specific room. Not every apartment is able to withstand the desired style decision.So, one of them will reduce the size of the rooms, and the other, on the contrary, will expand the space. With the help of beams, a completely new volume is created for each room.
It is especially necessary to emphasize the importance of choosing colors, as well as the shape and location of lighting devices. The color of the ceiling beams and ceiling should always be selected taking into account all the interior items. Often furniture and textiles complement the overall picture.
Style will determine color scheme and design direction. So, almost everything will be favorable for country style dark colors wood and interior elements. Usually it is oak, larch, slightly exposed artificial aging tree.
In almost all style decisions, color influences the perception of the mass of ceiling elements. Thus, dark beams are characterized by the effect of significant weight, and, conversely, the most bright hues make them almost “airy”.
Too pronounced black color strictly emphasizes the graphic features of the beams. Grey colour is able to create the impression of a personal lifestyle of the owner of the home, but at the same time being in this room is pleasant and serene.
The location of the beams greatly influences the visual perception of the size of the rooms.
“Visual deception”: one beam “passes” through the other. An original solution for decorating the ceiling
Thus, the chalet style implies a variety of design in relation to the walls. By arranging the beams in width narrow space, you risk making it smaller. Accordingly, to give the rooms elongation, beams should be placed along the long sides.
The choice of figures from decorative beams is practically unlimited, but it is only appropriate to use it here. In this case, only the volume of the ceiling itself increases, and the beams do not affect the room.
Take note: traditions significantly hinder development, especially in the world of design. Only by experimenting can you achieve extremely unexpected positive emotions. For example, on lowered decorated beams in wooden house With high ceilings build mini flower beds.
At the ceiling lighting stage, there are two options for mounting electrical appliances: directly on the beams and between them. If this is the main false beam located in the center of the room, and it sits firmly enough on the ceiling, a chandelier is installed on it.
It is important to follow the same principle if you need to add a combination of holders to your kitchen interior for decorating with flower baskets and cutlery.
See interesting things video about decorating the ceiling with wooden beams:
Long gone are the days when beams on the ceiling were exclusively rural houses. In addition, it is worth noting that today they serve not only as a support for the roof, but also decorative function. It is because of the latter that many people prefer to install decorative beams not only in country houses, but also in city apartments. They will look original and unusual, but only if they are played correctly. We will tell you in this article exactly how to decorate beams on the ceiling in an apartment or an old house.
To complement the interior, it is absolutely not necessary to redo the roof and undertake expensive repairs; it will be enough to buy decorative beams and install them on the ceiling. In a specialized store you can find three types of beams:
- wooden;
- metal;
- made of polyurethane.
The classic option is wooden beams for the ceiling. They are made from ash, pine and oak. They can be solid or hollow inside, which will allow you to hide various communications.
Previously, beams were disguised, but now designers include them in the interior different rooms where they fit organically. It can be:
- living room;
- bedroom;
- cabinet;
- corridor.
One more original solution will be the zoning of the room. This is especially true for a studio apartment or a country house with large rooms. It is enough to correctly position the beams on the ceiling. If we consider the styles in which wooden decorative elements occupy a leading position, then we can highlight:
- Scandinavian;
- rustic;
- country;
- Mediterranean.
You can also attach lamps or chandeliers with chains to the beams.
Design Features
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.
There are a few current methods finishing wood beams on the ceiling:
- Brushing. This technology will highlight the wood texture. Masters even imitate marks from the bark beetle. As a result, the beams are transformed beyond recognition, and outwardly it will seem that the residents are in an old house that is more than 200 years old.
- Fire treatment. This is a technology for artificial aging of wood. For this method you will need blowtorch and special brushes.
- Vintage style. Make sure the ceiling is load-bearing beams looked like an antique, it can be done with the help of special paints and varnishes.
- Ethnic style. Must be included in the interior forged elements and twine.
- Traditional style. Distinctive feature– simplicity, this is what allows you to create an atmosphere of comfort and warmth.
Some designs involve transitions from ceilings to walls. At the same time, beams can give a refined European style to the room.
In an old house
Quite often, in country houses that are used seasonally (in summer), the finishing quickly deteriorates and loses its attractive appearance. This happens especially often in a wooden house, since the wood is exposed to moisture and dampness. To return the beams to a presentable appearance, you can:
- dismantle old beams and install false beams made of polyurethane (this material imitates the texture of wood well);
- decorate the structure with ropes, creating an interior in a marine style;
- hide imperfections on the surface with paint or varnish;
- if the defects are too obvious, putty and prime the surface, after which paint should be applied;
- not just paint the beams, but also paint them manually or using stencils.
There are also several recommendations regarding the interior style of the room. For example, the high-tech style goes well with metallic shades; wires that are not hidden and simple light bulbs for lighting will add originality. If we talk about country or Provence style, then a whitewashed ceiling against a background of bright beams would be most appropriate.
When painting beams, it is not necessary to give preference to natural (brown) and pastel shades. By selecting bright colors, you can get a bright accent on the ceiling.
Masking a concrete beam
Now let's look at the basic methods of how you can beat the beams on the ceiling in a house in different situations.
The option of installing LED strips is suitable for a modern style or for a teenager’s room.
What if concrete beam Can't you disguise it? In this case, you should do suspended structure from plasterboard or stretch ceiling. You can make a box in the shape of the letter “P” from drywall. Such a box should be fixed directly to the ceiling and adjacent wall. It is not recommended to drill into the beam, as it may lose its technical characteristics.
Moreover, if the concrete beam is located vertically, then this disadvantage can be turned into an advantage. For example, make a built-in wardrobe. This will completely hide the existing beam while creating plenty of storage space.
Full or partial camouflage
Quite often, owners decide to completely hide the beams from view, but you can only cover the space between the beams by making a ceiling. In this case, use the following types ceilings and materials:
- tension;
- plasterboard;
- caisson;
- lining.
The most expensive and sophisticated is the coffered ceiling. In addition to beams, this design involves the creation of other elements, for example, cells, recesses and cornices. The cassettes can be of any shape:
- polygon;
- rhombus;
- square.
Using partial masking, you can hide flaws and defects on the ceiling and at the same time leave beams in the interior of the room.
If your home has ceiling beams, then getting rid of them will be the most bad decision. After all, you can add zest to the interior of a room with minimal financial and time costs, just by correctly playing with the existing design features.
Previously, beams under the ceiling solved a completely functional task - they supported ceiling. Now this one is exclusively decorative element most often found in interiors made in rustic or Old English style, in Provence, country and chalet styles. It’s a good idea to integrate beams into modern styles interior: loft, modern, minimalism, hi-tech.
Decorative ones look most advantageous in rooms with high ceilings, which dictates their placement mainly in houses with a ceiling height of three meters or more. Wooden beams under the ceiling - stylish element home decoration, emphasizing the spaciousness of the room, and in some cases carrying a functional load (for example, it is used to hide communications). Most often, beams are placed in kitchens, hallways, halls and offices.
Types of beams
Certainly, modern houses rarely decorated with real wooden elements under the ceiling. Although there are connoisseurs of natural things who prefer real heavy beams for ceiling decoration, usually in a country house.
Building materials stores offer huge selection false beams made of lightweight and easy-to-install polyurethane. Visually, such elements are indistinguishable from natural wood, and in practice they even surpass it in some ways.
The advantages of polyurethane false beams include the fact that they:
- are not afraid of dampness, do not swell from excess moisture;
- do not crack or deform;
- very easy to attach to the ceiling (including suspended ceilings).
However, lovers of naturalness can opt for false beams made of MDF or chipboard, hollow inside. Veneers made of valuable wood species are glued onto such beams. You can find options made from lamellas. Beams come with sharp and rounded edges, U-shaped and L-shaped (to decorate joints).
Table. Comparison of polyurethane and wooden false beams.
To design a high-tech style, some designers use metal beams, however, such elements are more difficult to install and require professionals to install them.
How to make decorative ceiling beams with your own hands
Some craftsmen make beams with their own hands, which takes a minimum of time and is inexpensive. For example, in order to make false beams, you can use ordinary foam plastic, which is left over from insulating a garage or loggia.
Step 1. Cut sheets 4-5 cm thick into strips of the required width.
Step 2. Glue the strips with liquid nails into a U-shaped beam.
Step 3. After setting, cut the beams into pieces of the required length.
Step 4. Cover the beams with self-adhesive wood-like film (except for the side that will be glued to the wall).
Using the same technology, you can make beams from plywood or even regular boards. The boards can then be aged, covered with stain and varnish.
If you want to make beams from natural timber, you can buy edged polished timber, for example, 70x50. When choosing, be sure to check that it is smooth and dry. Then you need to treat it with stain and varnish and cut it to the required length. This is also an inexpensive and accessible option.
Decorating beams
Each interior style will require its own style of beam design.
- For classic and victorian styles you can decorate the beams with gold carvings, decorate them with patterns and vignettes. You can find such ready-made polyurethane beams on sale.
- White, black, brown and also colored beams will be ideal solution for modern interiors.
- For the high-tech style, the design of beams to look like metal is suitable.
- To create a country style, the wood will need to be aged.
- The rural style (country) is characterized by a distinctly rough texture.
Options for placing beams on the ceiling
False beams can be used to decorate any type of ceiling: suspended, plasterboard, regular painted, etc. With their help, you can zone a room or create such a popular decorative element as a false window on the ceiling with imitation of stained glass. Decorative beams can imitate window coverings, between which, during the work process, a canvas with photo printing, mosaics, frescoes and even mirror panels are glued. The modern European trend is very interesting, when beams go onto walls.
Beams can be decorated on top LED backlight, which will give a special decorative effect. The beams in which they are mounted look amazing ceiling lamps. All wiring in this case is hidden inside the hollow structure.
In general, beams on the ceiling will give a feeling of warmth and comfort to the living space, add zest to modern interior styles and allow you to create the necessary authenticity in public institutions such as clubs or pubs.
How to position the beams
If the room needs visual expansion, then when positioning the beams the following points must be taken into account.
- If you need to make the room wider, then the beams need to be placed on the short side.
- If you need to increase the length, the beams should be placed along the entire length of the ceiling.
- A criss-cross arrangement will give the room visual volume.
- One beam can highlight a separate area: for example, a bar counter.
The frequency of location also plays a big role. For example, if the ceiling height is very high (which happens on the first floors of buildings), placing the beams close to each other helps to reduce it a little. If the ceilings medium height, the beams should be fastened at a greater distance from each other. Beams can also be laid in a herringbone pattern. Attic rooms without a ceiling they look especially impressive if the ceiling beams pass through the columns and are attached at the ends to the walls, creating the effect of a hut.
How to attach beams to the ceiling
The specifics of the procedure depend on the material from which the false beams are made. Let's take a closer look at each of the options.
How to glue foam false beams to a regular ceiling
This is the simplest option for placing false beams in modern apartment. If you want to decorate your kitchen or living room quickly, inexpensively and on our own, best option can not found.
Step 1. First, marks are made on the ceiling and walls to indicate the places where the false beams will be glued. The sticker areas need to be primed for better adhesion.
Step 2. Then the beam is coated with liquid nails and glued to required space. Foam products are practically weightless, and liquid nails set literally instantly.
Some instructions advise to apply it to the wall at the same time, but if there is too much glue, the beam may begin to slide down the wall. Therefore, the golden mean must be determined experimentally.
Step 3. If the room is narrow, you can stick 2 beams along long walls rooms, and cross beams just place it perpendicular to them. Such a simple ceiling will help hide the unevenness of an ordinary concrete ceiling and it will look very advantageous.
How to quickly secure wooden beams to a wooden or concrete ceiling
This is also not very difficult or expensive to do.
Step 1. We draw lines on the ceiling for placement.
Step 2. We drill holes in the timber with a 12 mm drill no more than 0.5 centimeters deep every 30 cm.
Step 3. In the same holes we drill 8 mm holes into which we drive 120 mm self-tapping screws.
Step 4. We apply timber and mark the locations for the holes in the ceiling.
Step 5. Drill 8 mm holes on the ceiling in the marked places using a hammer drill.
Step 6. We drive chopsticks into them.
Step 7 We screw the beam.
Since the head of the screw is hidden, we cover these places with wood putty. After drying, tint with stain, then varnish. You can cover the screw heads with wooden plugs or special decorative overlays with imitation of forged nail heads. You can attach nails to regular dowels - this is an even faster option.
If cross distribution of beams is planned, unevenness may occur at the joints. The design of these units depends on the style in which the room is decorated. If it is country, for example, then these places can be covered with leather decorative belts or large twine glued in several rows.
Installation of polyurethane decorative beams on beams
This is a professional installation method.
Decorative beam B1 made of polyurethane (wenge, cherry, oak, olive, walnut, light oak)
Step 1. For polyurethane false beams, wedge beams are made of wood, which completely correspond to the internal cavity of the beam.
Step 2. The ceiling is marked: lines are drawn along which the beams will be attached.
Step 3. The wedge bars are installed along a line every 1 meter using screws or dowels.
Step 4. When installing a false beam, polyurethane adhesive is applied to the ceiling. This is not necessary for fixation, but for a tighter fit to the ceiling so that there are no gaps left.
Step 5. The beam is tightly placed on the beams and screwed through the sides with screws.
Step 6. The screws that secure the false beam to the beam and the joints of the beams are covered with decorative leather belts with imitation rivets.
Features of the installation of beams on a suspended ceiling
To do suspended ceiling and decorate it with decorative tanks, you should install embedded parts, similar to those installed for hanging chandeliers. Mortgage for decorative false beam- it's simple wooden block required thickness. It is attached to the main ceiling, and the suspended ceiling is stretched in such a way that it passes touching the lower plane of the bar. Then false beams are attached through the ceiling to the beam.
You can use fastening of beams using hangers. Suspensions are attached to the base. and after tensioning the ceiling, slits are made in the canvas. Specific actions depend on the type of material.
If the suspended ceiling has been hanging for a long time, but you want to somehow diversify the interior without dismantling the canvas, you can use external consoles with fasteners to the wall or internal bars screwed to the walls. Beams will be attached to them with self-tapping screws.
Features of the installation of beams on a plasterboard ceiling
Because plasterboard ceiling It is suspended, you can’t just attach beams to it. You will have to remember/tap the places where the frame profiles go and attach the beams to them. You can fasten it in any convenient way: with a long anchor through the beam, gypsum board and profile, or on a block attached with a self-tapping screw to the gypsum board and profile. A self-tapping screw screwed exclusively onto drywall will not hold the beam for long.
Some nuances
The joints of beams or the exit points of self-tapping screws are covered various kinds decorative overlays, among which are the following:
- camouflage with decorative rope;
- masking with wax pencil;
- masking with forged copper plates;
- decorative leather belts.
To decorate the space, you can use decorative consoles, which are sold together with beams and create an imitation of supports on the walls. If cables for lighting devices will run inside the polyurethane beam, they must be hidden in corrugated protection.
Video - Installation of wooden decorative beams on the ceiling
This way you can get a very beautiful unusual interior with an emphasis on wooden beams under the ceiling. This interior does not require a large investment of money, and you can fix the beams with your own hands literally within a few hours.