No homeowner can deny the rustic and traditional element that wooden beams can bring to their homes. In recent years, there has been a resurgence of people using oak beams throughout their homes as an added architectural piece that not only serves as a focal point, but has a function as well. You can purchase wooden beams in many sizes manufactured from a number of hardwoods that can become a mantelpiece over your fireplace, floating shelves or an architectural element along your vaulted ceiling. Though beams can be expensive, they can also transform your space from bland to completely custom, and all you need to consider are the project ideas below!
Project #1: Add a shaped beam above your fireplace to serve as a mantelpiece.
Not everyone wants a cluttered fireplace lined with stone or tile as that can overtake a small room and destroy the modern clean lines that you may be looking to achieve. A much better traditional approach to contemporary fireplace design is to add a shaped oak beam above your fireplace to serve as a simplified mantelpiece. Oak is a medium toned wood in appearance, but it can be refinished to match your personal taste.
Project #2: Create oak beam floating shelves for your living room.
Wooden beams also make fantastic floating shelves for your living space. They feature sleek and clean lines that don’t appear cluttered, and they can still be strong enough to support anything you wish to display. Best of all is that such beams can be displayed using concealed shelf supports so that you don’t need to additionally purchase corbels to support your floating shelves. For this project, you’ll want to use thinner beams or cut a thicker beam in half.
Project #3: Add structural beams to your vaulted ceiling.
Structural beams can serve as just that, a structural element to literally keep the roof over your head, but unless your home was specifically built that way, structural beams can add an architectural focal point to your vaulted ceiling. Old and cracked beams add interest that can naturally draw the eye upward towards your high ceilings and will help you bring your space together when it feels that all of the elements are separate.
These three projects can work well in a traditional or modern setting, you just need to choose the right oak beams for your project. Don’t forget that it’s also important to choose a supplier who sources their wood responsibly in order to help our environment.…