A lodge-style living room accentuates the vaulted wood panel ceilings with lightly stained support beams running from either end of the living area. a wagon wheel chandelier suspended in between, creating a striking, modern focal point. Complete the space with a dark brick fireplace and a natural wood mantel.
29 Reasons To Try Exposed Beam Ceilings in Your Home
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Published: July 5, 2023
Updated: November 22, 2023
Have you ever walked into a home with extravagant vaulted ceilings with rustic exposed beams? If so, you probably wondered how exposed beam ceilings would look in your home. Let’s look into that and see if this is a feature you should consider.
You don’t have to have a vintage or rustic-styled home to incorporate exposed beams into your space without it looking out of place. You’ll find in the examples we have curated below that many designers are using exposed beams to add a rustic twist to incredibly modern and high-end style homes. Exposed beams are a great way to add warmth to a space, as the stained finish is typically in some form of natural warm wood-toned color, although you could definitely pull off colors like black or white too! They also help to draw the eyes upwards towards the ceilings. This is an especially dramatic effect if you have vaulted ceilings, with which you could even go a step further and add trusses in addition to the beams for a real authentic mountain lodge get-away feel.
Check out the design examples below to find even more inspiring ideas.
02 of Cabin Style Outdoor Ceilings With String Lights
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An outdoor porch with pitched ceilings is layered with natural wood panels and exposed support beams for a rustic cabin-style finish. Add some black Edison string lights and white shade curtains to create a cozy evening lounge space. Hang some macrame planting baskets to add some natural texture.
03 of Low Living Room Ceilings With Exposed Wood Beams
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This living room is given a rustic lodge look with a darkly stained exposed beam ceiling running towards the natural stone fireplace. Coordinate a neutral sofa and dark wood furniture to complete this cozy look.
04 of Dark Wood Vaulted Ceilings With Exposed Beams
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A dark wood vaulted ceiling with exposed beams adds warmth to a cozy bedroom. Add some vintage furnishings like the metal bedframe, leather pouf, ruffled bedding with a farmhouse rug, and end tables for a unique farmhouse look.
05 of White Bedroom Ceiling With Natural Exposed Wood Beams
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A white recessed bedroom ceiling is complemented with exposed farmhouse wood ceiling beams. The natural wood beams help to add warm tones to this bright neutral space while also matching the wood floors and end tables.
06 of A-frame Wood Paneled Ceilings With White Exposed Beams
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Preserve the rustic character of a cabin-style home by painting the wood-paneled ceilings and exposed beams with a bright white modern paint. This loft sports matching white furniture for plenty of toys or office supplies. Add a black Sputnik light for added modern style.
07 of Exposed Natural Wood Ceiling Beams in an A-frame Living Room
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Use unstained wood ceiling beams to add a rustic farmhouse look to a bright white living room with French doors and transom windows. A gold wagon wheel chandelier is the perfect fixture for this space and complements the other bright neutral tones.
08 of White Bedroom Ceiling With Dark Exposed Wood Beams
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A white bedroom ceiling with matching rustic shiplap wall panels is given a vintage look with darkly stained exposed beams. Add a glamorous crystal candelabra chandelier over the bed and a sheepskin rug for a feminine touch. Use neutral bedding and throws with earth tones to warm the space.
09 of Light and Airy Living Room with Natural Wood Accents
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The light finish of the exposed ceiling beams in this neutral living room coordinates perfectly with the floating wood fireplace mantel and wood floors. Add a chevron shiplap mantel accent wall and a modern black candelabra chandelier to complete a modern farmhouse look.
10 of Vaulted Grand Room Ceilings With Exposed Trusses
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- southgeorgiafarmhouse
A tiered gold candelabra chandelier hangs from a wood-paneled ceiling with exposed beams and trusses. Use recessed can lighting for optimal evening light and a floor-to-ceiling brick fireplace mantel wall for a lodge look. Below, rich blue sofas and an elegant dining table surrounded by black wooden chairs provide plentiful seating for guests.
11 of Rustic Bedroom With Faux Wood Ceiling Beams
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A large monochromatic bedroom with a rustic farmhouse style is completed with faux wood ceiling beams. A white shiplap accent wall and herringbone wood floors help add to the farmhouse look. Use a set of rattan egg chairs with tufted leather ottomans to create a cozy lounge area.
12 of Pitched Farmhouse Entryway Ceiling With Exposed Wood Beams
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The bold industrial orb chandelier in this entryway accentuates the pitched ceilings with dark exposed farmhouse ceiling beams. The crystal pendant light within the iron cage is a glamorous entry statement that gives the space a luxurious and high-end finish.
13 of Exposed Natural Wood Trusses in a Cozy Living Area
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Suspend a wagon wheel chandelier from the vaulted ceilings of a white living room for a dramatic industrial farmhouse effect. The trusses bring out additional warmth in the space and coordinate nicely with the red brick entryway and bamboo drapes.
14 of Cozy Lodge Style Living Room With Exposed Ceiling Beams
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A refinished farmhouse living room displays the exposed wood ceiling beams to preserve some of the room’s original rustic flair. Use white paint to offset the dark warm tones of the wood and leather sofas. Indoor plants and a boho farmhouse shag rug help add additional colors and textures.
15 of Modern White Living Room Ceilings With Dark Exposed Beams
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Add a rustic touch to a vintage farmhouse living room by refinishing the exposed beams with a dark espresso stain to match the industrial cage pendant light and wagon wheel chandelier. Use bright white sofas and natural wood console tables and end tables to complete a neutral vintage look.
16 of Warm Lodge Living Room With Exposed Trusses and Beams
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This warm and cozy living area has an open-concept layout that enhances the warmth of the exposed wood beams and trusses, as well as the Tuscan-style stone tile floors. Add modern black leather sofas, a rustic dining set, and a bay window with shiplap paneling for a cozy breakfast nook.
17 of Rustic Wood Paneled Ceiling With Exposed Beams
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A rustic wood paneled ceiling with a dark stained finish creates a cozy vibe in a white living room with plenty of natural light. For an extra rustic look, install or expose the ceiling trusses and beams to complement the wood paneling.
18 of Wooden Coffered Ceiling Ideas
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A wood and white coffered ceiling makes a statement in this living room above a large white sectional and a gray stone fireplace. The wood mantel displays black and white vases and candlesticks and a large black and white landscape photo. A small basket sits at the base of the fireplace and a white throw drapes over the back of the sofa. A black cabinet with a white top is positioned nearby.
19 of Cozy Farmhouse Living Room With a Grey and White Palette
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Vaulted ceilings with exposed wood beams and trusses are accented with white wall paint and beautiful two-tiered chandeliers hung above a grey sofa seating area. A set of leather armchairs are decorated with white and grey striped lumbar pillows. A neutral farmhouse rug is placed over the wood flooring.
20 of Exposed Wood Trusses in a Living Room With Vaulted Ceilings
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Exposed trusses in this modern farmhouse living room add a grand effect to the space and draw attention to the vaulted ceilings. For a modern finish, use black French paneled framing around the windows and dark wood furnishings like the console table and end table for a monochromatic look.
21 of Wooden Accents on Doors and Windows
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The high ceilings of this room are complete with exposed wood beams and a vintage pendant. A neutral cushion and matching throw pillows fill a cozy window nook in this European-inspired home. The wooden window frames share the same stained wood color as the arched double doors.
22 of Dark Ceiling Beams and White Shiplap Walls
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Adding contrast to your living space can be achieved by painting your exposed wood ceiling beams a darker color. White shiplap walls surround the space, complemented by wood flooring. A gray sectional is enhanced with light-colored throw pillows.
23 of Shiplap Living Room Ceiling With Dark Exposed Wood Beams
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Style a farmhouse living room with a neutral gray and white area rug, gray sofa, and varied throw pillows for a clean modern look. This living room uses darkly stained ceiling beams to offset the bright white shiplap paneling. Use a modern ceiling fan that matches the beams.
24 of Vaulted Living Room Ceilings With Darkly Stained Exposed Beams
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A bright white farmhouse living room displays black ceiling beams accentuating the pitched ceilings. Coordinate a black wagon wheel chandelier with the beams for an industrialized modern farmhouse look. The coffee table with black iron legs is also a great modern rustic addition.
25 of Modern Living Room With Natural Wood Exposed Beam Ceiling
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An exposed beam ceiling adds a rustic warmth to a neutral living room with vaulted ceilings. Use black farmhouse fixtures like the lantern pendant light and modern black ceiling fan to offset the bright white room. A floor-to-ceiling brick fireplace mantel is a cozy addition to the space.
26 of A-frame Loft Ceilings With Exposed Wood Beams
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Make an A-frame loft even more cozy with exposed wood beams with a natural wood stain. Paint the rest of the panels a bright white color to make the ceilings feel taller and the room brighter. Tuck a gray sofa into the corner with a hanging lamp for reading.
27 of Living Room Ceilings With Faux Exposed Wood Beams
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A boho living room with white ceilings uses a faux wood beam to add rustic interest to the ceilings. The natural wood finish coordinates nicely with the other wood boho decor throughout the room, as well as the leather sofa and earth-toned pillows.
28 of Modern Entry With Vaulted Ceilings and Exposed Beams
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Ornamental ashy wood beams are added to a vaulted entryway ceiling for a grand modern farmhouse look. Add a large modern ceiling fan and a vintage chandelier for added grandeur and supplemental lighting.
29 of Low Living Room Ceiling With Exposed Rustic Wood Beams
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The warmth of the exposed ceiling beams in this bright living room adds just the right amount of contrast, making the space feel cozier. Use neutral earthy accent pieces like the black stone vases, solid wood console table, indoor tree, and wagon wheel chandelier for a modern finish.
