Exposed beams: 5 furnishing ideas

The exposed beams blend perfectly with the most disparate styles of furniture, you just need to know how to enhance them. Here's how to do it.

Structural support elements capable of evoking solidity and resistance, which become a piece of furniture with a timeless charm: they are the exposed beams, which characterize the environments of certain period residences but also modern furnishing projects that draw heavily hands with the great architectural traditions of the past. Having overcome the purely functional character of this element, today they are increasingly the subject of conservation and enhancement interventions, to give a unique touch to the most exclusive interior design projects. An example of this are many houses for sale in Venice, where the exposed entablature of the ancient stately homes is one of the most sought after elements by potential buyers and admirers of local architecture, because they are able to increase the value and value of the property.

But let's find out how to enhance the exposed beams and the most original furnishing ideas, with the suggestions of the professionals Engel & Völkers Venezia.

Paint the exposed beams

Contrary to what one might think, an element such as the exposed beam is able to marry perfectly with the most disparate styles of furniture. Much will depend on the type of material they are made of, their structure and the height of the ceiling. When you are lucky enough to own a house with exposed beams in solid wood or precious woods, the best way to enhance its beauty is to restore and refurbish them, leaving the original color unaltered, especially when it comes to a home with a classic taste and with other period details. On the other hand, when dealing with more modern glulam or metal beams, it is possible to dare with ad hoc touches of color. The exposed white beams, for example, lend themselves well to modern, minimalist furnishings, furnished in Nordic style or shabby chic, just as the beams with a pickled effect can give freshness to contemporary environments, but also to those with a more rustic taste. A bold idea for environments with a strong personality? Use a contrasting color in the portions of the wall between the exposed beams.

Match the color of exposed beams to the color of floor

One of the best ways to make exposed beams a piece of furniture is to choose the right floor, taking into account the desired effect. The most classic combination is that with parquet, where the wood element for the ceiling and flooring gives a sense of continuity and gives the environment a warm, welcoming touch as well as the charm of an atmosphere of yesteryear. In more modern furnishing contexts, especially for environments such as bathrooms and kitchens, the combination with natural stone, marble or Florentine terracotta floors can be a winner. Where the choice of furniture falls on an industrial style, instead, the advice is to opt for stone-effect or metal-effect porcelain stoneware floors. The recovery of traditional and period flooring is also welcome, if they allow to enhance the uniqueness and historicity of the property.

Illuminate the exposed beams

Almost always, a ceiling with exposed beams, even alone, is synonymous with a charming atmosphere and a sure scenographic effect. For this, one of the best ways to enhance it is through the right lighting. The possibilities are many, linked to the chosen furnishing style and to the natural light already present in the rooms. In the case of a high ceiling with exposed beams, it is possible to place pendant lamps, even large ones, to alternate with floor lamps and light points with a support base. Alternatively, it is possible to opt for spotlights, which can be positioned, as desired, in the strategic areas to be illuminated or in those where the beam is to be highlighted, or for LED strips that enhance the materiality of the wood. Particularly suitable if you want to furnish vintage design light bulbs or large metal chandeliers in an industrial style.

The right choice of colors for furniture with exposed beams

Especially when it comes to how to furnish an attic with exposed beams or a particularly small room, a great help comes from the choice of colors. In these cases, painting the ceiling and beams white like the walls amplifies the perception of space, giving elegance and brightness to the rooms. In other contexts, painting the beams and the ceiling with a darker color has the effect of making the ceiling appear lower and the walls more spaced, while using soft and pastel colors, such as blue and green, in the sleeping area. helps to transmit feelings of relaxation and well-being. When the natural color of the exposed beams is maintained, the advice is to favor neutral and muted colors that enhance the wood as the predominant element.

You might be interested in: Furnishing ideas for properties in Venice's historic center.

Furniture and accessories in a house with exposed beams

The combination of exposed beams and furniture does not fear limitations. The great versatility of this architectural element allows you to range from the classic style to the more modern and contemporary one, passing through declinations with a more bucolic and rustic mood. It all lies in defining the desired overall effect, making choices of furnishings and accessories that can enhance the exposed beams. Not to be neglected absolutely the details: to be preferred in wood, as a reference to the structure, in glass, natural stone or brick according to your tastes. And when the beams are of particular beauty and artistic value, the best advice for furnishing is to focus on a minimalist style, making them the real protagonists of the environment.