How To Build & Install Simple Faux Beams Yourself

I decided to build some beams for my girls’ shared room because they had such a fun ceiling that needed a design element! I had never built beams before and didn’t have a table saw, so my plan was to keep them SIMPLE and teach you along the way!

I started by figuring out the number of beams I wanted, how large I wanted them to be (I always go oversized on features like this), and the type of wood I wanted. Then I ran out to grab my materials so I could get to work.

STEP 1: MEASURE & GATHER YOUR MATERIALS

Here are the materials I used to build my beams! I decided to go with 1×6 pine boards for the top and bottom of each beam and 1×8 pine boards for the sides.

And here are the tools I used! Keep in mind you could bevel the edges with a table saw for a seamless finish! For these, I kept the joints simple.

STEP 2: ADD YOUR 1×6 SUPPORT BOARDS TO THE CEILING JOISTS

Then I got to work!

I started out by using my stud finder to find my ceiling joists. I marked them on my ceiling, then screwed 1×6 pine boards into the joists. These would act as the top of my faux beam!

STEP 3: BUILD YOUR BEAMS

Now you’re going to want to measure and build your beams! I was dealing with slanted angles, so I used my angle finder to help me figure out how to cut each 1×8 to fit perfectly snugly against my ceiling.

I used a jigsaw to cut those angles, then I used my miter saw to bevel the ends of my bottom 1×6 so it would also sit nicely against the slanted ceiling.

I assembled my beams by sandwiching the bottom 1×6 in between my two 1×8 sides, wood gluing, and nailing them together with 1.5″ finish nails. Then I sanded them down really well before moving on to stain!

STEP 4: STAIN

Then I decided to stain my beams! I began by using wood conditioner – necessary when dealing with pine!

I used one coat of Early American…

One coat of Weathered Oak…

Then I mixed white paint and water together in equal parts to create a whitewash. I used a rag to go over the entire beam with my whitewash and LOVED how it looked after that!

Once they were dry, they were ready to hang!

STEP 5: HANG THE BEAMS

I brought the beams inside once they were dry and ready to hang and fit them snugly around the 1×6 that I screwed into the ceiling. once the 1×8 sides were around the 1×6 and against the ceiling, I nailed them into the 1×6 from the side every couple of inches on each side of the beam!

I ended up caulking the edges where the beams met the ceiling for a perfect finish (since my ceilings weren’t perfect), and THAT’S IT! This project only took me about 2 days to complete, and I am in LOVE with how they turned out!

Think you’ll try out this project? Let me know in the comments!