How to Fake a Wooden Beam

Carolina's Art
by Carolina's Art
2 Materials
30 Minutes
Easy

As I was repainting the walls in my house, I thought, hmmm...why not paint this section like a faux beam? It's only paint right? if I don't like it, then I will paint it back to the wall color. I would love to cover it with the real thing but I don't have it and I can always do it later.

The first thing you do is paint a base color based on the lightest color you see on a piece of wood of your choice. Now, my wall were painted beige to begin with so that helped. I wanted the beam to match my front door and other furniture pieces I have around. So I chose a rich, brown which I mixed myself so I don't have a name. Sorry. But I did add glaze to the mix in order for it to have a slight transparency and longer drying time for me create some exposed beige lines.

Paint the edges first.

In some areas, use the brush flat so as to remove some of the paint, exposing the beige underneath.

Once that is done, then you will need two part glaze with one part black paint, preferably unicorn spit black because it is a very deep black tint.

Using a round sponge, apply the mix without pressing, so that most of the glaze stays on the surface of the wall texture. Also add some "knots" to give it a realistic look.

As you can see, there is the beige, the reddish brown and the black all creating the look of stained wood.

And that's it. What do you think? should I put some metal brackets on the sides?

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Frequently asked questions
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  3 questions
  • Donna Donna on Apr 16, 2021

    Which paint and glaze did you use?

  • Lula Porter Lula Porter on Apr 18, 2021

    I want to lighten up my living room. I plan to paint my darkened with age unfinished living room ceiling a color close to that of unfinished (light) pine. Would adding glaze allow the patterns in the wood to show through? I have a lot of holes to fill and plan to put wood between the ceiling joists over the beam and the wall. What would you do with this other than cover it up?

  • Judith DeMello Judith DeMello on Apr 17, 2023

    Wow! That's a great look!

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