How to make this look like a wood beam?

You could cover it with laun then stain it.

any kind of wood veneer would work

I would cover it with peel and stick wood!

They sell wood grain paint rollers. Easy and quick!

You could try wood grain contact paper.

If your looking for a thicker beam, they make a faux beam from styrofoam..... https://www.google.com/search?client=opera&q=faux+wood+beams+lowes&sourceid=opera&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8

We made one out of wood. Affordable and looks legit. https://www.frugalfamilytimes.com/2018/09/how-to-make-faux-wood-beam-for-less.html

Look at this website: https://www.fauxwoodbeams.com/

The wood roller with paint is a great idea.

The previous owners of our home covered the beam in our living room with barnwood.

The answers so far are helpful, but results are what you put into it. Covering the beam with lauan (loo-än) or any type of wood veneer will give you high-end results. Lauan is a tropical species plywood available from 1/8" thick but most often as 1/4", and in 4'x8' or 4'x4' pieces from most building supply stores. Experience with cutting and working with wood is helpful.

Wood contact paper is easier and less expensive. Most is between 17" and 23" wide by varying lengths. You will need to butt sections together. Your beam is probably high enough to avoid close scrutiny, so contact paper makes sense. Be sure to clean and dry the beam before applying the paper for best adhesion. https://www.amazon.com/wood-contact-paper-oak/s?k=wood+contact+paper+oak

Faux wood painting is not as easy as some people think. Yes, there are lots of tools to make it easier, but you can't just roll on a real-looking wood finish. You would need a scaffold to do the continuous stroke recommended. I urge people to practice reproducing one particular type of wood before starting their project. Look up the wood you want to mimic and study the grain and knots. The best faux wood is layered. There is a base color with a transparent glaze in another color over that. Here is a link to colors used in faux wood painting: https://perfectwoodgrain.com/faux-wood-paint-colors/

https://retiqueit.net/ this product would give you a wood look...did it on my dining room table but it is supposed to wok on all surfaces

Get some old wood pallets and cover it with them . It would bring a focal point to the room as well . Then just use a stane of your choice over it . You can make it dark or light depending on your taste.Pallets are free in a lot of paces and all you would need is stain and nails.

Besides you cold also hang things from it Something hanging down in stagering hights or if your country maybe some old tools on the sides. LOts of things can bee done withthat beam like the old barn wood Idea in a way and it would look kind of the same .

Good luck with what ever you deside to do with it .

Hi Erin, here is a great video to help you out,

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tiCOAMxMIpE