There’s just something about exposed wooden beams; they bring a definite warmth and character to your space. It’s smart to make the most of these natural elements, whether they’re already there or you’re planning to add them.
Here are 30 practical suggestions for how you can feature them.
Cozy Up a Butterfly Chair with a Faux Fur Throw
Draping a fluffy faux fur throw over a butterfly chair quickly adds comfort. This simple piece softens the chair’s modern lines, making it a more inviting spot to sit.
The plush texture particularly stands out when it contrasts with the chair’s canvas and metal frame.
Anchor Your Coffee Table with a Wooden Tray
On the coffee table, a large, rectangular wooden tray corrals smaller items. It might hold a vintage wooden box, a model sailboat, and a stack of books, keeping everything contained.
This works best when the items complement each other and the tray’s wood tone.
Trunks as Coffee Tables Add Vintage Storage
Large, patterned vintage steamer trunks can serve as coffee tables. With their brass hardware, they bring storage for blankets or books.
Ground Your Seating Area with a Rustic Wooden Bench
In front of the sofa, a simple, rough-hewn wooden bench sits on a plush rug. It works as a coffee table, providing a surface for bowls or books.
Draw the Eye Upward with an Oversized Dome Pendant
Install a large, brushed metal dome pendant light in a room with a vaulted ceiling. Its presence works with exposed wooden beams and terracotta tiles.
This fixture provides ample illumination.
Crystal Chandelier Adds Glamour Above Exposed Beams
Hang a cascading crystal chandelier from the ceiling. Its sparkling facets will catch the light, creating a dazzling centerpiece.
Introduce Classic Detail with Blue and White Ginger Jars
Ornate blue and white ceramic ginger jars, with their bold patterns, sit on dressers.
Gallery Wall With Mixed Frame Sizes Adds Personal Charm
A gallery wall comes to life by mixing different frame sizes and orientations, allowing a variety of personal photos to be displayed in a less formal way than a perfectly symmetrical grid.
Illuminate Exposed Beams with Geometric Lantern Pendants
Geometric lantern pendants hung from exposed wooden beams introduce a modern industrial style. Made of black metal with clear glass panels, these fixtures illuminate the space effectively.
Tufted Velvet Ottomans Add Warm Color To A Rustic Desk
Next to a distressed wooden desk, round velvet ottomans in a warm rust hue offer seating or a footrest. Their button-tufted design and decorative trim are visible details.
Wrought Iron Chandelier Adds Rustic Charm To A High Ceiling
A dark, multi-armed wrought iron chandelier hangs from vaulted wooden beams. Its open, circular design with candle-style lights evokes an old-world feel.
This piece works best in a spacious living area with light-colored walls, where its scale can be appreciated.
Wooden Chess Set Adds A Playful Touch To The Coffee Table
A classic wooden chess set sits on the coffee table. Its rich wood tones complement the surrounding decor.
It’s ready for an impromptu game whenever someone feels like playing.
Suspend Glass Bell Jar Lanterns for Soft Light
From exposed wooden beams hang glass bell jar lanterns. These fixtures feature clear glass and dark metal frames.
Embroidered Throw Pillows Add Patterned Accents To A White Sofa
Richly embroidered throw pillows feature patterns in red, pink, and yellow. These cushions sit on a neutral sofa, breaking up the expanse of white upholstery.
Ground Your Seating Area with a Wood and Metal Coffee Table
To complete a seating arrangement, consider a coffee table with a rustic wood top and a slim metal frame. The open base provides space for drinks or decor items.
Its design also prevents the area from feeling too heavy with furniture.
Incorporate Organic Shape with a Live Edge Coffee Table
When seeking a connection to nature in your living space, a live edge coffee table makes a good choice. Its unique, freeform silhouette and light wood finish work with surrounding textures and colors.
Dark Lantern Pendant Adds Dramatic Light Over Dining
A large, black, multi-armed pendant light hangs from a chain over the dining table.
Soften a Modern Sofa with Layered Throw Pillows
On the sofa, an assortment of throw pillows includes textured knits and smooth linen. They come in various sizes and weaves.
Wooden Mantel Shelf Adds a Rustic Touch to a Brick Fireplace
A thick, unadorned wooden mantel shelf rests on the brick fireplace. This simple surface holds a few decorative items.
Anchor the Seating Area with an X-Frame Coffee Table
For your seating area, choose a substantial coffee table with a rustic wood construction and X-frame base. The top features a textured metal inlay.
Narrow Console Table With Open Shelving
A slim console table with two open shelves, featuring a metal frame and light-colored shelves, can hold textured baskets, books, and rolled throws without taking up much floor space.
Rustic Log Wall Decor Adds Bold Statement Above Fireplace
Above the fireplace, a taxidermy bull head creates a bold center, lending wild, rustic character. Its dark, textured form stands out sharply against clean white walls and rough-hewn timbers, introducing an unexpected piece of nature indoors.
Soften the Room with a Textured Drum Coffee Table
A woven drum coffee table can soften the presence of weathered wooden beams and a stone fireplace. Its rounded shape and textured surface offer a tactile, inviting feel.
The table also provides a useful surface for items.
Woven Log Basket Adds Rustic Charm Beside Fireplace
A metal basket filled with neatly stacked logs sits beside the hearth, offering a practical way to store firewood and bring a natural texture to the living space.
White Ladder Shelf Displays Plants and Vintage Signs
A tall, narrow ladder shelf can fit neatly into a corner. This white piece holds a trailing plant on one shelf and a vintage license plate on another.
Its slim profile means it won’t take up much floor space.
Dark Wood Beams Add Architectural Interest To Sloped Ceilings
Across white, sloped ceilings, dark timbers create a strong geometric pattern. This architectural detail lends depth and an unpolished structural element, drawing the eye upward to expand the room’s volume.
Rustic Wood Coffee Table With Industrial Wheels
With exposed iron wheels, a low, weathered wood coffee table offers a unique utilitarian detail. This piece secures the conversation zone and provides a platform for display pieces, its industrial design standing out against softer furnishings.
Woven Baskets Add Casual Storage Under a Console Table
Place large woven baskets with leather straps under a slim console table. Their dark, natural material hides clutter like blankets or toys.
Roman Numeral Art Adds a Graphic Focal Point Above Fireplace
A large framed print featuring Roman numerals hangs above the stacked stone fireplace. Its simple black and white design sits opposite the weathered materials.
Birdcage Planter Adds Whimsical Garden Accent
A decorative birdcage holds a miniature garden display. It’s filled with small succulents or air plants.
