Paint Ideas for Wood Beams on a High Ceiling in a Den

Light Blues

• Light colors add depth to a ceiling, providing the room with a more open and spacious look. Add even more height to the room by painting the wood beams light shades of blue such as sky, baby or robin egg blue. The look is especially effective in an all-white room, giving the den a crisp and pristine appearance. The blue and white palette remains particularly fitting in an oceanfront home or cottage.

Dark Colors

• Painting most ceilings a dark color appears to bring the ceiling closer to the floor, providing the room with a more intimate feel. Consider painting the beams such dark colors as black, charcoal gray or midnight blue. Such colors, especially when set against complementary dark colors such as maroon or peacock blue, provide the den with an upscale and stately appearance.

White

• Adding white paint to wood beams will give the den a shabby chic appearance, particularly if you only use one or two coats. If white proves too stark, try a slightly darker shade, such as pearl or ivory. Picking such a neutral color also gives you the opportunity to paint the den’s surrounding walls a host of different colors. White wood beam ceilings provide an airy look to the high-ceiling room, particularly in dens with lots of natural light.

Earth Tones

• For a more rustic appearance, paint the wood beam ceiling such earth tones as chocolate brown, rust or olive. In addition to creating a more compact appearance, the look complements dens filled with old world items such as a leather couch, walnut desk and brick fireplace. Earth tone wood beam ceilings create a Tuscan villa or country home look.