very affordable DIY faux wood beams…
Faux beams. Heard of them? Today, we’ll tell you all about ours, and how to install them in case you’d like to hop on the faux beam bandwagon. If you love the look of real wood beams in a home, then you’ll definitely want to consider the non-real thing. They are MUCH easier to install (they weigh almost nothing), and cost a FRACTION of what a real wood beam does. Read on and we’ll tell you all you need to know!
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Beams. So dreamy. They are an architectural element extraordinaire.
I love ’em. Always have. To me, they say, “Come on in and snuggle by the fire”…
Pssst…more beam jobs to come, but really quickly before you decide to give this project a go, make it a little easier…
Download a free printable copy of the supply list and installation tips & tricks. Click here or on the image below to get started now⤵
Or, “Join us for a relaxing dinner in our cozy (but extremely elegant) kitchen.”

Source – The Enchanted Home via From My Porch to Yours
and “Prop your feet up and relax in our rustic retreat”.
They also say “You the type of homeowner that likes paying for things through the nose? Then buy some of us!” And when I realized this, suddenly, the beam dream became obscene. And so ended my love affair with beams.

Source – Cottages-Gardens.com

Here we are. Do you see those beams? Yes, those gorgeous mahogany hand-hewn looking beauties above? Guess what? THEY’RE FAKE! That’s right, I said it. We got a beam job…or “beam augmentation” if you will.
We discovered FAUX BEAMS! And just like that, my love affair with beams was back on again. For just a fraction (like 1/5) of the cost of REAL wood beams, and just a teensy, tiny percentage of the weight (which is important for installation), it is possible to buy and install these faux wood decorative beams.
And guess what? They look real. Seriously. Hallelujah, hap-beam days are here again!! Wanna know how to work with them? The male half of the Heathered Nest is gonna give you the crash course (without the crashing part. That would be a bad outcome)…
And grab your free copy of the DIY guide for this project to make it simpler! Click here or on the picture below to get instant access now!⤵️
And now, you’ll need to know what supplies and materials you’ll need if you decide to install your own faux beams…
DIY Faux Beams Installation Supplies:
- faux beams
- joist hangers(must use adjustable joist hangers if you have a sloped ceiling)
- 2×4’s
- screws
- wood putty
- drywall togglebolts
- laser levelor line level
- standard level (the bigger the better)
- two sets of hands
- angle finder
- studfinder
- tape measure
- screwgun
- circular saw (to cut 2×4’s)
- handsaw (to cut faux beam)…seems a little old fashioned, but it worked well
- ladder (or two, depending on where/how high you’ll be installing)
- telescoping work poles (not a must, but very helpful…and not just for this project!
And if you would rather completely DIY some faux beams instead of buying them, you can do that! Check out my friend Larissa’s tutorial on Prodigal Pieces.
How to Install Faux Beams:
DON’T BE SCARED…IT’S NOT BAD!!
1. Determine the layout of your faux ceiling beams and how of them you want.
Yes, that sounds obvious. But there are so many options (color/style/texture) for these faux beams, that this was actually the most challenging part of the project for us!
Faux wood products are made for all different aesthetics, from the rough, hand-hewn rustic look (which we went with) to sleeker, smoother and more minimal ceiling beams.
Here’s an image of our family room BEFORE the installation.

2. Install joist hangers.

Faux beams are made of dense foam, making them SUPER light-weight, easy to handle and install. This alternative costs a fraction of what real wood beams do!
3. Install the 2×4’s into the hangers.
Depending on the span needed, you’ll have to “sister”, or screw two 2×4’s together. Remember, they make 2×4’s up to 16’ in length, so get the longest 2×4 you need fit the span. This will give your beam more strength. Sistering two 8’ 2×4’s together to make a 16’ span would be a bad plan. Once you’ve sistered your 2×4’s, cut them to length.
Don’t forget! You can make this project quicker and easier by downloading the free printable supply list and installation tips and tricks for this project!
Click here or on that picture below – I’ll send your free guide immediately ⤵️
BAD PICTURE ALERT BELOW…but you can kind of see the “sistered” 2×4’s in this image if you look closely. You can also see the ends of the 2×4’s sitting in the joist hangers. Finally, check out those red poles sitting beneath either end of the 2×4’s. Those are telescoping work poles, and they were pretty clutch for completing this project (and have helped us in numerous others).

4. Cut the faux wooden beams to length.

5. Install the faux beams.

Note that faux beams such as this one are hollow, making it very conducive (pun-intended) to running electrical wires through them, etc!


So come on! Faux-get about it! Consider giving faux wood ceiling beams a try. We “wood” love to see how they turn out if you do!
Want sources for this space? Here you go! Just click on the product you’d like to learn more about, and you’ll be taken to the retailer.
Pin this post for later. And if you get some and/or install some, leave a comment on the pin! That helps others know whether or not it’s a project they’d be able to tackle, too!
P.S. Before you go,
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Peggy says
What I want to know is a local supplier/installer for faux beams. I live in Scottsdale, AZ, and have not had any luck finding this product or installers. Is there somewhere I can get information on that?
Heather says
Hi Peggy!! I’m not sure of a local supplier/installer for you in AZ. But you could certainly buy them online as we did (ours were from HD…details in the post) and perhaps find a local handyman if you don’t want to DIY. It really was a pretty simple project as they weigh about 3 pounds! They’re super light. Sorry I can’t be of great help with local people to help you with the project :/ Heather