What Color Should I Paint Beams on White Ceiling?

I have a 31-year old old rancher and am looking for some color advice from Leslie. Here's the challenge: My den has a vaulted ceiling with exposed styrofoam beams. They are painted black and the ceiling is white. The wall…

I'd like to paint the styrofoam beams a color other than black. What would be a different color that would go with the yellow and white for nice results? I have hardwood floors if you need to factor that in. Thanks for any ideas!

Our Answer

Your room sounds lovely, and I have a few ideas for adding to the loveliness:
Since your beams are foam, painting them a solid color is a missed opportunity to add character to your space. If I were you, I'd go with a faux finish technique – a base coat with a topcoat grained over it to make it look like a pickled wood or a limed wood. Or you could finish it in darker tones to give the impression of grain and an aging effect. An approach along these lines will make it more of a neutral to add antique-y texture. I almost always suggest mixing different periods of things, like a worn finish amidst contemporary pieces, to make a room more interesting.

Another option is a crackle coat to give an aging effect – all paint manufacturers make a crackle base. Whichever route you take, think about putting a deeper, warmer tone on first, followed by a lighter, more antique-y tone on top. It'll add texture and richness. But whatever you do, avoid a solid color – that would be a missed opportunity for your high ceiling space! Foam can look shockingly realistic if you treat it the right way.