How to wallpaper over hardwood beams?

nminhptnk

I am thinking of covering my old, big hardwood beam with wallpaper (vertical side) and wood panel (bottom gap). It’s the large one in the picture. I would love your advice on

1. A timber primer before I apply wallpaper,

2. Any other way to cover the bottom part of the beam.

I’d love to know if you have any other suggestion to make the beam less visible, because my ceiling is only 2.4m high.

EricL

Hello @nminhptnk

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community. It's sensational to have you join us, and thanks for sharing your question about covering your beam.

I propose covering the entire beam with Ecoply 2400 x 1200 x 12mm Non-Structural Plywood in order to have an easy flat surface to sand and prepare for wallpaper. It would be much easier to prepare rather than sanding the surface of the beam itself. I suggest using Dulux 1Step Prep Primer, Sealer & Undercoat 4L to prime the surface of the plywood. Once the primer cures you can then wallpaper the surface.

Let me call on our experienced members @Dave-1 and @Nailbag for their recommendations.

If you need further assistance, please let us know.

Eric

Nailbag

Hi @nminhptnk

I'm along the same line as @EricL , If its just for a surface thats smooth for the wallpaper to stick to, then I would liquid nails 3mm lightweight MDF which could be tacked in place with the glue dries.

Nailbag

Dave-1

Good Evening @nminhptnk

My ideas really follow @EricL's and @Nailbag 's

Tho I do have a suggestion instead of using wallpaper to cover and also make the beam disappear a little.

How about painting the ceiling timbers white as well as the beam. Cladding it first would give a more streamlined look for sure, tho painting it white would also blend it with the ceiling, that gap between the two beams you could have some strip lighting/led strip so the base of teh beam would glow. Not hiding it but muting it.

Otherwise I would stick with the lining of the beam first before wallpapering

Dave

nminhptnk

Thank you all for the great suggestions. There is a few designs i want to try and experience before implementing a permanent solution, so painting white is my last step. I found some white laminate mdf so to consider them as well instead of wallpaper it. Cheers!