Acoustical Ideas for Beam Ceilings

Barn Boards

• Imbue a room with warm, rustic charm by lining the ceiling with barn boards. The texture, porosity and thickness of barn boards make them natural and effective sound absorbers. Individual barn boards as well as faux barn board panels are available. Barn boards or panels can be installed between beams to leave the beams exposed or on top of the beams for a drop-down ceiling. The energy efficiency of the space can also be supplemented by installing insulation between the barn boards and the ceiling.

Wool-covered Panels

• Soften sounds as well as the appearance of a room with stuffed wool panels. Create simple wood frameworks for each wool panel. Stretch and staple wool around the frames, stuffing the insides with polyester fiber. The softness of the wool combined with the stuffing will prevent the majority of sound reverberations in the ceiling. Wool comes in a variety of colors to suit your decorating needs. Panels can be uniform rectangles, or varying sizes and shapes can be used to create visual interest.

Extruded Polystyrene

• Foam is often used in sound recording studios and is a highly effective sound absorber. Extruded polystyrene is a compact type of foam that is easily cut to size and sanded smooth using simple hand tools. Dye polystyrene to match the style or theme of the room and adhere pieces to your ceiling with foam board adhesive, which comes in a caulk tube. Affix multiple pieces of varying sizes or shapes for maximum sound deflection. It is also possible to carve polystyrene to add creative patterns or textures.