Our team is often asked for design tips for timber frame homes. Homeowners are curious about ways they can make their timber home into a more personalized space. They request guidance because, unlike standard modern homes with endless drywall, timber frame homes already have a sense of inherent style. All that exposed timber requires a more delicate approach than just throwing up a coat of paint.
Fortunately, there are plenty of useful decorating ideas for timber frame homes to choose from. Plenty of homeowners have decorated residential timber homes to create ideal living spaces that perfectly combine the natural beauty of timber with personal aesthetics.
Can You Paint the Frame of Your Home?
Yes, you can paint the frame of your home. However, it’s probably best not to. Arguably the most special thing about a timber frame home is the exposed timbers and the natural beauty they bring. Painting over the timbers will probably result in a less impressive look than the original wood.
There are certainly examples of timber frames that have been painted—and some of them do look wonderful. You may find that in your particular situation, painting makes sense. If so, we suggest working with a painting contractor who is experienced in painting timber frames. Or, if you want to do it yourself, take pictures of the area you want to paint and visit the paint store to get specific advice on how to prepare the area and which paint products to use.
Rather than painting, you might consider staining timber frames. A high-quality stain can add depth and highlight natural wood grain in a way that emphasizes the timber’s beauty.
What are Some Modern Design Tips for Timber Frame Homes?
In our experience, the best design tips for timber frame homes focus on working with the existing exposed timber aesthetic in your home—rather than painting over it. Working in natural colors, such as earth tones, along with utilizing paintless colors, such as tapestries, curtains, and rugs, allows you to add color and flair without covering up your timbers.
Consider some of the following interior design ideas for adding color to your home:
- Furniture: You can add furniture pieces that bring color to the room, such as a bright red sofa, a baby blue desk, or a canary yellow ottoman (pick a color you love and work with it throughout a room or the whole home).
- Rugs: These are already a must-have on hardwood floors. Why not use them to add color to each space they are laid?
- Curtains: Window coverings are also standard in homes. In a timber frame home, they can be a focal point for color as well as provide shade and insulation.
- Wall hangings: There are so many different things you can hang on your walls, including tapestries, photographs, paintings, and more. Each is an opportunity to add color to the space.
Your preferences for colors and moods will guide you in choosing the right colors for your home. But remember, for most people the key to a comfortable space is balance. If you want color, try to pick a color palette that works well together and stick to that palette as you choose pieces for each space.
Many homeowners opt for a unified color palette throughout their homes. But some go a little more wild and choose palettes for each room or space. It’s all up to you. Just remember that in most cases, less is more. Adding too many colors can overwhelm the senses and backfire on the designer.
What Color Schemes Work Well with Wood?
One of the most helpful decorating ideas for timber frame homes is to consider your timber’s color tone.
If you look closely at the wooden timbers in your home, you will notice that they have a certain overall color tone. This tone can be altered by staining, but there will be an overall tone such as dark brown, red-brown, yellow, bluish brown, or something else. You can use the tone of the wood to help provide a color scheme for your timber frame home.
This can be helpful in a timber frame home because you are likely surrounded by wood and therefore that wood’s tone.
You can then choose to match the tone or to go high-contrast, where you go against it to make colors pop. For example, with a dark brown tone, if you use yellow or blue, you will get a high contrast.
Contact Us to Learn More About Timber Frame Homes
We can help you build your lasting, safe, and quality dream home. Contact our expert timber frame home builders for more information.
Blog Archive / Design Trends for Commercial Timber Frame Buildings