Want to add a beadboard ceiling to a room in your home? Here’s everything you need to know about how to install beadboard ceiling panels!
Beadboard ceilings are beautiful! They add texture and interest to your space.
Beadboard ceilings can work in a traditional or modern aesthetic as well. They are a great option for many houses!
We went on a mission to get rid of all of the popcorn ceilings in our first home! Check out all of our ideas for covering popcorn ceilings!
We hung a beadboard ceiling in our stairwell and a coffered beadboard ceiling in our son’s nursery.
Today I want to chat all about beadboard ceiling panels and answer all of your FAQs!
If you have any additional questions, please ask them in the comments so I can reply!
Beadboard Ceiling Panels
Let’s talk about the different options and reasons to do a bead board ceiling in your home and if it would work for you.
Does beadboard make a good ceiling?
Beadboard is a great option for a ceiling covering! It adds a light amount of texture and interest without being distracting from the rest of the room.
Beadboard ceilings look great in a variety of styles of homes!
Bead board cannot act as your entire ceiling, however, so you can’t install this by itself. It does need drywall to hang onto.
Can you put beadboard on the ceiling?
Yes, you can put beadboard on a ceiling! It is a really easy DIY project, too.
Installing beadboard on your ceiling requires construction adhesive and nails, but is a relatively easy project to do once you have your spacing figured out and have the panels cut to size.
Can you put beadboard over a popcorn ceiling?
Yes, bead board ceilings are a great solution to cover popcorn ceilings. That’s why we used it! It installs just the same way.
Beware: if your popcorn has asbestos in it, consult an expert before disrupting it.
Can you do a bead board treatment on a large ceiling?
Yes, bead board ceiling panels work great on any size ceiling. You can see how we used ceiling beadboard panels in our son’s bedroom and gave it a coffered ceiling look.
If you have a large ceiling, you will just want to make sure that you cut the panels to create an evenly spaced grid throughout the room.
How do you hang beadboard paneling on a ceiling?
You will want to hang beadboard paneling on a ceiling using a brad nail gun and construction adhesive.
Click here to read all about our DIY beadboard ceiling and to get a step by step tutorial.
| Pros of beadboard ceilings | Cons of beadboard ceilings |
| Relatively inexpensive to hang | Can accumulate dust |
| Very DIY-able | If there is water damage, not as easy to repair as drywall |
| Adds texture and interest | Textured look might not work with every decor style |
How to install 4×8 sheets of beadboard on ceiling
We actually recommend cutting your beadboard down prior to installing it. This helps you to get a more even grid shape and use flat boards to cover the seams.
However, you can definitely install 4×8 sheets of beadboard as is. You install it using construction adhesive and nails. Then, cover the seams and sand it and finally, paint.
Click here to read all about our DIY beadboard ceiling and to get a step by step tutorial.
How to cover popcorn ceiling with beadboard
Hate your popcorn ceiling? You can scrape it (we have a tutorial for that!) or, you can cover it. Beadboard is an easy way to DIY cover popcorn ceilings. Here's how we did it.
Materials
- Beadboard
- Trim
- Paint
- Caulk
- Wood filler
Tools
- Circular saw
- Brad nailer
- Paint sprayer
Instructions
- Measure your ceiling and determine how much beadboard you need. Remember - you need all the stripes to go the same way.
- Determine where you would like trim lines to go to cover any gaps between boards.
- Cut your beadboard to size.
- Hold beadboard in place. Brad nail into the ceiling. If you can identify the ceiling joists (by knocking) be sure to pop some nails in there, too.
- Repeat until all the ceiling is covered.
- Add trim. Use trim to cover the seams and create a clean border around the edge.
- Caulk all seams and nail holes. If an edge is flat, you might want to use wood filler for a smooth finish.
- Sand if needed.
- Paint. We prefer to use our paint sprayer.
Notes
We have covered popcorn ceilings a lot of ways:
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Is beadboard ceiling expensive?
Well, hanging a beadboard ceiling will cost more than leaving your existing ceiling alone, which would cost $0.
However, it is much cheaper than hanging new drywall or hiring out the removal of a textured ceiling.
Buying sheets of bead board is also not as cost-prohibitive even compared to scraping popcorn ceilings as it saves a lot of time.
How much does a sheet of beadboard cost?
The cost of beadboard will vary depending on where you live. It varies based on the size of the panel and the exact design that you select.
We paid about $20 for 36 square feet of beadboard (one sheet) at the Home Depot.
How much will my beadboard ceiling cost?
You are going to have to do some math. Measure your space. Go check out the price of panels of beadboard in your area.
Remember – you want the seams to line up with each other like a grid. The lines must all point the same way!
Which is cheaper beadboard or shiplap?
Beadboard tends to be cheaper than shiplap, mostly because shiplap requires so many boards. However, if your room is an odd shape or doesn’t divide into a grid easily, shiplap could be cheaper.
We did a cedar shiplap ceiling in our old guest bedroom!
Measure and price it out!
Where can you hang a beadboard ceiling?
Beadboard can hang anywhere! Bedrooms, hallways, or even bathroom ceilings are all great places to have bead board installed.
What are other options for ceiling planks?
We also covered a ceiling in our home with tongue and groove cedar planks.
This was even easier to do than installing beadboard panels! It was less time consuming because the boards were smaller and easier to handle.
How do you cover beadboard seams?
You have two options for covering beadboard seams:
- Cover with wood filler and sand until smooth
- Hang a slat, plank, or beam to cover the seam
Which way should a beadboard ceiling run?
Best practices say that beadboard should hang perpendicular to the ceiling joists in your room.
I like the lines in the beadboard to go the longest length in the room. I think it makes the space look larger!
What is beadboard?
Beadboard is a type of wood paneling with linear grooves. A piece of beadboard is often hung on walls or ceilings to give a textured look without having to hang individual boards.
Beadboard is usally made from pine wood and is typically 5/16″ an inch” thick. It is typically sold in 4’x4′, 4’x8′, and 8’x8′ lengths.
Is beadboard water resistant?
Not all beadboard planks are water resistant! Pay attention to the material that you select.
PVC beadboard is water resistant, so if you’re planning to install in a bathroom, this might be the best way to go.
What is the difference between beadboard and tongue and groove?
Beadboard is arranged in panels, while tongue and groove planks are individual boards. Both work great for hanging on ceilings!
Can I put beadboard over popcorn ceiling?
Yes, we have put beadboard over a popcorn ceiling very successfully.
How do you paint a beadboard ceiling?
We painted our beadboard ceiling with a paint sprayer! This tool made it a fifteen minute paint job.
We highly recommend using this method. However, this is much easier if you plan to paint the walls afterwards as there is a lot of overspray.
Is it easy to install beadboard ceiling?
Beadboard ceilings don’t require special skills or very fancy tools. However, due to having to lift awkward pieces into the air and nail them, it’s definitely a two person job.
How to cover popcorn ceiling with beadboard
Hate your popcorn ceiling? You can scrape it (we have a tutorial for that!) or, you can cover it. Beadboard is an easy way to DIY cover popcorn ceilings. Here's how we did it.
Materials
- Beadboard
- Trim
- Paint
- Caulk
- Wood filler
Tools
- Circular saw
- Brad nailer
- Paint sprayer
Instructions
- Measure your ceiling and determine how much beadboard you need. Remember - you need all the stripes to go the same way.
- Determine where you would like trim lines to go to cover any gaps between boards.
- Cut your beadboard to size.
- Hold beadboard in place. Brad nail into the ceiling. If you can identify the ceiling joists (by knocking) be sure to pop some nails in there, too.
- Repeat until all the ceiling is covered.
- Add trim. Use trim to cover the seams and create a clean border around the edge.
- Caulk all seams and nail holes. If an edge is flat, you might want to use wood filler for a smooth finish.
- Sand if needed.
- Paint. We prefer to use our paint sprayer.
Notes
We have covered popcorn ceilings a lot of ways:
Recommended Products
As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.
What other questions can I answer for you?
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Hello, I’m Morgan, half of the creative force behind CharlestonCrafted.com! With a passion for DIY that dates back to 2012, I’ve transformed three homes and now I’m dedicated to helping others craft their dream spaces. Let’s turn your house into a home together!
Paula
Friday 18th of September 2020
Which beadboard did you choose? Vinyl, HDF, MDF, or Wood? I noticed you glued sheets up which what I want to do between beams on a cathedral ceiling. I don't want to hassle with tongue and groove. Thank you.
Morgan
Saturday 19th of September 2020
These are the standard MDF sheets from the hardware store.
Bonnie
Saturday 18th of April 2020
Where did you get the planks?
Morgan
Sunday 19th of April 2020
Do you mean the pieces we used to cover the seams? They are Woodgrain brand from Home Depot but any lumber section of a store should have similar boards!