If you don't like the matching look but also don't want dark beams, you might consider a somewhat controversial alternative. Some homeowners defend the method of painting ceiling beams white.

Just nail them together, and then caulk, paint and install them ... Then, avoiding ceiling fixtures, mark where the beams will be positioned. Keep their spacing even and ensure each beam will ...

It will create a laser beam line all the way around the room, saving you from marking this out. Painting a ceiling can get quite messy so it’s important to lay dust sheets over flooring and any ...