Remove the beams. Paint walls and ceiling the same color to make it feel higher.

Do you have any photos or styles from your idea book that you can add? It would help if you can narrow down what style or look you are going for in order to give you some better recommendations.

We just recently moved to our home and had a similar 1980's family room with a vaulted wood panel ceiling with beams. It also had a ceiling fan and carpet. We updated for a more transitional look so we painted the wood ceiling paneling and walls white, (except the beams which we kept the original wood color), painted the fireplace white, replaced the mantle shelf with a rustic wood mantel shelf, removed the carpet and added hardwood flooring, and replaced the fan with a round iron chandelier lighting.

I know white walls are not for everyone and some may consider it boring.

For your room I would suggest something similar.

Possibly remove the carpet and add hardwood flooring, paint your fireplace, replace the fireplace mantel, paint your built in's a different color and you can add an accent color or even wallpaper to the back shelves, paint the trim on your window. Don't paint your beams or fireplace until after you paint your walls. You may find that your existing beam color or fireplace brick may be perfect with the new wall color your pick.

Below are some pictures I used for inspiration.

Mound Remodel · More Info

Designed by Jeff Lewis - Spring 2015 Catalog · More Info

Eclectic Mid-Century - Rancho Mirage · More Info

Country Club - french tudor renovation featured in Traditional Home magazine · More Info

I'll agree that the family room as it is, is not necessarily the best the 1980s had to offer, but on the other hand I would not homogenize it into a room that is so generic that it looks like a complete blank unless it has furniture in it.

I kinda feel like the fireplace looks out of place with everything blanked out. The beams are actually a feature, as in the room above.

Thank you guys! Irene-Perfect! I thought about adding more beams running perpendicular to create a waffle pattern, but after seeing that picture, I like the simplicity of the light walls and few beams. You hit the nail on the head!

I would NEVER EVER remove or paint those beams. This "paint everything white" trend isn't going to last forever. Beautiful wood tones are my choice.

They aren't real structural beams. They're decorative box beams that don't do much except lower the ceiling. I do like the room Irene posted, though, and the beams could be made to work if you really love them.