I don’t think it would look weird if you do it right. However, I’m not sure what is on the beams - it may be more of a paint. Either way, it’s probably some work to sand them down and stain a more natural color.

looks like the beams will require a solid stain, or paint color of choice, since they have already been painted. (easier than sanding at that height)

If it were mine, I'd leave the gray boards as is for now

and paint the beams a weathered dark (or color of choice)

Paint the bookcase and mantle same.

maybe that's all you'll need.

Change up the rug to a pattern and lighter background to lighten the space

Have you considered putting drywall up there? Then you could just paint the beams if you like, or leave them

Prime slats with white primer before white topcoat. You may need two primer coats to seal and cover. The beams would have to be sanded quite a bit before staining dark. I suggest painting them white.

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I had not considered that! @mytwocents ~ that certainly would look very clean. I don’t dislike the rustic look of the ceiling though and would like to keep it if possible. It’s definitely some sort of paint or wash, I tried sanding a bit on the mantle as a test and the wood is so roughly hewn and it wouldn’t do much.
@Lyn I hadn’t thought of just leaving the gray slatted part and just darkening the beams- that might be an interesting starting point and then if it’s not great I could move on to white as in Susie’s pics. I have several like that saved but I just wasn’t sure about the rough texture.

@Apple_pie_order that looks lovely! I do want to maintain the rustic vibe just change the tone somehow 🤔

If it is very rough hewn, they may have to be sandblasted. Maybe drywall is a better alternative.

Wow! That ceiling and room are beautiful. Maybe instead of try to change the ceiling, what about changing the color of the bookcase (it would be easier)? The cement top on the brick on the left matches the ceiling. Maybe the grout of the brick used to match the gray too. If you changed the rug color too, it would blend in better.

Everything looks a little wonky at the moment as there is no flooring and most of our decor is packed up in prep for the kitchen work and new floor. The exposed concrete floor is actually making the gray look okay but we had planned to stain it. The mantle is the same material as the ceiling and yes @HU it does tie in with the brick grout. I would LOVE to change color of bookcase and have often day dreamed about it being a dark green color. You can’t see in this photo but we have tile that is rust/olive patterned. It’s also in our entry with brick arches. There has been a few mentions of changing rug…what color would you all suggest?

The ceiling is lovely. I wouldn’t change the overall look other then lightening it.

Are the boards on the ceiling applied between the beams or is this actual cladding that is on top of the beams. I feel like I see ends of boards between the beams in some locations.

My ceiling like this is actually boards going across the rafter beams because it is the first layer of the actual roof cladding.

Depending on how this is constructed will partly determine how you proceed.

Yes, Palimpsest, I believe it is the actual ceiling going across on top of the beams as you say.

I do love it! @kay p

Please post pics when done. I really look forward to seeing them Tiffany😊