As my last few posts have indicated I am exposing some beams in my hall way (and dining room after that).

This is what the previous owners did in the lounge:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B9pXCedUcA-tSmhGQ2xVMktGakU/edit?usp=sharing

Now here is where I am up to in the hallway:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B9pXCedUcA-ta1dNai1rbEV0MHc/edit?usp=sharing
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B9pXCedUcA-tT2NFWEI4YXpUWGM/edit?usp=sharing

Now those beams in both pictures are all joined (these two rooms used to be one room when it was built) so I know they could look like the other ones if I wanted.

Question is - what's the best way to treat / finish these? All the things I've googled are about american homes with modern joists.

I was thinking I would just slightly hand sand them down (they're showing a bit of white residue from the plasterboard that was stuck to them before). What are my options for treating / painting / whatever?