Trends: 12 Ways to Tap into the Trend for Plywood
For a long time, it’s been a staple sturdy raw material, but now plywood is becoming a feature in its own right
Kate Burt
21 November 2015
Houzz UK. I'm a journalist and editor, previously for the Independent, Guardian and various magazines. I'm now excited to part of the editorial team at Houzz UK & Ireland, bringing the best of British and Irish design, interiors and architecture to Houzz.com.
Houzz UK. I'm a journalist and editor, previously for the Independent, Guardian and... More
It was one of the trends spotted at the design shows this year, but plywood has been around since the 19th century, when it was used as a strong material for making tea chests. Nowadays, you’re likely to see this engineered, layered wood used as hoardings on construction sites, or as an alternative to MDF for projects such as shelving, cabinetry and staircases, which, traditionally, would have been painted.
But there are more and more examples of plywood cropping up as a star material, unpainted and proud, in projects across Houzz. Check out some favourite examples.
But there are more and more examples of plywood cropping up as a star material, unpainted and proud, in projects across Houzz. Check out some favourite examples.
What is plywood?
Plywood is made from thin layers of wood glued together, typically with the grains positioned at different angles for strength. It’s available in sheets of different sizes and ply types.
Though pricier than MDF, plywood is still generally much more affordable than solid wood and has the benefits over MDF of being stronger, better at holding screws, suitable for exterior jobs (depending on the variety) and, arguably, better looking in its raw state.
In this kitchen, handleless doors have been constructed from high-grade plywood and treated to get this rich, warm colour.
Plywood is made from thin layers of wood glued together, typically with the grains positioned at different angles for strength. It’s available in sheets of different sizes and ply types.
Though pricier than MDF, plywood is still generally much more affordable than solid wood and has the benefits over MDF of being stronger, better at holding screws, suitable for exterior jobs (depending on the variety) and, arguably, better looking in its raw state.
In this kitchen, handleless doors have been constructed from high-grade plywood and treated to get this rich, warm colour.
Which is the best plywood for your project?
From super-strong, humidity-proof and good-looking marine ply to easy-to-cut-and-drill softwood ply; rugged and ready hardwood; pale, smooth birch ply, or thin, bendable sheets, there are many plywood varieties to choose from, as well as multiple thicknesses. Look out for Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified plywood from sustainable sources.
You can also buy a number of different grades of ply, with ‘A’ being the best quality. Depending on your requirements, you might not mind blemishes or a rougher look – if it’s to be used for a construction job, or covered in concrete, for example. Perhaps if you’re cladding walls and building furniture with it, as in this airy Swedish living room, a sanded finish will do the job. Alternatively, if it’s for a kitchen, bathroom or outside, your project might benefit from ply made with extra-water-resistant glue.
From super-strong, humidity-proof and good-looking marine ply to easy-to-cut-and-drill softwood ply; rugged and ready hardwood; pale, smooth birch ply, or thin, bendable sheets, there are many plywood varieties to choose from, as well as multiple thicknesses. Look out for Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified plywood from sustainable sources.
You can also buy a number of different grades of ply, with ‘A’ being the best quality. Depending on your requirements, you might not mind blemishes or a rougher look – if it’s to be used for a construction job, or covered in concrete, for example. Perhaps if you’re cladding walls and building furniture with it, as in this airy Swedish living room, a sanded finish will do the job. Alternatively, if it’s for a kitchen, bathroom or outside, your project might benefit from ply made with extra-water-resistant glue.
Mix and match
This pale, calming kitchen uses sustainably sourced birch plywood for the kitchen units and worktops – which are clad on top with brushed stainless steel – and Douglas fir flooring for the shelves (and floor).
Birch is a high-quality ply and has a lovely light colour. The door and drawer fronts have been treated with lye to lighten them for a soft, chalky look, but the end grain and recessed handles are simply sealed with an ecofriendly water-based matt lacquer to show the interesting patterns of the ply.
‘Typically, we work with oak frames and doors and birch ply carcassing,’ explains Sam Shaw of Sustainable Kitchens about the kitchens he more typically designs. Here, however, it’s the birch plywood that takes centre stage. ‘It’s the best-quality plywood you can get for internal joinery,’ says Sam, ‘because it’s very stable. But the owner liked it mainly for its light colour.’
Discover other ways you can use raw materials in your home
This pale, calming kitchen uses sustainably sourced birch plywood for the kitchen units and worktops – which are clad on top with brushed stainless steel – and Douglas fir flooring for the shelves (and floor).
Birch is a high-quality ply and has a lovely light colour. The door and drawer fronts have been treated with lye to lighten them for a soft, chalky look, but the end grain and recessed handles are simply sealed with an ecofriendly water-based matt lacquer to show the interesting patterns of the ply.
‘Typically, we work with oak frames and doors and birch ply carcassing,’ explains Sam Shaw of Sustainable Kitchens about the kitchens he more typically designs. Here, however, it’s the birch plywood that takes centre stage. ‘It’s the best-quality plywood you can get for internal joinery,’ says Sam, ‘because it’s very stable. But the owner liked it mainly for its light colour.’
Discover other ways you can use raw materials in your home
Make it sturdy
Due to its cross-layered construction, plywood is a naturally strong type of engineered wood, making it especially suitable for structures such as staircases. Ask your builder or at your local timber yard for recommendations on a suitable thickness for this kind of project, and be sure to combine strength with pleasing aesthetics and smoothness – a staircase is a central feature in any home.
This design is made from laminated birch ply; the peephole panel doubles as banisters as well as a visual divide between the downstairs and upper floor. The cut-outs are an especially sweet detail for a family home.
Due to its cross-layered construction, plywood is a naturally strong type of engineered wood, making it especially suitable for structures such as staircases. Ask your builder or at your local timber yard for recommendations on a suitable thickness for this kind of project, and be sure to combine strength with pleasing aesthetics and smoothness – a staircase is a central feature in any home.
This design is made from laminated birch ply; the peephole panel doubles as banisters as well as a visual divide between the downstairs and upper floor. The cut-outs are an especially sweet detail for a family home.
Warm up your bed
Base-only divan beds don’t necessarily need a headboard, but if you lean back against a wall when sitting up in bed, you will probably understand the potentially warming benefits of some wood cladding, especially if your bed is against an external wall. And ply sheeting is an interesting way to do it.
You could clad the entire wall, as in this stylish, modern bedroom, or simply have a smooth, A-grade piece of ply in a finish and thickness that suits your style and space, cut to size and fixed to the wall with strong screws. Always get professional advice if you’re not sure how to make a wall-fixing secure.
Browse ideas for wood panelling in your bathroom
Base-only divan beds don’t necessarily need a headboard, but if you lean back against a wall when sitting up in bed, you will probably understand the potentially warming benefits of some wood cladding, especially if your bed is against an external wall. And ply sheeting is an interesting way to do it.
You could clad the entire wall, as in this stylish, modern bedroom, or simply have a smooth, A-grade piece of ply in a finish and thickness that suits your style and space, cut to size and fixed to the wall with strong screws. Always get professional advice if you’re not sure how to make a wall-fixing secure.
Browse ideas for wood panelling in your bathroom
Juxtapose old and new
Industrial-looking, contemporary plywood sheets – in this case yellow pine ply – contrast in this hallway with a beautifully weathered, painted wooden bench. The link between the floor in the adjacent space (just visible on the bottom right of the image) is a nice touch, too – it’s made from solid yellow pine that has been whitewashed.
Industrial-looking, contemporary plywood sheets – in this case yellow pine ply – contrast in this hallway with a beautifully weathered, painted wooden bench. The link between the floor in the adjacent space (just visible on the bottom right of the image) is a nice touch, too – it’s made from solid yellow pine that has been whitewashed.
Freshen your floor
Installing a solid-wood floor is never cheap, which is one of the reasons many of us go for engineered planks. But sheets of ply make for another solid wood alternative – and work especially well in a modern, minimalist space like this all-white bedroom.
Installing a solid-wood floor is never cheap, which is one of the reasons many of us go for engineered planks. But sheets of ply make for another solid wood alternative – and work especially well in a modern, minimalist space like this all-white bedroom.
Reach for the sky
The walls and ceiling in this bothy on a sheep farm in Dumfries & Galloway are internally clad with sustainable spruce ply.
To break up the visual expanse of wood finish, the homeowners painted sections of the spruce using breathable paint by Earthborn. This can be used as a light wash, letting the grain show through, or layered for a more opaque effect.
See more of this innovative tiny home
The walls and ceiling in this bothy on a sheep farm in Dumfries & Galloway are internally clad with sustainable spruce ply.
To break up the visual expanse of wood finish, the homeowners painted sections of the spruce using breathable paint by Earthborn. This can be used as a light wash, letting the grain show through, or layered for a more opaque effect.
See more of this innovative tiny home
Give it star billing
In this barn-like new build in rural Connecticut in the US, one feature wall and the ceiling in the main living space have been clad with unfinished plywood, treated with linseed oil. The effect really highlights the already lofty ceiling.
In this barn-like new build in rural Connecticut in the US, one feature wall and the ceiling in the main living space have been clad with unfinished plywood, treated with linseed oil. The effect really highlights the already lofty ceiling.
Fashion some furniture
The interesting layered end grain on a thick slab of plywood is really shown off when the material is used to make structures such as tables or worktops.
The owners of this one-bedroom urban flat made this dining table themselves, using a sheet of birch ply, cut to size and lightly stained to protect the surface from scratches and wear. They sourced hairpin legs from Etsy.
The interesting layered end grain on a thick slab of plywood is really shown off when the material is used to make structures such as tables or worktops.
The owners of this one-bedroom urban flat made this dining table themselves, using a sheet of birch ply, cut to size and lightly stained to protect the surface from scratches and wear. They sourced hairpin legs from Etsy.
Go all-out industrial
The utilitarian look of pale ply (this is birch) makes it a perfect partner for polished concrete.
The combination of ply cabinet doors and tabletop with poured concrete worktop and floor looks marvellously minimal in this north London live-work space. For a purely domestic setting, you could also warm things up with the soft glow of bare filament bulbs; to inject some colour without clutter, suspend them from fabric flex in a vibrant shade.
The utilitarian look of pale ply (this is birch) makes it a perfect partner for polished concrete.
The combination of ply cabinet doors and tabletop with poured concrete worktop and floor looks marvellously minimal in this north London live-work space. For a purely domestic setting, you could also warm things up with the soft glow of bare filament bulbs; to inject some colour without clutter, suspend them from fabric flex in a vibrant shade.
Box it up
This unusual mezzanine floor/storage unit/staircase was constructed from plywood, making it a highly affordable way of creating a new ‘attic’ room in a tiny 16th century fisherman’s cottage. Up the stairs, there’s a cosy sleep space, while tucked behind it is a kitchen; the unit also houses a utility room and a shower room.
The designer describes the beamless structure as ‘a huge piece of furniture’ and, as such, it was made in collaboration with a cabinet-maker rather than a loft specialist.
TELL US…
How would you use plywood in your home? Let us know in the Comments below.
This unusual mezzanine floor/storage unit/staircase was constructed from plywood, making it a highly affordable way of creating a new ‘attic’ room in a tiny 16th century fisherman’s cottage. Up the stairs, there’s a cosy sleep space, while tucked behind it is a kitchen; the unit also houses a utility room and a shower room.
The designer describes the beamless structure as ‘a huge piece of furniture’ and, as such, it was made in collaboration with a cabinet-maker rather than a loft specialist.
TELL US…
How would you use plywood in your home? Let us know in the Comments below.
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Exposed plywood is for trailer parks.
The mezzanine is genius! I'm very fond of high-grade ply as a material for furniture and finishings. Routing the edges gives a lovely decorative effect.
I was hoping to see pictures of painted plywood with the seams concealed, much like drywall only more "real" and substantial than the paper-covered chalk known as drywall. To some painting over the plywood might defeat the purpose, but I'd be with the "no thank you" camp otherwise. Someone commented under a different article that she had ripped (i.e., cut in shop talk) a plywood sheet into long boards, nailed them to the studs for shiplap and painted them. Isn't there a way to do something similar with whole sheets?