Decorating
16 Modern Ways to Use Wood Panelling on Your Walls
Bored with painted plaster? Here’s how wooden panelling can be a short cut to cosy character and period atmosphere in your home
Banish all thoughts of dark, mahogany-lined halls in National Trust properties and fusty private members’ clubs. In fact, panelling can be a great way to add instant period authenticity, vintage charm or simply warmth and interest to rooms.
Modern panelling can bring texture and detail to otherwise ordinary spaces, while reclaimed original boards can help you create that ever-fashionable boutique country retreat vibe. And using lighter woods, or paler paint colours, means it doesn’t have to be dark or dreary. (Plus, of course, it can cover a multitude of plastering sins.) Here are just a few ways to use wood panelling to lift a scheme.
Modern panelling can bring texture and detail to otherwise ordinary spaces, while reclaimed original boards can help you create that ever-fashionable boutique country retreat vibe. And using lighter woods, or paler paint colours, means it doesn’t have to be dark or dreary. (Plus, of course, it can cover a multitude of plastering sins.) Here are just a few ways to use wood panelling to lift a scheme.
Pick a light wood
Lay planks of lighter, natural woods over walls, floorboard style, for a modern log cabin look.
In this bright and airy Scandi-style space, the pale wooden planks have a stunning simplicity that’s light years away from images of gloomy oak-panelled libraries. Teamed with white walls and a light parquet floor that manages to dodge ‘wood clash’, the effect is simply dreamy.
Lay planks of lighter, natural woods over walls, floorboard style, for a modern log cabin look.
In this bright and airy Scandi-style space, the pale wooden planks have a stunning simplicity that’s light years away from images of gloomy oak-panelled libraries. Teamed with white walls and a light parquet floor that manages to dodge ‘wood clash’, the effect is simply dreamy.
Think modern
Panelling doesn’t have to mean channelling the gothic mansion look. Modern panelling can look slick, adding warmth and an upmarket feel, as seen in this hotel-chic living space.
Plan carefully with your carpenter what you might like to have built into your wall of panelling. Here it provides an integrated home for a flatscreen TV and a modern fireplace, for a pulled together, smart effect.
Panelling doesn’t have to mean channelling the gothic mansion look. Modern panelling can look slick, adding warmth and an upmarket feel, as seen in this hotel-chic living space.
Plan carefully with your carpenter what you might like to have built into your wall of panelling. Here it provides an integrated home for a flatscreen TV and a modern fireplace, for a pulled together, smart effect.
Update your study
Don’t only confine panels to dining or living rooms. A wall of wood transforms this calm work area into a chic update on a traditional study.
It’s been teamed with simple modern lines – the wardrobe, desk and shelving – and a classic Hans J Wegner Wishbone chair, for an effect that’s anything but old-fashioned. Again, painting it a soft matt blue-grey also adds to the chic, modern effect.
Plan a study with a difference
Don’t only confine panels to dining or living rooms. A wall of wood transforms this calm work area into a chic update on a traditional study.
It’s been teamed with simple modern lines – the wardrobe, desk and shelving – and a classic Hans J Wegner Wishbone chair, for an effect that’s anything but old-fashioned. Again, painting it a soft matt blue-grey also adds to the chic, modern effect.
Plan a study with a difference
Get your groove on
Tongue-and-groove panelling is a classic look in bathrooms. It’s easy to look after, relatively cheap to install and can be painted to suit your scheme, plus it still has a lovely traditional coastal/country cottage feel.
It works well as a side panel on a bath and halfway up a wall, and can hide a multitude of pipework. Here it’s been painted a soft blue to blend with the walls. Choose a specialist bathroom paint if you’re concerned about mould and mildew from all the moisture in the air.
Tongue-and-groove panelling is a classic look in bathrooms. It’s easy to look after, relatively cheap to install and can be painted to suit your scheme, plus it still has a lovely traditional coastal/country cottage feel.
It works well as a side panel on a bath and halfway up a wall, and can hide a multitude of pipework. Here it’s been painted a soft blue to blend with the walls. Choose a specialist bathroom paint if you’re concerned about mould and mildew from all the moisture in the air.
Create instant period grandeur
Installing period-look panelling from floor to ceiling is a fast track to an elegant, country manor look, as shown in this living room in a Victorian villa. The panelling and beading might look original, but here it’s actually a well-crafted imitation.
When considering panelling, think about the proportions of your room: in a smaller space, panelling half a wall might help it feel less cramped.
Look for companies online that sell special, period-specific panels, either made to measure or off the peg. You can buy Georgian, Victorian and Edwardian designs, so consider the era of your property and what would be most sympathetic to its design.
Check out how to make the most of your Victorian mouldings
Installing period-look panelling from floor to ceiling is a fast track to an elegant, country manor look, as shown in this living room in a Victorian villa. The panelling and beading might look original, but here it’s actually a well-crafted imitation.
When considering panelling, think about the proportions of your room: in a smaller space, panelling half a wall might help it feel less cramped.
Look for companies online that sell special, period-specific panels, either made to measure or off the peg. You can buy Georgian, Victorian and Edwardian designs, so consider the era of your property and what would be most sympathetic to its design.
Check out how to make the most of your Victorian mouldings
Be creative
Don’t be afraid to experiment with your own designs. In this hallway, the panelling echoes that of the Victorian and Georgian eras, but it’s been given a modern spin. Continuing the panelling up the stairs means it feels like part of the integral structure of the house, too.
Don’t be afraid to experiment with your own designs. In this hallway, the panelling echoes that of the Victorian and Georgian eras, but it’s been given a modern spin. Continuing the panelling up the stairs means it feels like part of the integral structure of the house, too.
Makeover a period hallway
Panelling can be a great way to add grandeur and atmosphere to a hallway (though it’s perhaps not suited to super-skinny corridors, where every centimetre of space counts). Here it’s been painted black, creating a fabulous backdrop for bright artworks.
When planning panelling, think about the era of your property and what will work best. Hunt around for reclaimed original panels from architectural antiques specialists or on eBay, or ask a carpenter to come up with an authentic reproduction.
Panelling can be a great way to add grandeur and atmosphere to a hallway (though it’s perhaps not suited to super-skinny corridors, where every centimetre of space counts). Here it’s been painted black, creating a fabulous backdrop for bright artworks.
When planning panelling, think about the era of your property and what will work best. Hunt around for reclaimed original panels from architectural antiques specialists or on eBay, or ask a carpenter to come up with an authentic reproduction.
Boost a modern entrance
Cladding walls in panelling is a good trick for adding character to modern or new-build properties without any original features to play up.
This contemporary version brings in texture and warmth with simple planks laid horizontally, while white walls and plenty of glazing keep things looking clean and airy.
Cladding walls in panelling is a good trick for adding character to modern or new-build properties without any original features to play up.
This contemporary version brings in texture and warmth with simple planks laid horizontally, while white walls and plenty of glazing keep things looking clean and airy.
Add personality to a loft
Loft conversions can sometimes suffer from looking a bit blank and bland. In this stylish space, a wall of panelling behind the bedhead instantly adds character and personality.
Breaking it up with intricate carved areas introduces texture and an exotic holiday getaway feel. However, keeping it white means it doesn’t ‘crowd’ the room.
Loft conversions can sometimes suffer from looking a bit blank and bland. In this stylish space, a wall of panelling behind the bedhead instantly adds character and personality.
Breaking it up with intricate carved areas introduces texture and an exotic holiday getaway feel. However, keeping it white means it doesn’t ‘crowd’ the room.
Mix it up with wallpaper
If panelling alone feels too severe, consider having your interiors cake and eating it, too, with a mixture of elements. In this room, bold panels of wallpaper break it up. Used alone, the wallpaper might have been overpowering; by contrast, floor-to-ceiling panelling could have felt a touch gloomy.
Discover more unusual ways to play with wallpaper
If panelling alone feels too severe, consider having your interiors cake and eating it, too, with a mixture of elements. In this room, bold panels of wallpaper break it up. Used alone, the wallpaper might have been overpowering; by contrast, floor-to-ceiling panelling could have felt a touch gloomy.
Discover more unusual ways to play with wallpaper
Reclaim it
If vintage and upcycled is your style, then consider installing panelling made from reclaimed floorboards. In this quirky retro living room, it adds a cool, bohemian cabin effect that oozes warmth and character. Hunt around in salvage yards and online for reclaimed boards to create a similar effect.
If vintage and upcycled is your style, then consider installing panelling made from reclaimed floorboards. In this quirky retro living room, it adds a cool, bohemian cabin effect that oozes warmth and character. Hunt around in salvage yards and online for reclaimed boards to create a similar effect.
Take it to the horizontal
Tongue and groove panelling can work in kitchens (or indeed anywhere in the house) just as well as in bathrooms. Try laying it horizontally, as seen in this cute kitchen, to help add the illusion of width to a small space.
Also research different widths of planks – do you want narrow, or would wide work better? Then consider colours: here it’s simply been painted off-white for a crisp, easy-care finish.
Tongue and groove panelling can work in kitchens (or indeed anywhere in the house) just as well as in bathrooms. Try laying it horizontally, as seen in this cute kitchen, to help add the illusion of width to a small space.
Also research different widths of planks – do you want narrow, or would wide work better? Then consider colours: here it’s simply been painted off-white for a crisp, easy-care finish.
Think small
Don’t automatically assume panelling ‘closes in’ a space, and so only works in larger rooms. In fact, panelling can actually play to a smaller room’s strengths, adding a quaint, cottagey feel.
Don’t automatically assume panelling ‘closes in’ a space, and so only works in larger rooms. In fact, panelling can actually play to a smaller room’s strengths, adding a quaint, cottagey feel.
Dabble with distressed
OK, admittedly we don’t all live in a stunning, shabby chic mansion like this one, but the panelling in this room would look good in any period space. Teamed with a parquet floor, it oozes elegance, grandeur and original personality.
When sourcing original panels, consider keeping their appearance distressed, as here, for that wonderful aged look.
OK, admittedly we don’t all live in a stunning, shabby chic mansion like this one, but the panelling in this room would look good in any period space. Teamed with a parquet floor, it oozes elegance, grandeur and original personality.
When sourcing original panels, consider keeping their appearance distressed, as here, for that wonderful aged look.
Use it on one wall
If you love the idea of panelling but feel it would be too much on every wall, consider scaling it back to one feature area. In this rustic home, a solo chimney breast has been lined with matt boards to create a cabin-like effect, while the adjacent white walls keep things light.
TELL US…
How have you used panelling in your home? Share your ideas and pictures in the Comments below.
If you love the idea of panelling but feel it would be too much on every wall, consider scaling it back to one feature area. In this rustic home, a solo chimney breast has been lined with matt boards to create a cabin-like effect, while the adjacent white walls keep things light.
TELL US…
How have you used panelling in your home? Share your ideas and pictures in the Comments below.
Panelling might feel more of a commitment than simply painting plaster or putting up paper, but if you’re lucky enough to live in a property with a history, it could be well worth your while.
In this lovingly restored Grade 1 listed almshouse, dating back to 1695, beautiful replica panelling creates an authentic period feel. However, the soft grey tones and midcentury furniture keep it firmly in the 21st century.