SOURCE: Room for Tuesday
What do you do if you don’t love wallpaper or a bold focal wall but you do want to add some interest to your space? Let me introduce you to one of my favourite techniques – wall panelling. There are endless possibilities for incorporating this into your home. It doesn’t matter what design style you prefer, there’s a style of panelling that will suit your space.
Wall panelling offers benefits aside from just the character it brings to a space. It can cover uneven walls and add protection from damage in busy parts of your home. Let’s explore the options.
TYPES OF WALL PANELLING
SOURCE: Lights and Lamps
There’s a long history of homes incorporating wall panelling into the design, both on the exterior and interior. In fact, the shiplap that we’ve been seeing over the last several years was used in the early 1800’s. Often wall panelling was used to protect homes from weather. Today it’s mostly decorative but if you prefer to avoid trends then you can rest easy knowing this method has been used for hundreds of years.
SHIPLAP
SOURCE: Remodelista
You might be surprised to learn that shiplap isn’t a creation of Joanna Gaines and her modern farmhouse style. So what does shiplap look like? It is individual wood planks that fit together with an interlocking system that keeps them flat and smooth. This style is most often hung horizontally.
STYLE CONSIDERATIONS: This tends to work best in a more rustic setting like modern farmhouse but it can be incorporated into other, more modern styles if the finish of the shiplap is clean and neutral.
Shiplap is built to have a small gap between each of the boards. Dust can gather in those gaps so be sure to include it in your weekly dusting to avoid an accumulation of dirt.
TONGUE AND GROOVE OR BEADBOARD
SOURCE: I Spy DIY
Beadboard is often confused with wainscotting but they’re not interchangeable terms. Beadboard is made of narrow pieces of wood strips that are installed vertically whereas wainscotting is an umbrella term that refers to the style. It can be used to describe any wall application that covers the lower portion of the wall and it’s most often made of wood.
Beadboard or tongue and groove can be installed using traditional tongue and groove methods or can be purchased in sheets. It’s almost always installed vertically and can be hung full height or on half the wall.
STYLE CONSIDERATIONS: Use this application in more traditional settings. Since it’s typically applied on the bottom half of the wall it doesn’t work well in contemporary settings.
GEOMETRIC
SOURCE: Furniture 123
If you really want to make a statement in your space, geometric panelling will help you accomplish that. There’s no limit to what you can create but be careful about trying to DIY this style of panelling. It’s going to need a lot of time creating the design and a lot of patience installing it. This one is best left to a carpenter or millworker. Your designer can use software to create the design to your specifications and this will be used by the millworker during installation.
Some of the more popular designs incorporate a herringbone or diagonal shape but your design is limited only to your imagination.
STYLE CONSIDERATIONS: This one can work in any style of home. It’s the design you create that will set the tone for the style. It’s also the colour you choose to paint the wall and whether it’s a full room or just an accent wall.
FLAT OR RECESSED PANELLING
SOURCE: Artichoke
This looks similar to the styles you’ll see when you’re purchasing cabinet doors. You can have a millworker install a custom design using your wood of choice. The more economical option is to install panel kits that come in various options but are mostly built from MDF.
The options are endless with this style and it can be used on a full wall, ½ wall or even up the wall of a staircase. For a contemporary space you’ll use a flat panel with little or no bevel, similar to shaker style cabinets. A more traditional space looks great with a detailed, raised panel with a bevel.
STYLE CONSIDERATIONS: This would normally be used in a traditional home but we’re seeing it used in very modern spaces as well recently. The most important factor is the details. Keep it simple for modern spaces and add some detail for more traditional spaces.
SLAT WALL
This style is popular today but it’s inspired by mid century design. We don’t usually install this in an entire room but it does look great as a feature wall. This can be installed using lumber slats which are individual strips of lumber. It also comes in sheets that will be cut and fit to measure. It’s most often designed to show off the natural wood so a simple stain is applied. If you prefer a painted wall I would avoid this look.
STYLE CONSIDERATIONS: This is definitely more modern or mid-century modern. Avoid using this anywhere that is predominantly traditional.
WAYS TO USE PANELLING TO ADD INTEREST
1/ Framing Artwork
SOURCE: Etsy
Wood moulding can be installed around a piece of artwork to make it stand out. If you have a collection of pieces you can have the moulding to highlight either each piece individually or as a group.
2/ Flat Panel Doors
SOURCE: Blythe Interiors
If you purchased a home with new doors but the flat panel doesn’t work with your style, consider adding panel moulding. This can change the style to become more traditional or transitional with not a lot of time or expense involved.
3/ Backsplash
SOURCE: Emily Henderson
Panelling can be used instead of tile as a backsplash. This looks great in a rustic environment like a cottage or cabin. You can also install shelving on top of the panelling so this makes it a versatile tool for adding more storage.
4/ Cover a Structural Feature
If you have a fireplace that’s covered in brick but you don’t love the look, panelling could be your BFF. You can have a structure framed and built on top of the existing area and then clad in panelling. It’ll give your space an instant update without having to remove and potentially damage the fireplace.
If you need some help creating something new in your home, contact me. I’d love to speak to you about your upcoming project.
If you know your design style but you struggle with which paint to use, take a look at my Made-For-You paint palettes. They take the guesswork out and give you the confidence to get started.
