Wood Paneling: Not Just The Stuff of The ‘70s

For decades, wood panelling has been associated with 1970s rec rooms, dart boards, and generational lakeside cottages. Decades ago, it was a forgiving, versatile, and cost-effective option for quickly elevating a basement or living room. Although traditional wood panelling has its place, its incorporation into modern design is gaining traction.

If your current living room makes you feel like you're in a sauna (and not just because of the temperature), consider decorative wood panel options like shiplap, wainscotting, or wallpaper patterns that mimic the depth and visual interest of moulding. Wood panelling can also be painted with a coat of primer to transform a dark and dated room into a bright retreat without having to spend a lot of money.


If these walls could talk
Wainscoting is a term that refers to decorative panels that are used as wall accents as well as insulation in the past. Wainscoting typically covers the lower three or four feet of a wall and consists of a panel and frame. Raised and flat panel designs, shadow box, board and batten, and beadboard are just a few of the styles available. Homeowners can avoid the sawdust and intricate mitre saw cuts by using wallpaper or panels to create an elegant, textured look that mimics the real thing. Wainscot half wall panels are easy to install and allow you to spend more time admiring it while soaking in the tub.

Self-adhesive, peel-and-stick made-to-measure wallpaper panels can achieve the same look as the wood pattern without permanence. Because the wallpaper can be easily removed, this concept will appeal to renters who want to personalise their space. From sophisticated vintage detailing to panels that resemble the worn paint of an English cottage, Wallsauce has a 16-piece collection that will appeal to all discerning tastes.

Wallpaper panels with a 3D effect are a game-changer for newly built homes because the murals have a timeless look. For those who are afraid of painting their walls black, there are almost-black wall murals that add instant luxury. Life-size maps, bold florals, warehouse bricks, and the first steps on the moon are among the latest wallpaper mural designs, which are no longer limited to dentist offices.

Cue up the Mad Men look
Traditional wood panelling has undergone several contemporary twists and interpretations if the Mad Men set isn't the exact look you're after. A mid-century abstract design will necessitate some measuring and the use of a mitre saw, but the end result will be unique and complement an Eames chair, turntable, and Negroni.

#Shiplap and Joanna Gaines
Shiplap was first used as a form of insulation in farmhouses. HGTV's Fixer Upper's Joanna Gaines popularised a look that has since been replicated in mudrooms, stairwells, bedrooms, and powder rooms. Shiplap is defined by rabbet cuts that create a rectangular recess along the tops and bottoms of the wood planks, allowing the boards to space themselves out naturally. Shiplap can be painted white to warm a space or left unfinished to maintain a rustic feel. Home improvement stores now carry impressive lines of MDF primed shiplap that can be installed horizontally, vertically, diagonally, or in chevrons, allowing for even more creativity.

Get in the groove
Beadboard is a vertical row of narrow wood planks commonly used in bathrooms with soaker tubs or on kitchen ceilings to create an authentic farmhouse look. The indentation or ridge found between each wood plank is known as the "bead." Horizontal moulding is used to finish off the vertical board strips, and the surface can be painted easily. It is also available as an MDF or vinyl panel. Beadboard is a durable choice for a quick, clean update and is ideal for hiding junior's hockey puck target practise.

Barn bored?
Baby, plywood has come a long way. It's being used on walls as full sheets with a high-gloss urethane finish, and it can also be used as a durable flooring option. It can be cut horizontally to look like planks, giving a space with polished cement floors and minimalist furnishings a spartan look.The sustainable repurpose of "beetle kill pine" will be an appealing option for those who are drawn to all things barn board. Lodgepole Pine, Douglas Fir, and Whitebark Pine trees are all affected by a unique blue stain fungus spread by nuisance bark beetles. Beetle kill walls and floors pay homage to a different kind of "beetle juice" in an environmentally friendly way.