Homeowners are always looking for new ways to decorate their homes. Wood wall paneling is an oldie but a goodie that people have recently begun to use again to make their space look beautiful and sophisticated. Wood walls date back to the Victorian era, eventually becoming a staple in mid-century homes. Since then, the style has been adapted to enhance classic and contemporary interiors.
If you’re considering wood paneling for your home or business, continue reading to learn the benefits and get some design inspiration from the latest trends.
What Is Wall Paneling?
Wall paneling is a classic wall covering that grew in popularity from the 1950s through the 1970s. The vintage texture and charm have reappeared recently as a popular design feature in modern homes. Modern wall paneling is made from various materials, including traditional hardwood, engineered wood board or synthetic products cut into large sheets or single planks.
Wood paneling is extremely versatile and blends well with numerous interior styles. It can be installed vertically, horizontally, on the ceiling or across the lower half of the wall as wainscoting. You can embrace the natural wood finish or paint it to achieve your desired look. The interior design possibilities are endless, allowing you to mold your home so that it matches your creativity and individuality.
The Benefits of Wall Paneling
Wood paneling can enhance your space visually and functionally. Consider the following benefits:
- Stylish: Wood is a classic design element that will never go out of style. Wall paneling brings warmth and natural texture to your space. It looks cozy in rustic rooms, luxurious in colonial-style homes and sleek in mid-century modern interiors.
- Insulating: Wall paneling provides natural insulation, especially if it’s made from real wood. The panels are typically installed over a rigid foam board, which adds yet another layer of padding. Together, the foam board and wood panels help maintain a comfortable temperature and provide soundproofing.
- Coverage of flaws: If your walls look rough and worn out, you can install paneling over them to hide damaged areas. Doing so can save you hours of hard work patching and sanding old cracks and dents that might show through fresh paint.
- Durable: Wall paneling is much more durable than paint or wallpaper, especially if it’s solid wood. If it’s dented or scratched, you can easily sand off the damage and reseal it. Or, you can remove the entire board and replace it with a fresh one. Either way, your paneling will look new for decades.
- Eco-friendly: Solid wood paneling is much more environmentally friendly than other wall coverings. It’s typically sourced from sustainable forests that plant twice as many trees as they harvest. There are also plenty of reclaimed wood options that repurpose materials from old structures. They look beautiful and breathe new life into wood that was first cut decades ago. Plus, the material will last for generations without needing replacement, unlike paint or wallpaper.
Is Wood Paneling Outdated?
Not at all! In fact, the industry is projected to grow through 2030. That resurgent popularity, paired with the rustic feel of wood paneling, can fill your home with a fresh, new charm that simultaneously calls back to a time lost to memory. In that uncommon marriage is a unique opportunity to make a statement and express your identity and a commitment to reclamation.
Wood paneling’s heyday in the ‘50s and ’70s is long past. However, that shouldn’t stop you from investing in an interior design choice that you love or fondly recall from childhood, especially given wood paneling’s ongoing rise in popularity. Your home should ultimately embrace your values and tastes, whether wood paneling is back in style or not. After all, you spend more time in your home than anyone else.
Wood paneling is also tremendously customizable, giving you the power to match its texture and color to your home’s aesthetic. You can even find new ways to innovate and use wood paneling in unique ways, further enhancing your home’s style and personal feel. With that in mind, let’s look at some wood wall paneling ideas.
Wall Paneling Trends
Wall paneling is extremely versatile. You could use it differently in every room of the house or in just one to achieve a specific effect. Consider these trending wall panel design ideas to inspire your next home improvement project:
1. Accent Wall
A wood accent wall will completely transform your space. It adds warmth and texture to make your home feel cozy and welcoming. Different shades and grains of wood can achieve your desired style. Paneling with a lot of color variation adds character to a rustic interior. Alternatively, panels with a similar tone and grain look modern and sleek. Whatever your aesthetic, an accent wall can go a long way in making your home feel unique and even bold in its interior design.
2. Kitchen Island
In a world where painted cabinets are becoming one of the most popular interior design trends, installing wood paneling on the kitchen island can add a natural contrast and tie in wood floors beautifully. You can cover the entire base with wood paneling or use the panels as a protective accent on the side where people sit, enhancing the centrality and feel of the island within the kitchen.
3. Fireplace Frame
A fireplace is typically the room’s focal point, and surrounding it with wood paneling can make an even bigger statement. Install a column of wood paneling from floor to ceiling to draw the eye up and make your fireplace look grand. You can also use wood paneling to replicate a chimney’s look if you don’t have one. A warm fire surrounded by natural colors and textures will make the room feel even cozier.
4. Wooden Ceiling
The ceiling is often overlooked as a place to add style and character to a room. Installing wood paneling on vaulted or high ceilings will make the room feel bigger and more luxurious. Adding natural elements like wood gives the space a rustic elegance that feels homey and relaxing.
5. Vertical Panels
Horizontal wall panels look classic and traditional, but flipping them vertically creates the illusion of height and blends well with a contemporary aesthetic. The width of the planks also impacts the room’s look and feel. Wider vertical planks are ideal for creating a modern design. This inversion of conventional approaches to style is also a great way to make your space feel like you.
6. Built-In Background
Built-in shelves are beautiful and convenient, but they’re also quite costly. You can achieve the same look yourself by installing vertical wood paneling behind a set of floating shelves. The result will look like a high-end custom bookcase you can use to display your favorite pictures and decor.
7. Formal Entryway
Open-concept homes are extremely popular, but they typically lack a formal entryway. Installing wood paneling around your home’s entrance can help make it feel like a separate area where you can hang up your coat and settle into the space. That transition between the entryway and the actual living space can mirror the ways we flow through our homes and lead to feelings of comfort and ease as we move from place to place.
8. Rustic Bathroom
It’s easy for modern bathrooms to feel dry, sterile and unwelcoming. Oftentimes, this feel is brought about by dry, washed-out colors and a lack of natural textures. Installing wood paneling around specific portions of the bathroom can imbue the space with an earthy, homely quality. The panels also allow you to accent or enhance the existing colors of your bathroom.
9. Two-Tone Laundry Space
Similar to bathrooms, laundry rooms can feel a bit barren or mechanical in an otherwise natural, welcoming home. If you’re looking to spruce up that space, wood paneling might be for you. Whether you’re using them to offset the harsh colors of your machines or accentuate a set of stacked machines, wood panels are a great way to remodel and revamp your home.
Choosing Superior Hardwoods of Montana
Wall paneling provides natural beauty and texture to enhance any interior design. At Superior Hardwoods of Montana, our antique reclaimed wall paneling is sourced from old barns, industrial-age factories and blacksmith shops so you can preserve a piece of history in your home. Reclaimed wood has a unique character and charm that can give your space a one-of-a-kind look. We offer numerous woods, colors and sizes to blend with all sorts of interior styles. Our Rocky Mountain Series includes:
Our reclaimed wall paneling has been weathered over hundreds of years to reflect the rugged beauty of the rocky Montana landscape. It’s extremely versatile, whether you choose to cover an entire room, an entryway, a kitchen island or a fireplace.
Transform Your Home With Reclaimed Wall Paneling
Antique reclaimed wall paneling brings the magnificent Montana wilderness to your interior, giving your home unparalleled beauty and character. It is durable, insulates your home and is more environmentally friendly than many other options out there. If you’re looking to add rustic charm to your home or business, Let us Guide You Through the Woods®. Superior Hardwoods of Montana has provided customers with the finest and most unique building materials since 1977.
You can browse our reclaimed wood paneling options to find what works for you and reach out online or call 406-251-2272 for more information. We can answer your questions and even offer free samples and quotes to help you understand your options and choose the perfect wood paneling for your needs.