Wood panelling for walls: 8 modern design ideas for your home - The Urban Life (2024)

Adding wood panelling for your walls is an easy way to elevate your room’s style. way to get it. Here’s how

Wall panels have a charm that never goes out of style. And if the panelling is of wood, you are looking at a classic, winning decor idea that will enhance your home’s interiors. When you opt for wood panelling for walls you are adding warmth to your home. You are also ensuring that the wall behind the wood panel is shielded from natural elements. In this guide, we tell you the different ways you can add a modern touch to your home with wooden wall panelling designs.

Create a cosy nook with wood panelling in a corner

Wood panelling for walls: 8 modern design ideas for your home - The Urban Life (1)

If you look around your room, you’ll notice that the corners are often not utilised to their best potential. Like many of us, you too probably have a chair that is piled up with clothes, making your room look cluttered.

Instead, decorate this area by adding a wood panelling on a section of the wall and a floating plank that you can use for seating or displaying knick-knacks. The wood panelling will also prevent the wall from hair and hand stains when someone’s sitting on the plank. This cosy nook will surely liven up your room’s corner.

Paint the wood panelling on the wall for a modern look

Wood panelling for walls: 8 modern design ideas for your home - The Urban Life (2)

Looking to turn your living room to a space that will wow your guests? Adding wood panelling on the interior walls is a great start. But you can take this up a notch by painting the wooden panels to a different hue. Think dark colours like deep blue, purple, even black if you have a spacious living room. Or else, pick tones like yellow, amber or green for a vibrant look. This will add a sophisticated, modern touch to your walls, making them a standout feature of the entire room.

Add wood panelling on a feature wall

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Wooden wall panelling design does not have to be restricted to walls behind the couch. You can also create a feature TV wall by adding wood panels here. This will give it a sleek, contemporary touch and also conceal unruly wires. Mount the TV on the wall and add a console below where you can keep interesting decor pieces to complete the look. These days, you also have TV screens that can display beautiful artworks when switched off which will make this section look even more elegant.

Create hidden storage with wood panelling for interior walls

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City folks with tiny apartments will agree that the struggle to find that extra inch of storage space is real. If you too have overflowing wardrobes and stuffed drawers, investing in a wall panelling is a great solution to create more storage. Since this may require a bit more civil work, you can get an interior designer or contractor to figure out the best way to add more hidden storage to your rooms. By adding wood panelling on all walls and wardrobes, it will create a seamless look whilst ensuring you have more storage space.

Use wooden wall panelling design as a partition

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Who says wood panelling should only be for interior walls? You can use the vertical planks to create a room partition or divider that can help separate two zones from each other. For instance, if you have an open plan layout for the living, dining and kitchen areas, use wooden panelling from one end of the wall to the centre to carve out a semi-separator between them. Since this panel needs to be sturdy and fixed, ask an expert for the best material and width size to be used for your space.

Opt for a floor to ceiling wood panelling look

Wood panelling for walls: 8 modern design ideas for your home - The Urban Life (6)

If you love the warmth wood brings to your home’s interiors, a wood panelling covering the entire length and breadth of your room is a good idea. Wooden flooring never goes out of style and you can combine this with wood panelling on your walls as well as ceiling for a unique look. While a single wood finish throughout is great for rooms that are spacious, you can experiment with a light and dark colour scheme too. Keep the ceiling and walls wood panels a lighter shade, while the flooring can be dark, stained wood.

Conceal only lower half of the walls with wood panelling

Concealing the lower half or 3/4th of a room’s wall from the floor in a different paint or material is called wainscoting. While a dark paint keeps the wall free from stains that are likely to be visible on a lighter shade, a wood panelling here can do more. It is a surefire way to keep the original wall protected from damage and hide any dents or cracks. Add a wood wall panelling on the lower part of the wall in a contrasting shade to infuse a modern, chic look in your room.

Add wood panelling for the wall in the foyer

Wall panels are also a great idea for the entry passage of your home as the walls in this zone are likely to be touched often. Imagine smudges and stains on a light-coloured wall paint right in the foyer. To prevent this, use a wood panelling on the walls to make a great first impression. This wood panelling also creates a visual separation of the passage and the living room, giving the space a more dramatic appeal right at the entrance.

Impressed with the different ways of using wood panelling in your home? Contact Urban Company for a quick selection and installation process. So, which of these design ideas will you use?

Wood panelling for walls: 8 modern design ideas for your home - The Urban Life (2024)

FAQs

Should panelling be darker or lighter than walls? ›

Homeowners often wonder if their chosen panelling colour should be lighter or darker than the main walls in the room. This generally depends on the space and can come down to a number of factors including the depth of colour already on your walls, how large the room is and how much natural light the space receives.

Does panelling make a room look bigger or smaller? ›

Panelling can definitely add grandeur to a room as well as making a space look bigger. This can be achieved by applying vertical panelling to make a room feel taller. Fitting wall panelling horizontally will make a room feel wider or longer. These are all great tricks for small rooms.

Can panelling be modern? ›

Panel an entire wall

With so many versatile styles to choose from, it's easy to incorporate the trend into any modern design aesthetic, whether you're drawn to the rustic cosiness of reclaimed wood, the Scandinavian-inspired simplicity of minimalist white panels or the timeless elegance of intricate moulding.

How do you modernize wood walls? ›

Whitewash It

Whitewashing wood allows you to keep its woodgrain texture but not the deep color. Start by watering down your paint, then brush it on, immediately wipe it down, and repeat until you get your desired color.

How do you make wood paneling look modern without painting? ›

Break It Up. A lot of dark wood all at once can be a little overwhelming. Breaking the dark brown wood panels up with another color, or another texture or surface can help. This wood wall decor makes a dramatic statement, while the inset white panel adds contrast that sets the wood planks off nicely.

What color looks best on wood paneling? ›

White is always classic and is currently all the rage. It can give your wood-paneled wall the “pop” to stand out in a great way. Use black, navy or dark grey as furniture and wall decor accents and you can't go wrong. Add some simple greenery to complete your look.

What is the best color for wood panel walls? ›

White is a classic makeover option that can make any wood-paneled wall pop. If you don't want to go bold, there are plenty of other options. Try a whitewash for a happy middle ground. This wood paneling makeover idea adds modern charm to the wood by using paint mixed with water.

Is paneling on walls outdated? ›

Wall panelling has increased dramatically as a feature in our homes for the past few years and is still proving to be popular.

What are the disadvantages of paneling? ›

Disadvantages of Wood Wall Panelling
  • Splits and splinters – by its nature, wood will split and splinter, which can make wood panels unsightly and unsafe over time.
  • Requires ongoing maintenance – wood wall panels will require regular maintenance to keep them stylish and safe, which can be both time consuming and costly .
Mar 29, 2024

How high up a wall should panelling go? ›

Measure your wall & decide how far up you'd like your panelling to go, usually you'd go to dado level height which is approx 1/3 of the way up the wall or about 36″ from the floor. Panelling sits on top of skirting board so take that in to consideration.

How high up the wall should panelling be? ›

In terms of ideas for wall panelling height, having it one-third or two-thirds of the way up the wall creates an aesthetically pleasing look to any room in your home.

When did wood paneling go out of style? ›

Wood paneling was popular from the 1950s through the 1970s for being low-cost and easy to install. Like the ranch house, it fell out of popularity when it became too common, but now it's back on the scene.

Is wood panelling dated? ›

"Panelling has become a key fixture in many properties this year and the trend isn't going anywhere in 2024," say the design experts at Neville Johnson. "Textured surfaces and walls are ideal for adding instant depth and character to a larger room, while also adding a modern look to any space."

Is wood paneling trendy? ›

We predict it will be the hottest trend for 2022. The beauty of wood panelling is that it works with most styles, it ties in seamlessly with modern homes but can also offer a regal air for those with more luxurious tastes. Wood panelling for walls genuinely enhances the longevity of your interior walls too.

How do you update wood paneling without removing it? ›

Fill Gaps and Cracks: Fill any gaps or cracks in the paneling with wood filler. Sand the filler once it's dry to create a smooth surface. Lighten with Paint: Consider painting the wood paneling in a lighter color to brighten the space. White or light neutral tones can make a room feel larg.

Is wood paneling outdated? ›

Homeowners are always looking for new ways to decorate their homes. Wood wall paneling is an oldie but goodie that people have recently popularized to make their space look beautiful and sophisticated. Wood walls date back to the Victorian era, eventually becoming a staple in mid-century homes.

What color paint goes well with wood paneling? ›

White is always classic and is currently all the rage. It can give your wood-paneled wall the “pop” to stand out in a great way. Use black, navy or dark grey as furniture and wall decor accents and you can't go wrong. Add some simple greenery to complete your look.

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