Restored Georgian interior by Paul West and Michelle Bower @consideredthings
Installing wall panelling is an excellent way to add character to a room. It can be full height or low level (and everything in between), painted, stained or oiled, intricately detailed or left plain – the design possibilities are endless.
Aside from its aesthetic qualities, it can be used to conceal wiring and plumbing, thermal or acoustic insulation and surface imperfections.
From modern to traditional, these wall panelling ideas will provide inspiration for all eras of home and budget.
READ: Wall Panelling - An Architect's Guide
A favourite with architects for many years, birch plywood is a highly versatile material that is well-suited to wall panelling. Available in various grades, it is best finished in clear or white tinted hardwax oil or varnish to bring out the natural character of the facing veneer.
Birch plywood interior by Bradley van der Straeten Architects, Photo by French+Tye
Spruce plywood is lighter and cheaper than birch but is equally as strong and rigid. The facing veneer has a characterful appearance with a visible grain and knots. It can be varnished, stained or painted.
Spruce plywood panelling by Sandy Rendel Architects, Photo by Jim Stephenson
Principal rooms in early Georgian houses were often panelled from floor to ceiling. In later houses, panelling was often kept to low level. The sizes of the individual panels were commensurate with the scale of the room and kept very simple. Oak panelling was either waxed or varnished. Pine was always painted. Georgian panelling can look out of place in later eras of architecture, such as a Victorian homes.
Restored Georgian interior by Paul West and Michelle Bower @consideredthings
Staining wall panelling dark colours can create different atmospheres - a trick used by the great Arts and Craft Architect Charles Rennie Mackintosh. In the example above, black-stained pine boards have been used to complement dark cork walls and emphasise raw finished joinery items.
Black stained pine boards by Matthew Barnett Howland
Grooved panelling can be formed in any type of timber and painted, stained or varnished. The white panelling example above creates visual interest through texture and shadows, elevating a purposefully restrained pallet of materials.
R2 Studio Architects house interior, photo by Andy Stagg
For timber with more personality consider Douglas fir. A highly durable softwood, it has a pinkish to red colouration and camouflage-like grain pattern.
IF_DO Douglas fir panels
Painted MDF is the most economical wall panelling method. Use a semi-gloss paint, such as a satin wood, for durability and easy cleaning.The example able has been grooved to give the impression of traditional butt and bead panelling.
Painted MDF panelling by The Modern House
Arts and Craft panelling was often installed to door-level height which formed a datum line for contrasting finishes around the room. Installed mainly in principal rooms, it was usually simply detailed and painted, or stained.
Standen House by Philip Webb, Photo by Rob Tomlinson
Fluted and reeded panels are manufactured in plywood and MDF and can be veneered with a variety of different types of wood and varnished, or simply painted. Ready-made panels are available online or they can be made up by a CNC workshop.
White fluted panelling by R2 Studio Architects, photo by Andy Stagg
Peg board is perfect for integrating with shelves and displaying equipment. It can be bought pre-drilled, or you can make it yourself. Plywood works well for its strength, but MDF is also an option.
Potting Shed by Grey Griffiths Architects, Photo by Adam Scott
ESB wood fibre board is a vapour permeable panel product made from 100% wood pulp. No glues are used in its production, further adding to its environmental credentials. Unlike OSB or plywood, it’s breathable and can be plastered, stained, oiled or varnished.
Garden studio by Michael Dillon Architectural Office
Valchromat MDF is a through-colour wood fibre panel product that can be finished with varnish, wax or oil to enhance its appearance. It will give a space instant impact and offers a colourful alternative to plywood.
Etch House by Fraher Findlay, Photo by Adam Scott
Harvested from the bark of the cork oak tree, cork is one of the most sustainable building material available. It has excellent thermal and sound insulating properties and is available in a range of sizes and colours.
Cork interior by Polysmiths, photo by Lorenzo Zandri
Aside from decorative uses, wall panelling can also be practical and protect surfaces from bumps and scrapes. The image above shows low level, oak-faced panelling which creates visual interest and protects the walls from the impact of furniture and other household objects.
Primrose Hill House by Architecture for London - Photo by Christian Brailey
Vertical timber panelling can be used to create an agricultural aesthetic and when paired with open shelving works well in modern rural buildings or converted barn kitchen settings.
Old Barn by Rural Office, photo by The Modern House
Wood and concrete work extremely well together. The image above pairs a polished concrete floor with oak-veneered plywood wall panelling to create a warm, modern interior within a revamped Edwardian house.
Modern panelling in an Edwardian house by Architecture for London – Photo Credit, The Modern House
Wall panelling in a bathroom can soften the utilitarian appearance created by tiling and make the space feel equal to other rooms in the house. It should not be used in wet areas, such as shower enclosures, but works well on other surfaces.
Plywood bathroom panelling by Architecture for London
To add more personality to your bathroom panelling inject some colour. Use a semi-gloss paint, such as a satin wood, so surfaces can be wiped down.
Painted bathroom panelling by O’Sullivan Skoufoglou Architects – Photo by Stale Eriksen
Grooved panelling is a great choice if you want to create hidden doors within a wall as the vertical recesses help disguise the sides of door leaf. Use SOS hinges for the ultimate concealed look.
Grooved panelling with hidden door by Proctor Shaw - Photo by Stale Eriksen
Low level stair panelling can provide a hardwearing finish in heavy traffic areas such as stairs and hallways. In this example, oak wall boards mirror the balustrade design to create a single piece of precision joinery.
Prewett Bizley Architects, oak stair panelling
To create more of an impact, maximise the use of timber. In the example above, oak is used on the walls, stair flights, balustrades and doors for a complete timber experience.
Architecture for London oak stair and wall panelling
In the example above, narrow oak strips frame each panel and conceal the joints behind. The panelling is finished with a clear matt hard wax oil to bring out the natural warmth timber and contrasted with a white ceiling to enhance the natural light drawn into the space from above.
Oak panelling at Alma Grange by Rural Office Architecture - Photo by Whole Picture
Painted timber boards is evocative of the seaside and works well in coastal homes and informal interiors. Softwood tongue and groove boarding is inexpensive and readily available. In a roof space, continue the boards onto the ceiling to unify the space and give a sense of volume.
Shingle House by Nord Architecture, photo by Jack Hobhouse
Painted wall panelling is best formed in an inexpensive material such as MDF or pine.
Finishing the panelling at door height, a common feature in Arts and Crafts interiors, allows the ceiling to return down the wall which gives a room a more intimate feeling.
Lucy Marston Architect, Long Farm - Photo by Jack Hobhouse
Wall panelling can be used as an interior device to articulate furniture. The bedroom image above shows coloured wall panelling that also serves as a headboard, complete with wall lights and switches.
North London House by Architecture for London - Photo by Christian Brailey
About the author: Aron Coates is an architect with over two decades of experience, encompassing projects ranging from the restoration of historic buildings to the design of contemporary homes.
The information provided in this article is intended for general guidance and educational purposes only. At Designs in Detail, we advise you appoint a skilled residential architect to provide specific expert advice for your project.
