Many home designs are timeless while others make modern homeowners wonder why they ever existed in the first place. Some design trends resurface years after their peak of popularity has long passed.

Despite how cynical the world of home design trends may be, some trends will never go away. Wood wall panels have recently made a comeback, in moderation and with a modern twist.

Taking a step away from the creepy grandma’s basement style, paneling has returned with a classic look. The days of plywood laminate covering the walls are gone. Wood wall paneling is more versatile and adds a natural appeal to your home when used properly.

History

During the 1970s, wood paneling reached its height of popularity, and since then, homeowners have been tearing down or painting these panels to make rooms brighter. In cozy spaces such as dens and studies, however, brown wood paneling has made a comeback. The use of paneling is sparingly as an accent wall or as another feature of the space.

You can stain wood walls in rich mahogany to look upscale or you can weather them to look rustic. The warm wood paneling tone evokes a vintage feel. In contrast to their false counterparts, the paneled walls of today are made from real wood, making them both more environmentally friendly and more fashionable than ever before.

Reclaimed wood and veneer panels have been adapted into architectural components by artists. Several years ago, the New York Flower Store, a chic Chinatown lounge, was one of the first to bring back the “grandma’s basement” look with orange carpeting, kitschy posters, yellow vinyl banquettes, and yes, wood paneling.

Nevertheless, the newest wall covering goes far beyond simply slipping back into the ’90s nostalgia vacuum. Wood paneling makes a sleek and contemporary comeback in a Japanese-inspired London apartment and even in a Swiss chalet-style California home.

Types of Wood Wall Paneling

In keeping with this trend, people looking for ways to spruce up their living spaces and add much-needed insulation can turn to these 7 major types of wood wall paneling.

• Shiplap
• Board and batten
• Plank wall
• Tongue and groove
• Flat panels
• Beadboard
• Raised panel.

Shiplap

Shiplap is all the rage in contemporary home improvement design solutions. The panels of this type have grooves that run horizontally and are positioned tightly together to form a weatherproof seal (shiplap was primarily used for home exteriors).

The term shiplap refers to boards that have L-shaped cuts on either side that allow one board to fit perfectly into another. As a result of this tightness, rainwater did not penetrate shiplap exterior cladding. In practice, however, the term is applied to any indoor paneling using rows of 6 or 8-inch boards. Originally, shiplap was a base layer not meant to be seen. Shiplap’s unmistakable design has progressed a lot since its humble beginnings.

Shiplap might just be the wood wall paneling design for you because it adds clean, crisp lines and a visual texture gradient. The wood wall paneling provides certain insulation and is more durable than drywall, making it a reasonable choice for people looking for a durable yet decorative and rugged look.

They can be hard to clean and maintain due to their characteristic grooves and ridges. For wood wall paneling to last, it is also necessary to make sure that the shiplap is installed correctly to avoid warping over time.

Board and Batten

A board and batten wainscotting is a classic style of wainscotting that uses different types and sizes of plywood boards and moldings to create a chic, textured wood wall paneling look. With the wide vertical boards and the narrow batons fastened over the gaps between the boards, it creates a three-dimensional look in your home.

In addition to their popularity as exterior side panels, board and battens are now popular inside the home as a wood wall panel style. Board and batten paneling may look rustic or modern depending on how rough or fine the finish on the wood is. Any room will look more sophisticated with this feature.

One-to-ten boards and one-to-three boards are the most common configurations. One can also use one or two boards of 8 or 12 as well as one or four boards. The battens on all sides of the boards should be at least 3/4 inch thick and free of open knots to seal out moisture.

Cedar is a good lumber choice because it is soft; a wood that is harder, such as pressure-treated pine, will not seal as well, will crack more easily, and will not last as long. With proper maintenance, board and batten style wood wall paneling can last for decades. When set properly and treated correctly, this peace is relatively low maintenance.

The relative higher cost of this wall treatment can be a downside. It depends on whether the paneling is made of real wood or vinyl. It is possible to make vinyl look like wood.

Plank Wall

Any living area can benefit from the rustic effect of a wood plank wall. You can easily create an aesthetically pleasing, texture-rich space using distressed wood planks, reclaimed wood, or even wood that looks vintage. The versatility of this type of wood wall paneling allows for any design, effect, pattern, or style to be created.

The concept of plank walls makes it easy to customize the wall treatment down to every last detail by installing the planks vertically, diagonally, or horizontally, in a completely unique pattern, with different types of planks with varying dimensions and finishes. Regardless of your home’s style, wood wall paneling looks great.

The most challenging aspect of setting up a plank wall is preparing the planks and calibrating the configurations to ensure proper design manifestation. To make things easier, you can purchase pre-prepared wood planks that are already dyed and cut to size.

Plank walls cost varies according to the materials used, the area covered, and the level of detailing required. It is possible to reduce the cost by using salvaged wood or preparing your own planks from wood sheets. Aside from being a cheaper alternative to solid wood, MDF also offers a better finish.

Tongue and Groove

When it comes to decorating interior accents or constructing porch walls, tongue and groove paneling has been the ideal choice. These beautiful wood wall panels add instant depth, character, and appeal to any room they are installed in.

With tongue and groove wall boards, you can achieve an easily elegant, well-milled look on any wall or ceiling. Every plank is standardized and can be spaced perfectly. There is no need to butt or hack boards of varying sizes to piece them together like a jigsaw puzzle. Using tongue and groove panels ensures a flawless installation.

Almost any type of architecture can be complemented by tongue and groove wall paneling. Natural wood paneling looks great in traditional homes as well as contemporary spaces. You can choose from four outstanding colors for wood paneling. A smooth, satiny finish resists UV rays, mold, and fading. Installation is simple.

Flat Paneling

Flat panels have been popular since the 19th century. As opposed to raised panels, the simple look is more formal. There is something elegant and warm about the lines in this type of wood wall paneling, which will tie any space together.

Flat wood panels enhance any room with their texture.

Beadboard

The narrow wooden stiles that constitute this victorian era wainscoting interlock with one another to provide a classy appearance. A beadboard wall mounted on the lower one-third of a wall lends romance to special spaces such as bathrooms and bedrooms meant for “me time”. In a room’s design, wood wall panels match with any material.

You can add the beadboard paneling to the whole wall or just part of it, depending on the look that you want. It is common for the grooves (the flat portion of the panel) to be 1.5 inches or 3 inches apart. However, a custom width can be made.

A tongue-in-groove beadboard or a sheet beadboard are two different arrangements. The more exhaustive method was traditionally used by artisans to align each stile with its neighbor between the horizontal panels Now ready-made arrangements are available in the form of sheets that are nailed or adhered using construction adhesive.

Using beadboard requires one to be aware of the method of cleaning. Since the panels have grooves, they may be more prone to collecting dust. A beadboard’s price can vary depending on the wood’s condition and the amount needed for the project. MDF (medium density fiberboard) costs more than real wood.

Raised Panels

These panels, which were popularized in the 17th century and in Queen Anne style houses, are still in style today. Raised wood wall panels have 3-dimensional frames made of wooden beveled panels lifted over horizontal and vertical supports. The six components of this panel-style are the cap molding, the cove mounting, the style, the raised panel, and the lower track.

It is traditional in appearance and attractive in its appearance. I particularly like the beveled panels. A colonial house’s interior design can also be evoked. For formal dining rooms or living rooms where a buttoned-up look is desired, this treatment is suitable for wainscoting that occupies the lower third of the wall.

Conclusion

However, some wall panels do not match the current style profiles prevalent in the world of interior design. It is possible to make a look from the past look brand new and chic, even if it is a look from the past.

It adds character and texture to a room, gives a lasting impression, and provides a strong lasting impression. With your home’s architecture, you can be creative!

As well as being decorative, wall panels provide insulation and soundproofing, as well as uniform appearance and some degree of durability or easy replacement.

Walls were decorated with wood paneling for a long time. With many modern improvements, wood paneling today is a throwback to the solid wood paneling of the 1960s and 1970s. Wood panels look fantastic when used properly because they have a long history.