When you consider implementing wood wall paneling in your interior, you may be worried that this is an outdated design. We want you to know that it’s not: paneling has again become trendy but has changed to be more modern. Dark, laminate-covered sheets are no more used. If you manage to choose suitable wood panels, you will add a stylish flavor to your house.
Wooden wall panel decor may be a certain element that shows your guests your sense of style in design, so your visitors will be impressed. This can be an important feature especially when your work is somehow connected with architecture and design, so your house can be living proof that you are a high-quality professional.
Wall paneling will be a great choice for your interior to look elegant as well as providing enough insulation. It keeps warmth well when it’s freezing outside, while during hot summer weather wood provides some coolness in the room. If you are willing to implement wall panels in your interior, you should think of seven main options in types of wood panels available for this:
- Shiplap
- Board and Batten
- Plank wall
- Tongue and groove
- Flat panels
- Beadboard
- Raised panels
It doesn’t matter which kind of wood wall paneling you will choose, but you should always remember about the look you want to create, modern colors and patterns, and you will manage to create a wonderful interior where you will be able to enjoy a lot of life moments. It is often mentioned that the house, its look, and its condition is the reflection of the homeowner’s character and mental health.
Below you will be able to learn more about every option, so this review will give you a helping hand in the process of your home design. Every type has its unique style and can be used in different rooms, styles and conditions.
Shiplap

If you enjoy following contemporary trends in architecture and design, you are already aware of shiplap’s popularity. The mentioned style comprises placing horizontally running grooved boards stiffly to each other to create a weatherproof seal (we should not that shiplap is often used to cover the house exterior. The point where the boards stick to each other is named a “rabbet”. This particular rabbet happens to be a special feature that distinguishes shiplap from any other type of wood wall paneling.
It’s a wonderful thing to mention is that shiplap often happens to be a basic layer that should not be noticed. Sometimes a decorative wooden wall panel becomes a place to realize your creative skills. For instance, you are a good painter. If a wall panel doesn’t attract a lot of attention, your works of art on it will be noticeable. Another option is that you are a bit of an interior designer, so the right choice of color can totally change the room and its spirit.
Shiplap is an interesting interior feature you should consider when you plan your house. It gives us a lot of visual interest because of its long and clean lines. This wall paneling option is more endurable than the other one, mere drywall. If you want to have beautiful walls, which won’t be ruined for a long time, shiplap will be an ideal choice for you. Shiplap is also rather strong against some physical activities such as an earthquake or hits of a strong person or whimsical children.
Nevertheless, the drawback of shiplap is that its grooves make it difficult to clean it and keep it out of dirt. You will have to work more and for more time to keep it clean. Remember that if you want to cover all the walls with shiplap. Moreover, you should be careful while installing the panels to prevent them from rotting and ruining. Decorative wall panel wood should be taken care of accurately to make the years of its service long.
Board And Batten

If you install this kind of wall panel, you will be able to enjoy a wonderful three-dimensional texture of your walls. Board and Batten, as the previously described Shiplap, firstly was used for the exterior siding, and only then came to our interiors. However, we should mention that this happened a lot of time ago, so shiplap and board and batten are typical for using them in interior design.
When we use the term “batten”, we speak of the molding piece which is usually put onto the joint between the boards. Any room with this paneling will look more sophisticated. Like with any other type of wood wall paneling, you can choose any color you like or enjoy the usual white tone. Decorative wood wall panels are beautiful themselves, so sometimes they don’t need bright colors and can be matched with other elements of design and décor. But, if you want to, you can make the wood panels a particular element of the design if you choose an unusual or contrasting color.
If you manage to maintain your wall panels carefully, they will stand for decades and won’t be destroyed. It doesn’t need a lot of care; so many users enjoy this type of panel and don’t even think of other available options.
However, you should remember that this particular type of wall panel is rather expensive because there are requires a huge amount of material and precise work.
Of course, the price can depend on the material. The most common options for this paneling to be made of are wood and vinyl. The latter one is cheaper and can even look like wood. The cost varies between $0.75 and $9 per square foot of material. Real wood paneling for walls often cost more for every type of wall paneling because the material is more endurable and looks more elegant and stylish. However, if you can’t afford real wood panels, you shouldn’t be sad since there have been a lot of materials that can imitate wood in a way that an ordinary person can’t tell the difference according to its look.
Plank Wall

When you use wooden planks, you can organize an elegant and gaudy space. You can choose planks made of wood, new wood, or wood that has been reworked to look more vintage. Technology to cut wood slices with a chainsaw is very simple. You can play with the pattern you put the planks into horizontal, vertical, diagonal, or herringbone. another good point is that planks are offered in a wide range of sizes.
The type of the used wood, finish, and color, and the pattern used when laying it out will seriously affect the whole spirit of the room. We also should mention that this type of wood panel is very good-looking in any style of interior. This happens because planks don’t usually acquire many decorative elements that are common to any particular style. Moreover, the color of planks can also be chosen from a wide range, so any interior can get some planks that fit in well.
The total cost of such wood paneling will be determined by the type of used wood and the square you need to fill in. Such things as MDF planks or purchasing whole sheets of wood and cutting them yourself will save some part of your repair works budget.
It isn’t so important which material decorative wood wall panels for interiors are made of for the whole look and spirit of the room since some cheap materials can be designed and laid out in a way that they will look better than the wood which is rotten or old-fashioned. It means that even if you don’t have much money, you can create a stylish and enjoyable interior where you will spend much of your spare time in good feelings.
Tongue And Groove

This type of wood wall paneling looks similar to shiplap, but the panels connect in the other way. While shiplap has rabbet joints, this type of connection means that panels fit with each other tightly without any additional elements.
This type of connection has a history of being used in woodworking and will be a perfect way to keep wood panels stiffly together. They look rather neat and clean. A good feature of this type of wall paneling is that it is easily cleaned. However, such a precise type of connection of these wood panels may require more time for installation, and the process could be rather long. Wooden decorative wall panels of this type if maintained carefully will serve their homeowners for decades and will not be rotten or destroyed for a long time.
The cost of Tongue and Groove varies between $2.00 and $3.00 per square foot.
Flat Panels

Flat panels are famous for their clean lines and high-quality polished look. This style of wood paneling took its beginning in the 19th century and has been becoming more and more popular through the decades. This type of paneling is simpler than the look of raised panels. If you use flat paneling, you will add some stylish flavor as well as simplicity to your interior.
What is available for any type of wood paneling, you can choose the height you need. The most common options are the whole wall, three-quarters of the way up the wall, or chair-rail height (twenty-eight to thirty-two inches). The texture of these panels usually fits well with pieces of furniture and design elements in the room.
Flat panels can also look like traditional wall panels and create a classic interior, other designs of flat panels can look more contemporary and sharp.
Beadboard

This type of decorative wood paneling comprises accurately spaced grooves along with the panels. The described kind of wall paneling can have different heights and cover the whole wall or its part. The usual width between the nearer grooves can be 1.5 or 3 inches. If you want to, you can choose your size.
There exist two kinds of beadboard: tongue-in-groove and sheets. The first one needs a lot of time and effort to be installed because you have to lay each board on your own. Sheet beadboards are offered in four- or eight-foot sizes. The boards are also convenient since they can be painted in any color according to your wishes.
If you use beadboard paneling, you will give your space a traditional and elegant look. It can be mixed with any design elements in a room. But we have to mention that you should be careful with its cleaning since it has grooves which are likely to collect some dust and dirt.
The money you will pay for beadboard paneling depends on the wood and its quality and the amount you need to use in order to decorate the chosen area. For real wood, the usual price is about $1 per square foot, while MDF is between $.50 and $.75 per square foot.
Raised Panels

Raised panels have been widely known since royal families used them very often a couple of centuries ago. The look comprises three-dimensional parts: its beveled panels are raised over closely put vertical and horizontal rails.
Read Also: What wood to use for framing a basement?
The use of this kind of wood wall paneling creates a gorgeous classic look. The most important thing is that the panels happen to be beveled, which attracts a lot of attention. With the use of raised panels, you can add to your space some flavor of houses built and designed in the colonial era.
These panels are the most expensive option compared to all listed above.
How To Lay Out Wood Paneling On A Wall

You can ease your work if you stain or paint the chosen panels before laying them onto a wall. When they are dry, you can easily touch any of their parts.
We also would like to mention that there are several options for how you can stick your wood panels to a wall, which is usually determined by the weight of the fabric. Wood panels can be nailed or glued by caulk or a special wood glue.
The Available Height Of Wood Wall Paneling

It is not a difficult question – only you decide which height your panels will have. All wall paneling types can be adapted to the size you need and wish to get. It depends on the style you wish to implement, and it depends on the chosen height. The best advice we can give is not to forget about proportions.
If you don’t know the exact height you need, you can choose from standard options, which happen to be the whole wall or one- or two-thirds of the total height.
Wall Paneling Is Not Outdated
Wall paneling itself happens to be a rather contemporary method, but you should remember that some types, colors, and patterns are out of style. For instance, if you have dark plywood panels in your house, you can make them more modern by sanding or changing the color to a lighter one.
Contemporary wood wall paneling works only for the best, making the design fresh, stylish, elegant and gaudy.
FAQ
What are the Advantages of Wood Paneling for Walls?
Wood paneling offers a timeless appeal, flexibility, and a refined, classic decoration choice for enhancing your home’s interior. It brings warmth, personality, and protection to your space, fostering a comfortable and elegant atmosphere.
How Can I Give Wood Paneling a Contemporary Update in My Living Room?
To give wood paneling a contemporary update, consider painting it in bold shades such as deep blue, purple, or black for a refined appearance. Alternatively, bright colors like yellow, amber, or green can rejuvenate your walls with a modern flair.
What are Some Innovative Uses of Wood Paneling in Interior Design?
Wood paneling can be innovatively used to construct concealed storage, craft decorative dividers, or even extend the paneling from the floor to the ceiling for an impactful visual statement. These creative uses enhance space utilization while adding sophistication and warmth to your residence.
Can Wood Paneling Serve as a Room Divider?
Indeed, wood paneling can function as an elegant divider, establishing distinct zones for various activities within a space. It maintains openness while delineating separate areas without completely isolating them.
Is Wood Paneling Appropriate for Various Rooms in a Home?
Certainly. Wood paneling is versatile enough for use in different rooms, from living spaces to bedrooms, offering a classic and refined aesthetic along with practical advantages like durability and ease of maintenance.
In Closing

This review of available types of wood panels will be helpful for an ordinary customer as well as a professional designer who is in their first steps in architecture and design or has never implemented wood panels in their work.
It is not so important which types of wood walls you will choose, the main things you should pay attention to is color, pattern, size, and design.
We hope that due to this review, you will be able to make the right choice when planning your interior, and the used wood paneling will help you to enjoy the place you live in.
VIDEO THAT WILL HELP YOU!
Read Also: What celebrity homes can you see in la – Ultimate Guide