Wood wall paneling once adorned homes and cabins throughout the country. Today, building material is making a comeback in modern design, according to KRS Property Management.
Individual boards can be crafted to create a simple chair rail height wainscot. Sheet panels are also available for a more uniform look.
These options can provide a rustic, farmhouse aesthetic for your home. Learn the different types of paneling to find what best suits your space.
Tongue-and-Groove Panels
Tongue-and-groove panels are decor stalwarts that look equally at home in a rustic country cottage or contemporary city loft. This natural wood paneling offers a soft, welcoming texture to any space, and it can be used to create a softer edge or to add more interest to a wall that lacks personality. It works well in both urban and rural settings and can be used as a full-wall or half-wall solution.
Like shiplap, tongue-and-groove panels can be made from a variety of materials and stained or painted to suit any design scheme. However, they are generally more durable than shiplap, as the nails are nailed straight through the planks’ “tongues,” providing a tighter seal and better insulating qualities. Tongue-and-groove panels also have a wider range of thicknesses, allowing for more flexibility when installed.
While shiplap is a good choice for homeowners looking for an easy DIY project, tongue-and-groove paneling requires more precise on-the-job craftsmanship to achieve the right look. It is also more expensive but may stand up better over time and require fewer repairs than shiplap in the long run. Regardless of which thin wood paneling style you choose, working with a reputable carpenter is important for quality results. This will ensure that your new wood walls are a lasting part of your interior, not just a short-lived trend.
Slat Panels
A wood slat wall is a stylish alternative to traditional paneling. Suitable for many styles, it looks stunning in contemporary, minimalist, or ’50s-style homes. You can use it to cover an entire room or just a single accent wall. Slat panels come in a wide range of sizes, finishes, and colors, so you can match them to your existing furniture or accessories.
Slat walls are often used in shops and display fixtures for shopfitting, but they are now popular for home interiors. They can be made of medium-density fiberboard (MDF) or natural wood. Often, these panels have horizontal grooves that can be fitted with brackets for merchandising displays. The slats can also be painted, stained, or left natural to achieve the desired aesthetic.
Another benefit of slat wall paneling is that it conceals unsightly wires and cables. This feature makes them ideal for a mudroom, laundry room, or bathroom. They can also be used to create a more ornate look in an entranceway or staircase.
You can use slat panels to add warmth and character to your home. They can also be used to highlight other wooden elements, such as hardwood flooring and furniture, in your decor scheme. However, it’s important to balance this with the rest of your design, as too much wood can overwhelm a room. When using wood slats, consider the size and spacing of the slats as well as the color and finish.
Beadboard
Beadboard is another traditional wall paneling style that offers a cottage-like feel and adds character to any room. This style of wall wainscoting was first introduced in England four centuries ago, where it served a practical purpose—keeping warmth inside the home and moisture from the outside at bay. It’s still a popular choice for homes with wood paneling because it adds interest to a room while protecting the lower part of the wall from chair bumps and boot scuffs.
The beaded board is available in tongue-and-groove wood planks and primed MDF panels, allowing you to select the best option for your project. If you want to go with a more modern look, consider V-joint or v-groove paneling, which is typically wider than beadboard and features a “V” profile where the planks meet.
You can install beadboard panels by gluing them together or using construction adhesive. If you’re gluing, be sure to use high-quality wood glue that’s suitable for interior walls. Once the glue dries, you can nail the boards into place, making sure that their ridges line up properly. If you’re installing beadboard in a room that has windows or doors that open and shut often, be sure to install backing boards.
You can also create a more modern feel by running the beadboard horizontally rather than vertically, which will create interesting shadows on your walls. To paint beadboard, choose a latex paint designed for high-impact applications that will stand up to occasional scuffing.
Shiplap Panels
Based on the style of exterior home siding, shiplap panels are long strips that overlap horizontally, one strip slightly over the next. They can give a dining room or living area a rustic, farmhouse-style look with crisp lines that add texture and contrast to your home. You can build this decorative wall treatment with molding — like those used to line a fireplace — or buy pre-made boards designed for the task.
Like tongue-and-groove paneling, shiplap is crafted with notches on both edges that fit together and overlap (like steps on a ladder). These L-shaped rabbet cuts allow for “cladding,” which creates a snug, solid, and watertight seal. The notches are smaller than those on tongue-and-groove planks, so you won’t have as much of a gap between board seams, but both methods require a nail straight through the overlap to secure them in place.
Tongue and groove, beadboard, and shiplap are all great wall paneling ideas that offer a variety of design styles and aesthetics for your home. If you have a space to update, try using these wood wall applications to cover cosmetic eyesores or even the entire room. It’s easy to turn a mudroom, laundry room, or bathroom into an elegant space that you won’t mind showing off with these decorative panels. Just don’t use these wall treatments to hide structural damage or other issues, as they won’t hold up to a lot of wear and tear.
Picture Frame Panels
Picture frame panels are a great way to add some texture and architectural character to a wall. They’re often used as wainscoting, lining a staircase, or in foyers. They can also be a simple way to dress up a plain or boring bathroom. Using flat panel wainscoting in your home is an easy way to create a warm and cozy atmosphere, and the vertical lines will draw eyes up and make rooms feel bigger.
For those who love the look of wood paneling but don’t want to commit to a full-room installation, you can try using it as an accent wall. Choose one wall in a room to be the focal point and use paneling or wainscoting on that wall, leaving the rest of the walls painted or wallpapered. This will add a lot of personality to your space and will really stand out from the crowd.
If you’re unsure how to install picture frame panels, plenty of online tutorials will teach you the process. Start by measuring the dimensions of each rectangle and determining what the outside edges are going to be. Write this down so that when you’re ready to trim the molding, you can refer back to those measurements and make sure you have enough pieces cut. You’ll also want to mark each “plus” corner of each rectangle on the wall so you can line up the trim correctly when it comes time to nail it down.
Farmhouse Panels
Unlike tongue-and-groove planks, which can trap moisture and lead to mold and rot, shiplap has an overlapping L-shaped profile that sheds water easily. It’s often painted, though it can be left natural for a more rugged look. It’s one of the most popular wall paneling styles, especially among Modern Farmhouse designers.
Chip and Joanna Gaines made this farmhouse style famous with their love of century-old shiplap they found in old homes, but it’s also a favorite of homemakers looking for ways to add texture, warmth, and charm to their spaces. It’s also a versatile choice for any design aesthetic, from industrial to traditional.
Other farmhouse wall paneling options include board and batten, which feature vertical planks separated by flat chair rails, and wainscoting. This treatment can be done with either painted or natural wood for a clean or rustic feel, and it’s great for adding character to an entryway or dining room.
Repurposed pallet wood or reclaimed barn wood is another option for farmhouse panels, as well as reclaimed wainscoting and trim. It plays up an organic modern or boho aesthetic and can make for a unique accent wall or backsplash, especially if it’s left unfinished or painted in a bold color. Another way to get a reclaimed look is to use prefinished weathered wall boards, such as those available from ChoiceWood. They come in a variety of wood tones, stains, and washes for a customized finish.
