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, low level, or anywhere 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, improve thermal or acoustic insulation, and cover surface imperfections.
From modern to traditional, these wall panelling ideas will inspire homes of all eras and suit any budget.
If you're looking for more than just inspiration, see our detailed guides below which covers wall panelling costs, installation and finishes.
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Wall Panelling - An Architect's Guide
An Architect's Guide to Using Plywood in Your Home
A favourite with architects for many years, birch plywood is a highly versatile material well-suited to wall panelling. Available in various grades, it's best finished with clear or white-tinted hardwax oil or varnish to enhance 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 equally strong and rigid. The facing veneer has a characterful appearance, featuring visible grain and knots. It can be varnished, stained, or painted.
Spruce plywood panelled interior 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 usually kept at a low level. The size of the individual panels was commensurate with the scale of the room and kept very simple. Oak panelling was either waxed or varnished, while pine was always painted. Georgian panelling can look out of place in later architectural eras, such as Victorian homes.
Restored Georgian interior by Paul West and Michelle Bower of @consideredthings.
Staining wall panelling in dark colours can create different atmospheres – a technique used by the great Arts and Crafts architect Charles Rennie Mackintosh. In the example below, black-stained pine boards are used to complement dark cork walls and emphasise the raw finish of the joinery.
Black stained pine boards by Matthew Barnett Howland. Photo by David Grandorge.
Grooved panelling can be formed in any type of timber and painted, stained or varnished. The white panelling example below creates visual interest through texture and shadows, elevating a restrained pallet of materials.
Interior by R2 Studio Architects. Photo by Andy Stagg.
For timber with more personality, consider Douglas fir. A highly durable softwood, it features a pinkish to red colouration and a camouflage-like grain pattern.
Douglas fir panelled interior by IF_DO. Photo by Charles Hosea.
Painted MDF is the most economical method of wall panelling. Use a semi gloss paint, such as satinwood, for durability and easy cleaning. The example below has been grooved to create the impression of traditional butt and bead panelling.
Painted MDF panelling. Photo by The Modern House.
Arts and Crafts panelling was often installed at door level height, forming a datum line for contrasting finishes around the room. Primarily used in principal rooms, it was usually simply detailed and either painted or stained.
Standen House by Philip Webb. Photo by Rob Tomlinson.
Fluted and reeded panels are manufactured from plywood and MDF and can be veneered with various types of wood, varnished, or simply painted. Ready made panels are available online, or they can be custom made in a CNC workshop.
White fluted panelling by R2 Studio Architects. Photo by Andy Stagg.
Pegboard is perfect for integrating with shelves and displaying equipment. It can be purchased pre-drilled, or you can make it yourself. Plywood is a good option, but MDF is also suitable.
Birch ply peg board and flat panelling 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, which further enhances its environmental credentials. It can be plastered, stained, oiled, or varnished.
ESB panelling in a 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 provides instant impact and offers a colourful alternative to plywood.
Black and yellow valchromat storage door fronts and panelling at 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 materials available. It has excellent thermal and sound insulating properties and comes 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, protecting surfaces from bumps and scrapes. The image below shows low level, oak faced panelling, which creates visual interest and protects the walls from the impact of furniture and other household objects.
Low level oak panelling 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 below 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 by The Modern House.
Wall panelling in a bathroom can soften the utilitarian appearance created by tiling and make the space feel more like 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. Photo by Christian Brailey.
To add more personality to your bathroom panelling, inject some colour. Use a semi-gloss paint, such as satinwood, so surfaces can be easily 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 edges of the 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 hard-wearing finish in high-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.
Oak stair panelling by Prewett Bizley Architects. Photo by Andrew Meredith.
To create more impact, maximise the use of timber. In the example below, oak is used on the walls, stair flights, balustrades, and doors for a complete timber experience.
Oak stair and wall panelling by Architecture for London. Photo by Christian Brailey.
In the example below, 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 of the timber, 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 are evocative of the seaside and work 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.
Tongue and groove wall and ceiling boards at Shingle House by Nord Architecture. Photo by Jack Hobhouse.
Painted wall panelling is best formed from inexpensive materials 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, giving the room a more intimate feeling.
Interior by architect, Lucy Marston. Photo by Jack Hobhouse.
Wall panelling can be used as a design device to articulate furniture. The bedroom image below shows coloured wall panelling that also serves as a headboard, complete with wall lights and switches.
Panelled headboard by Architecture for London. Photo by Christian Brailey.
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.
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.
