Knock on Wood: The Joys of Panelling

Wood panelling is one of those design elements that can either complete or absolutely destroy a room. I like it, personally, but I hesitate to make that a blanket statement. I like it, sometimes. Wood panelling usually hangs out with design elements that I do love like track lighting, swag lamps, shag carpet, and house plants, but clever association does not warrant a pass.

I tend to avoid colors and textures on my walls, so if not gallery white, a room's wall color should be solid and uniform with all four walls the same color. Accent walls are completely off limits unless it is a texture or colour/texture combo – like wood panelling. But panelling can look busy, so when overused in a room it tends to make that room look messy, cluttered and small. Additionally, I'm not a fan of mixing wood tones - unless one is being used as an accent or pop color; ie. a white and oak room with a statement side table made of walnut. The problem you run into with wood paneling is it makes the use of any other wood in that room severely challenging - but that usually doesn't stop the inspired if not misguided designer. 

So are we clear about the rules about wood panelling? This if not that but only if that is not this. Right? Right. The main idea to take away is this - if you're going to use wood panelling, use it thoughtfully. Here are five good rules to remember.

1. Use wood panelling sparingly and stick to an accent wall. In this case it's acceptable to have an accent wall because wood paneling satisfies the colour/texture rule above. 

2. Get creative with the design. Slant the rows at a 45º angle, create mirrored patterns, or alternate vertical/horizontal. If you bring in an element as dominant as wood panelling, it should have something to say. 

3. When using all over or on more than one wall, simplify simplify simplify. Basically, you want to streamline the rest of the room to not compete with the panelling. I pause to say the rest of the room should be boring, but tone it down. Limit the amount of art on the walls and objects on surfaces. Everything else in the room should be deliberate and in its place. 

4. Whenever possible, couple wood panelling with bold architectural shapes as this is when the complexity of the panelling works in your favour. If you have a high asymmetrical vaulted ceiling or large angular soffit lights, wood panelling can work to diffuse the severity of those lines and bring the scale of the room back into a human context. 

5. When in doubt, refer to these interiors from the 1970s and 1980s as examples of wood panelling done right.