WONDERFUL WOOD WALLS
Wood makes a classic choice if you want to create a unique and welcoming element on a wall in your space. Decorative wood paneling is easy to install over existing walls in almost any home. The products on the market today cover a wide range of styles that can give your home serious style and individuality.
As with any interior design, working with wooden wall panels needs a little care and planning to achieve the results this treatment is capable of. Here’s what to think about when putting your design ideas together.
1) Choosing Your Type
Decorative wood panels are available in various styles, making it easy to fit them into any decor theme, from antique to contemporary. However, choosing the right kind of panel is a crucial starting point before taking your design any further. Wood wall treatments are available in three main categories:
– Rustic, natural-looking wood gives a warming, old-style feel to a room, particularly when the panel has a rough-hewn look complete with knots and grains.
– Contemporary, where the wood pattern follows cleaner, straighter lines, often in geometric shapes, to give a bolder and more modern effect.
– 3D panels that use angled shapes and bevels to add depth, making the panels a dramatic focal point of a room.
Of course, there’s plenty of variation and overlap within these three categories, but deciding on the general category is essential to match the story you want to tell.
2) Don’t overdo it
A vital factor of any wood panel design is using a light touch, not overdoing the effect. Installing wood on every wall can quickly make a room feel crowded and gloomy, primarily if darker colors or 3D finishes are used.
Instead, consider installing panels on a single feature wall, supported by plainer painted walls elsewhere, so the panels stand out and show their character. Alternatively, add panels only around your TV or over a fireplace, leaving the rest of the room finished more neutrally.
3) Go Vertical
If you’re aiming for a clean, airy, and modern theme, consider using contemporary panels composed of vertical lines rather than horizontal ones. This gives an on-trend look ready for showing off and adds a sense of spaciousness ideal for smaller spaces.
4) Don’t Forget the Ceiling
There’s no reason wood panels need to be confined to the walls. Using matching wood on the part of the ceiling can give your decor a unified feel. If you integrate the panels with concealed lighting, then you’ll avoid the overall effect from becoming too crowded.
5) Change Up Directions
Lastly, a large wall covered with identical patterns can have an overbearing effect, so try to introduce a little variety. One easy way to do this is to install the panels in different directions so that some lines are vertical and others horizontal. This creates a modern and striking look, mainly if you use more geometric panel designs rather than natural-looking ones.
There’s plenty more to working with wood panels, but following these principles will help put your decor design on the right track. At CHI we can help you with design inspiration and practical advice, so don’t hesitate to contact us to see what we can do to help you!