Wall and ceiling panels can transform a room from “whatevs” to “wow” by adding drama with sculpted lines and patterns. With home trends taking slow but sure steps away from the stark and simple looks we’ve seen for years, wall panels hearken back to a more classic design that’s seeing a resurgence.
“People thought they wanted all modern but realized they didn’t necessarily like living with it,” explains interior designer Tanya Burley of Tanya Burley Interiors.
While decorative paneling may be gaining steam, “it’s not a trend, it’s a tradition,” she says.
After all, did we ever really break up with shiplap, the OG of wall paneling? Joanna and Chip Gaines of Fixer Upper fame seldom approach a remodel without it.
Originally, shiplap was a wooden board often used on the walls of sheds, barns, and other rustic buildings as insulation and protection. Grooves cut into the top and bottom, allowed the pieces to snap in place and form a tight seal. Used today as decor, it gives a cozy and classic finish to coastal settings, as pictured below on both walls and ceilings in one of Burley’s client’s homes.
Other, more modern patterns are just as swoon-worthy.
“It really is about personalization. People want to have fun with their environment,” says Amanda Patella, an interior designer with Chic on the Cheap. “They’re looking at bolder choices, itching for a creative outlet and want to be in a space they love more than ever.”
“These are the treatments that make spaces stand out. Having a barrelled ceiling and adding beams and details gives extra ‘frosting’ to the whole room,” says Rebekah Errett-Pikosky, an interior designer with Clive Daniel, who says a recent client was looking for something unique their bedroom stand out.
For those wondering about how wall panels can intermingle with hanging art, it can work. “I think having art over these kinds of walls can give an extra layer of warmth,” Errett-Pikosky says.
Find a carpenter or a good craftsman, since “the corner details are crucial,” says Burley.
All three interior designers agree the price range can be huge. “We’ve done them from $6,000 to $40,000 for one wall,” says Errett-Pikosky.
However, if you’re just doing one wall with shiplap, for example, it’s not cost-prohibitive, says Burley. And newer options have hit the market, like laser-cut 3d panels made of PVC, adds Patella. The lightweight material makes the load-bearing easy on walls and doesn’t require a skilled carpenter to cut and hang.
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