Pimp My Paneling: Attractive Uses of Wood Paneling

Image: Remodelista

A friend of mine is living next door to a house that’s undergoing renovation for resale—a typical Austin house flip job. She’s now become the happy recipient of what she describes as “1970s wood paneling” that was removed from the house and discarded. She asked what might be some good uses for her new treasure, and I’ve been doing a bit of research on the subject. Here are some of my thoughts on attractive use (or re-use) of wood paneling.

Ceiling Detail

Image: Airows

While this entire bathroom is wrapped in gorgeous wood, what’s caught my eye is the ceiling. Adding sheets of wood paneling to the ceiling in a small space like this really transforms it into something special.

Contemporary Wainscoting

Image: Design-Vox

Sometimes, a little paneling will go a long way—and such is the case in this sleek, contemporary bedroom. Paring down and up-cycling old paneling in this manner is a smart and eye-catching solution for a bedroom makeover.

Slatted Room Dividers

Image: Architects Corner

Ripping paneling into individual slats like this – assuming the wood is sturdy enough to survive the process – and creating a room divider or a wall accent is a fun and unique way to employ reused or new wood paneling.

Create a Feature Wall

Using newfound wood or old paneling to create this kind of feature wall can bring real character into your space. This is a simple, woodsy vibe that can help to ground your home.

Have you ever re-purposed old wood paneling? Share with us what you did with it!