WHY PANELLING

Many of the rooms that we design include panelling. It has aesthetic as well as practical benefits. Often, you might think of panelling in the library of a grand country house, but it has more informal uses, too. Historically, from Georgian times onwards, the working areas of houses would often have wainscotting – a simple form of tongue-and-groove panelling – to protect the walls and, today, the same approach can be used in boot rooms and laundry rooms. Panelling can also be a useful way of straightening up wonky walls or hiding essential services such as pipes and cables.

Panelling is a useful way of introducing warmth and character to a room – there is something cosy about being surrounded by wood. Panel mouldings are used to create shadow and catch the light, adding a definition that is particularly important when you opt for painted panels.

In a contemporary environment, panelling is an excellent way of framing large, flat surfaces. Post-war panelling, for example, was typically slightly flatter and less ornate than previous styles, and relied more heavily on the grain in the wood as a decorative detail.

Think about art before you plan the panelling in a room. Whether it is the case that large pieces are likely to straddle panels or if it is worth creating a panel to frame a piece of art, it is important to start knowing what is going to hang where and work backwards.