I’ll admit that when I first encountered wood panelling on the walls of my home, I wasn’t exactly thrilled. It was a throwback to a different era and seemed a bit outdated. However, with some research and some vision, I’ve come to appreciate how much warmth and texture wood paneling can add to a space—and it’s not as difficult to apply as you might think! In this post, we’ll cover everything you need to know about applying wood paneling yourself.
It starts with design.
The first thing you should do is figure out what kind of wood panelling will work best for your space.
- Design the panels to fit the space: If you have a large room with high ceilings, consider using vertical panels rather than horizontal ones to increase the amount of wall surface covered.
- Design the panels to fit the room: If you have a small bedroom, consider using smaller vertical panels or even just one long panel across the top of your wall so that it doesn’t overpower the size of your room.
- Design the panels to fit furniture: You can build custom-sized cabinets for your entertainment system or other large components by making a curved piece at an angle out from one corner of each side into which they’ll slide perfectly! Use leftover pieces from this project as an end table or nightstand in another room! Or simply build one big table that covers all four corners at once! The options are endless for customizing wood panelling this way.”
Chose your wood.
Once you’ve decided on the style of panelling you want, it’s time to figure out what kind of wood you’ll use. This can be a tricky decision because there are so many different types of wood and each one has its own unique characteristics.
You should consider using reclaimed wood if possible—the term “reclaimed” refers to old pieces of lumber that have been recycled into new objects, like flooring or wall panels. Reclaimed wood is usually available at salvage yards or architectural salvage stores and comes in an array of colors and textures depending on how long ago the tree was cut down. If you don’t want to go out searching for your own salvaged lumber, consider looking for reclaimed panels made from local trees instead; this option can sometimes be found at home improvement stores (for example: Lowe’s).
Make sure the wood is ready to use.
To ensure that you’re working with the best wood, it’s necessary to check and make sure your lumber is dry, free of knots and blemishes and free of chemicals. Be sure to inspect your wood carefully. If you find any stains or other discolorations on your boards, sand them off using a power sander or hand plane before proceeding with your project.
When it comes time to paint or stain the paneling, keep in mind that not all stains are created equal; some will give you better results than others depending on what type of stain you’re applying (e.g., water-based vs oil-based). To get an even coat throughout each piece of wood in your project (and avoid drips), try using an electric sander—it makes finishing much easier.
Set up straight lines to make it look good.
To make sure that your panels are straight, you can use a spirit level, straight edge or pencil to mark the wood. You can also use a jigsaw to cut the pieces of wood and then fit them together like puzzle pieces. If you are working with different types of woods, it is important to make sure that they match up well with one another by sanding down the edges before gluing them together.
It needs a sturdy base.
The first thing you need to do is ensure that your base is sturdy enough to support the weight of the paneling. There are two main options:
- Using a wooden frame which supports the panels, like a window frame. This isn’t usually strong enough on its own and will need extra support, especially if you plan on using thicker wood than normal.
- Using metal brackets or brackets made from wood and screws in walls or ceilings – these are more sturdy than frames but may require drilling into them if they’re not already pre-drilled with holes for easy installation.
Put the panels on in a pattern.
The second step is to put the panels on in a pattern. Make sure that the pattern you choose is pleasing to the eye and doesn’t repeat itself too often, but also don’t just stick with one pattern throughout the whole room, as this will make it look very boring.
Make sure that all of your pieces are cut correctly and are of an equal size so that they fit well together, but don’t make them too small or large either as this can ruin their appearance (and make them more difficult to handle).
Do the edges and corners last.
If you are looking to do a professional job, it is worth getting the router out and making the edges and corners of your panels look good.
Your router has a guide that should be used for this, as well as an edge guide and a round over bit (router) of your choice. You can also use other bits for this but make sure that they are suitable for what you are trying to achieve.
Place the panel on top of some old newspaper or something similar so that any wood shavings will fall away from where they shouldn’t be. Then start routing by following the lines around each edge and corner – it’s easy.
Wood panelling adds warmth and texture to a home, but it isn’t difficult to apply
Wood panelling is a great way to add warmth and texture to a room, but it isn’t difficult to install. Before you begin, make sure you have the right wood ready to use. You will also need brackets, screws and paneling nails or staples.
The first step is measuring the wall where you want your wood panelling to go so that you know how much space there is between each strip of wood. Then decide how wide each piece of your chosen material should be — usually anywhere from one inch (2.5 centimeters) up to four inches (10 centimeters). If possible choose boards with knots in them as these will help add character when they are finished looking old-fashioned.
Conclusion
So, there you have it. Wood panelling can be done by a novice DIYer with the right tools and materials. It’s about having the proper plan, design and motivation to get it done. You don’t need fancy carpentry skills or loads of experience. Just follow our steps and you’ll create a wood panelled wall that will make your home look elegant and luxurious for years to come.
