Expert Advice: How to Use Wood Paneling to Add Loftiness to a Room

We have often touted the use of paneling to add texture and visual interest to a variety of rooms, both traditional and modern. (See Expert Advice: The Enduring Appeal of Shiplap and Remodeling 101: The Ultimate Wood Paneling Guide with Jersey Ice Cream Co.) Lately we’ve also noticed a preponderance of paneling or cladding employed to create a greater sense of height in a room. Here are some of our favorite applications of paneling used to make a ceiling look taller.

Vertical Paneling on the Walls

Shiplap or other vertical paneling is an easy way to emphasize the height of a room, while still keeping a space clean and uncluttered. If you don’t have the budget for all four walls, create an accent wall by paneling the facade with the greatest height.

Accent Wall with Horizontal Cladding

As seen in the example above, even horizontal paneling, when installed on the tallest wall, can serve to create a dynamic element which emphasizes the height of the space.

Paneled Ceiling

The dynamic texture of paneling need not be limited to the walls. Cladding on ceiling also draws the eye up and creates a sense of dynamism which enlivens a small, or low-ceilinged space.

Creative Beadboard

Typically more narrow than other kinds of paneling, versatile beadboard works in a multitude of spaces, from entire ceilings to small nooks. We especially enjoy beadboard when employed in unexpected ways to create height in cozy rooms.

Formal Wall Paneling

Again, with an emphasis on the vertical, even more formal paneling can add a sense of grandeur and height in a low-ceiling room, particularly when employed as an accent or to break up a wall. But be careful not to get too heavy handed with more ornate paneling, or it can have the opposite effect.

Even more creative ways to use paneling:

• Wood Paneled Baths, 6 Favorites
• A “Modern Victorian” Loft in London by Mark Lewis
• The New Road Residence: A Curated London House from Hostem