Finishing materials made of wood are very popular. They never go out of fashion, practical and attractive. This cladding creates an atmosphere of warmth and comfort in the room.
To decorate surfaces, wood wall panels are actively used today. They are in perfect harmony with other materials and fit into any interior. You can use this finish both in residential and office premises. We will talk about what these materials are and what are their features in our article.
What types of wood wall panels are there?
Panels come in many shapes and sizes. They differ in appearance and material of manufacture. The size of wall panels made of wood depends on the needs of the owner of the premises. It can be both small tiles and huge shields that cover the surface from ceiling to floor.
Panel length varies from 2, 4 to3.7 meters, width from 12.5 to 30 centimeters. The minimum board thickness is 0.8 cm and the maximum thickness is 1.5 cm.
Such products also differ in connection method. The panel can be presented as a separate shield or several rails. In the latter case, each plank has a spike on one side and a groove on the other. With the help of such a connection, the elements are tightly connected to each other, forming a continuous surface.
A wide variety of shapes and colors of cladding allows you to choose a finish for any type of room and purpose.
Advantages of wood panels
Decorative wood panels are considered an excellent material for creating a perfectly even and smooth cladding. They are able to hide minor defects in the bases, which eliminates the need for preliminary leveling and puttying of surfaces.
In addition, wood wall panels have the following advantages:
- Under them you can hide electrical wiring and other utilities.
- Paneling walls not only creates an attractive cladding, but also serves as an excellent soundproofing material.
- Installation of wooden panels is quite simple and easy, which reduces the duration of finishing work.
- Materials are strong and durable.
Panels for interior decoration are characterized by rich colors and a variety of textures. This allows them to create complexdecorative elements that harmonize with any interior.
Scope of decorative wood wall panels
Wood panels are rarely used for finishing all walls in a room. Most often, they decorate separate areas. For example:
- surfaces near doorways;
- window slopes;
- surfaces in large wardrobes;
- sections of the walls behind the head of the bed, hanging TV, near the bar counters;
- pillars, niches, columns;
- surfaces on glazed loggias;
- walls near desktops, etc.
The feature of the panels is that they can be installed on any surface. It can be brick, concrete, plaster, drywall. Finishing with wood wall panels is most often found in country houses from a log house. There, this material looks as organic as possible.
Panels can be positioned both vertically and horizontally. If you want to make your room look different, install the planks diagonally or perpendicular to each other.
To create an interior in a modern English or Provencal style, the cladding is mounted to the middle of the wall. The upper part is decorated with light materials.
Existing types of wood panels
Modern wall panels are made from cedar, alder, oak, spruce and maple. Depending on the production technology, materials are divided into several groups:
- products fromarray;
- MDF materials;
- Fibreboard panels;
- chipboard for walls.
Each variety has its own advantages and disadvantages. The choice of the appropriate option should be based on visual preferences and material capabilities. Consider the characteristics of each option.
Characteristics of solid wood wall panels
Solid wood wall panels are distinguished by sophistication and the ability to fill any interior with luxury. Most often they are used in classic designs. Such a finish looks as presentable as possible and, with proper care, can serve the owners for more than 50 years.
Decorate the array with tinting varnishes, gilded compositions and carvings. It is possible to supplement the panel with metal and mirror elements.
The most valuable varieties are panels made of solid oak, mahogany, cherry and exotic species. However, not everyone can afford such a finish. Its cost starts from 3500 rubles. for m2.
It is not possible to use the array in all rooms. Wood does not tolerate temperature fluctuations, exposure to moisture and steam. For this reason, it is only installed in rooms with a stable and dry climate.
MDF boards and their properties
An excellent alternative to the previous option is chipboard wall panels made of wood. They are much cheaper, but this does not affect their decorative properties.
The basis of this material is MDF board. It is made from small chips and shavings. The raw material is ground and pressed under high temperature.
The finished slab is covered with a decorative film layer that imitates the pattern and structure of wood. In addition, the film can create a matte, specular and glossy effect.
Often, natural veneer is used for decoration purposes. Such products exactly imitate a wood cut. This makes them very attractive to the buyer.
MDF-plates can have absolutely any size, which allows them to be used on various surfaces. The laminating layer reliably protects the chip base from external factors, so that the material has a long service life.
Fibreboard and chipboard wall panels
Fibreboard and chipboard materials are the cheapest varieties of wood products. They are made from waste wood products and do not have a very attractive appearance.
However, veneer and ultra-thin plastic coatings transform the plates beyond recognition. The front side of the products is painted in the color of natural wood, covered with a protective layer. In most cases, fiberboard and chipboard are difficult to distinguish from MDF products. At the same time, they are much cheaper.
Wall panels for interior wood finish are used in all rooms. They decorate skirting boards in the hallway, separate areas in the kitchen space, walls inhall and even ceilings.
Like any wood material, panels do not tolerate moisture and heat well. They can only be cleaned of dust and dirt with a slightly damp sponge.
Interesting interior decorating ideas with panels
Indoor wood wall panels combined with certain colors and materials can create bright and contrasting interiors.
For example, if you are a lover of Scandinavian style, paint the walls in the room in light colors. In addition to white shades, you can use pistachio and blue.
Place dark panels on the walls. It can be small geometric shapes, separate thin strips or a solid lining of any part of the room. The light color will emphasize the texture of the panel, the interior will look nice and modern.
Fans of Scandinavian and nautical decor are advised to use panels in bright colors. In this case, the background should be white or pale blue.
But for Provence-style decoration, it is better to purchase panels in white, gray or light pink. Artificially aged wooden panels will perfectly fit into the interior.
In a trendy loft style design, it is better to use natural wood wall panels. This design implies the natural color and texture of a real array. It is better to refuse decorative coatings. This rule also applies to the classic design. If light colors don't really appeal to you, go for dark panels. The main thing is to see the natural pattern and texture of the wood.
Features of panel selection
Warm, cozy and filled with unusual solutions, the atmosphere is shown by photos of wall panels. The wood itself is very attractive and goes well with other types of finishes. Therefore, by purchasing such a lining, you can be sure of a good result.
But remember that products are afraid of moisture. If you decide to line them with walls in the kitchen or near the bathroom, install a protective glass or plastic transparent panel over the finish. It will significantly extend the life of natural cladding.
Remember also that dark-colored wood visually fills and reduces the space of the room. If you prefer dark panels, add lighting fixtures to the room.
To use the panels as a cladding on the bottom of the wall in the corridor, choose options with a wax finish. Dust and dirt are better erased from them.
The rest of the choice depends only on your preferences of the possibilities.
