Is panelling nice or just “Chavvy”?

[Diy322]

Just read a post online where someone said panelling is “chavvy”! I’m a little upset as I was planning to panel my hallway.

It’s a new build but I just feel the hallway needs something. Hallway is quite large. What do others think? Please be honest

I like metro tiles too but I think they've been "out" for quite a while.

I think as with most things, how well you do the panelling is key here. And getting the scale right for the room. I think if your hallway is like the first picture, some large pictures and light fixtures will fill the space better.

@Diy322 we have a similar hall. We have three different paint colours and a feature wall paper running up the stairs. I love it and it's made the hall a real feature of the house. It sounds really garish written down, but the feature paper is the same base colour as the most prominent colour and then the other two colours are taken from the paper so it ties in.

I was so nervous to do it. Saw it in a hotel and fell in love with it.

If you do something with paint, worst case and you hate it, you can just go over it.

I personally think it looks out of place in very modern houses and when done on just one wall. I also think the fact that so many people have it will really date it as a trend.

I’d go for a really nice wallpaper, good quality stair carpet, nice runner rug and maybe a console table with a lovely lamp on it and a mirror. Depends on your taste but I like a bold pattern in a hall.

I live in a new build and I do like the look of panelling but I knew as soon as Id do it, it’ll be out of fashion and be like the crushed velvet vibe eventually.

Instead I invested in a beautiful Italian wallpaper in the hall, up the stairs and on the landing and it looks really good.

I've painted my new build hall with a rich Farrow and Ball matte paint, put in a console table and a colourful rug. It looks lovely and is easily changed.

I think it looks naff when it's obviously fake or badly done. But otherwise, go for it if you like it. Use a good quality paint and don't go mad with the colour.
But if you are just looking for ways to add interest, a sideboard/chest of drawers or console table with a mirror above will be more useful, and help the space to feel less empty and more purposeful. You could also add a wall of artworks or photos.
Think of how the space will be used by you, then plan how to make that look good. (Do you need a coat stand or hooks, somewhere for boots, school bags, trainers? Plan for that storage, make it look designed in so you don't end up with a pile of shoes in the corner.)

I like it.

This! Who cares what anyone else thinks, it’s your house, decorate it your way. I have 1980s black wooden furniture in my dining room and I don’t give a fuck what anyone thinks!

And fwiw I don’t think panelling is chavvy. But then again, what do I know about taste, I like 1980s black furniture 😂

I've only just caught up with the idea that it's a thing, which means it's probably already out of fashion.

But this doesn't matter.

I like it!

And I have fantastic taste. 😊

@Diy322 Mumsnet is not a great place to come for interior design feedback. It does not generally reflect the majority of the country’s tastes. Would love to know the percentage of period properties in the UK with the original wood panelling some posted have asserted is the only acceptable style…meanwhile, in the real world, lots of (decidedly ‘unchavvy’) people are decorating in the style you’ve posted and it looks lovely. You choose what you like and ignore what anyone else says.

If you like it, do it. Alternatively, as you said it's a wide hall, a console table with mirror or lovely painting above, maybe 2 lamps (1 either side) might look nice?

@Christmaschildcare have you heard of a word called 'opinions...?'

Google it. Most interesting thing is that many people have different ones.

HTH.

Well, yes, that looks lovely because the space itself is fabulous, with awesome lighting and exceptional quality flooring etc. A bit of panelling in a more average space won't have quite the same impact.

No panelling, but our house is about 12 years old, so relatively newish - it was beige everywhere before which I hated and now it’s completely different! Hope the pics attach properly.

@Christmaschildcare

Also, the OP ASKED for opinions. Did she say people should only say 'yes MDF panelling in modern houses looks wonderful darling?!'

NO, she didn't, so stop having a pop at people who don't like modern panelling, and implying they are WRONG, just because YOU like it....

An elegant chandelier, if you have the headroom.

There's a beautiful Grade II listed Queen Anne house not too far from me for sale, it needs doing up but has all the original window shutters and wood panelling, it's gorgeous, but panelling in a newer house? Not too sure to be honest...

I once viewed a Victorian property with old oak panelling and it looked amazing, but I think it would be out of place in a new build. A nice dado rail with paint underneath and wallpaper on top might be more appropriate.

@VioletandMauve

Lovely transformation!

I love what you've done - from bland to grand!

Install a stair runner, install fancy lighting and a rug. Panelling shouldn’t be expensive. You can do it yourself.

Yeah don’t do it in a new build, that’s definitely chavvy. My house is old and still has some original Victorian tongue and groove panelling which is gorgeous. So we’ve leaned into it and added it in a couple of other rooms. But it suits the old quirky house. I wouldn’t do it in a house newer than 1950’s. But that’s just my opinion, do what makes you happy

It’s your house - do what you like. Unless you are thinking of trying to sell soon just decorate how you like. I could not give one jot if my decor was on trend or chavy or whatever. My house has colour and furniture that I like. I’m sure lots of people would criticise it but it’s my house. I absolutely hate houses with grey window frames and s big grey front door. That seems to be very popular round here but it’s not my house.

I wonder if people discussed this in the olden days. Like if Victorian stately home owners called their neighbours chavs because their mock Tudor panelling looks dated (tongue in cheek,
obvs). Most interior design trends are taken from different time periods, even the victorians would have been influenced by the Tudors and so on and so on, even much of our old housing stock will have influences from earlier times, just because it’s old doesn’t mean it’s entirely uniquely original.

Just because someone lives in a new build doesn’t mean they’re not allowed to decorate or taken design inspiration from wherever they want. Damned if you do, damned if you don’t.

I’ve seen posts on here many times saying they’re chavvy. Basically on mumsnet, anything that’s been popular for over 5 minutes is deemed chavvy.