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

Ohhh! No idea sorry - it’s 19 years old! I bought the place as a new build and it’s one they fitted

Literally came to say this.

Strangely, I know 7 people who're currently doing up their houses.
Variation of 1x new build, 3 xfarmhouses, 1 x town house, 1x renovation and one country house being built from scratch.

All of them are having panelling and that together with seeing it in all the home magazines has put me off doing the same.

Same as the chevron-patterned carpets everyone seems to have.

They all love it , so if you do, go for it.

@buffyreboot drats! I like the look of it.

I think one thing that helps op is not to have it too fine. That can show it up as a wood strip glued on, rather than traditional wood panelling (which you are unlikely to be doing as it is so expensive now). The photo you posted of a staircase with stone flooring is a lovely space, but if you look hard at the walls, it does look like a glued on strip of something. The more of the wall that is genuinely part of the panelling, the better.

It’s like a twist pattern, it’s worn well and great for hiding dirt but I can’t even find a label on the back of it and the builders have gone bust

Depends on your house - I have had it in two halls but one was a victorian and one was 1930s so it was not jarring.

Oh yes and you’re absolutely right, ultimately people should decorate their own homes how they see fit and it’s really no one else’s business.

AND most things can be undone - if OP does it and doesn’t like the result, it’s not the end of the world to get the walls replastered.

For me, very chavvy

I don’t think it’s chavvy, but I live in a new build and have panelled our bedroom so maybe I am 😂 but I like it. However it was too much work in the hallway so I just painted half and half, no dado as I thought that would date quickly and make it harder to redecorate. Just makes it feel more ‘together’.

Yes but if you like it then that's all that matters.

So many people don’t even know the meaing of words they use…

CHAV stands for Council House And Violent; the type of people who typically live in council houses, don’t work, live off benefits, intimidate neighbours and are generally low-intelligence with even lower standards 😂

The idea that a CHAV would spend money on panelling rather than beer and cigarettes is quite frankly ridiculous.

“Chavvy” does not mean “no longer fashionable”

What does it matter what other people think if you like it?

It's your home. If you like it, do it. If you don't, don't.

Are you going to ask permission from internet strangers every time you do something to your home?

sees couch you like "Oh, must get the permission and opinion of internet strangers before buying."

It's your home. None of the internet strangers are going to be living in or visiting your home so if you want to do panelling-do it.

It can look nice. It's super trendy right now, and it may look dated soon-but does it matter if you like it?

I think only if it doesn’t suit the house probably though. Eg my last house had tiny rooms but my current are fairly large and can ‘handle’ a feature like panelling without it overwhelming the room. This is why for many people with smaller homes, if they’re desperate for it then a hallway may be the best bet. Like anything it’s all about balance 🙂

Would you mind sharing your paint colours please? The doors look like my bedroom walls (Ambleside by Little Greene) and your ceiling looks white but your walls are something else... 💐

I'm in a house built 1832 which does have panelling in some areas. However, on the lower ground floor, they literally ripped what was the kitchen out when they left, leaving holes in the wall. I'm now turning this into a kind of cinema room and painting the walls a kind of dark grey / brown. Furniture and lighting will be Roche Bobois - terracotta sofa, amber and brass accessories. I was thinking to make a 'light' panelled effect on the dark walls so they din't look too 'flat.' Obviously it won't be genuine panelling though., just wooden beading Is this a naff idea?

I mean nothing is exactly like it was in the 1830s. We have heating and electricity!

Yes of course it’s all Little Greene. The woodwork is Invisible Green, walls are Slaked Lime Mid and the ceiling is Stock.

Panelling up to halfway is a traditional feature that disguised rising damp in old houses

This for modern houses too. If I see panelling in a house that isn't an original feature I assume it has been used to cover up something horrible like damp or crumbing plaster.

OP one of the best thing about new builds is the smooth walls. If when you get bored of the panelling it will be a horrible mess when you take it off.

New builds can be a bit soulless, but that's usually because they are all bland and painted the same white and beige shade everywhere. Paper or paint the walls, as PP suggested you could just paint the lower half. Put up pictures/art and a rug or runner.

You just need to break up the blandness.

If you are blessed with a wide hall you probably need to get some furniture in it or it will feel like an office foyer. How about bookshelves or a console table?

How big is the space and be used for anything? A friend of mine made an awkward empty hallway space into a reading nook with bookshelves and armchairs and a lamp. Now it looks cosy and intentional.

Thank you! My downstairs is all Slaked Lime but I haven't tried the 'mid'.

Your house and your walls. If you like it do it - ignore the pathetic snobbery from those who are desperately trying to find someone to look down on.

I wouldn’t do it. It’s the kind of thing that will date and people will hate in 10 years and it’s a bit of a nightmare to get rid of. A bit like wood chip wallpaper and artex!

lovely!

It’s only chavvy when people copy with basic billy bits of MDF cut in strips without any mouldings and stick that on the wall of a council house or overly modern room.

It looks nice when it’s done properly with mouldings and with homes with high ceilings etc

It’s like dado rails or painting everything grey - it will date.

I’m so bemused by all the “it will date” comments. Everything dates!

Well, yes, if its MDF and naff, it will. Put in the proper stuff.