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Home decoration
Original poster

Panelling - nice or fad?

38 replies

Spottybotty20 · 20/02/2022 11:47

It’s all over my Instagram at the minute and I really like the effect.

I’m thinking of doing it 3/4 height in my bedroom and painting a dusky blush colour with an off white above which works as my room has a few different level ceilings (due to a bay window) so easier to do all ceilings and top 1/4 of room white.

My house is Victorian so I don’t think it would look out of place but is it just a fad that I will be ripping out in a year or so?

OP posts:
Chewbecca · 20/02/2022 11:48

Fad

Chestofdraws · 20/02/2022 11:50

I think in a period property that would have had panelling then it’s fine. Anything else it’s a little silly. The fact your home is victorian isn’t really the only factor, is it the sort of home thay was once grand enough and would have had panelling, then if so go for it. If it’s a Victoria terrace not so much.

BeyondMyWits · 20/02/2022 11:52

Fad. Have looked at a few houses with it, and to be honest the first thought is "what is it hiding?", not "oh that looks stylish"

Gloomandglow · 20/02/2022 11:53

I think it's a fad that will be quite a dated trend in a few years. Plasterers will be rubbing their hands together with glee with all of the extra pennies they will earn repairing the damage caused by removing all those mdf strips stuck on with no nails.

That said, if you like it then go for it. I do like it as a look but it is definitely this decade's bold colour feature wall/ wallpaper feature wall and it seems to be everywhere at the moment which puts me off somewhat!

Helpthishouseworkhater · 20/02/2022 11:54

Only on a property from the correct period - panelling on a new build is a hard no

myyellowcar · 20/02/2022 11:55

I do think if done well it can look great but I’d say it’s mostly fad and a lot of the time it’ll mean the wall needs replastering when you come to take it down .

saltedcaramelanything · 20/02/2022 11:57

Probably a fad - but I still quite like it. Even in new builds - it's a way to give the house some character that's much more interesting than a plain box room.

GoldenApple · 20/02/2022 11:57

I always imagine it's a massive dust trap.

wonkylegs · 20/02/2022 11:58

As with all fads it will look great in some homes and awful, bad and dated in others.
We did it for a client where it hid a hidden door and was fab, suited the location and the house but generally I think it's overused and not necessarily a good thing.

Original poster
Spottybotty20 · 20/02/2022 11:59

@BeyondMyWits good point, we will definitely be selling at some point and don’t want people to think it’s hiding something.
My original plan was just to paint the 3/4 and I think I’ll go back to that idea

OP posts:
Kitkat151 · 20/02/2022 12:00

We have it in the bathroom in our Victorian semi....it’s more tongue and groove with a moulding on top....I like it .... hides some pipe work and easy to wipe down .....wouldn’t have it in any other room though

Totalwasteofpaper · 20/02/2022 12:02

Fad.

hopeishere · 20/02/2022 12:56

Fad!!!! As you say it's all over Instagram. It's like dado rails will date really fast.

freshcarnation · 20/02/2022 13:12

Fad. Reminds me of the pine panelling fad that was all the rage when I was little

Chestofdraws · 20/02/2022 13:34

@saltedcaramelanything

Probably a fad - but I still quite like it. Even in new builds - it's a way to give the house some character that's much more interesting than a plain box room.
I think putting fake period character in a new build property is very tacky indeed. Although I guess “interesting” is another word for it.

The trick with properties is to play to its period and strengths, not pretend it’s an old grand period property when it’s a modern new build.

You can’t add “character” in the true sense Ie period features to a new build, it’s fooling no one, but you can play up to its strengths, the bright, modern, clean line aesthetic.

RedMozzieYellowMozzie · 20/02/2022 13:36

I like it and I would put it in my new build. It’s my house - other peoples opinions don’t matter when it comes to decor

saltedcaramelanything · 20/02/2022 17:33

@Chestofdraws Agree to disagree. Not everyone who lives in a new build likes the modern, clean/slick look. You need ways to add character and interest to a house

Chestofdraws · 20/02/2022 18:02

[quote saltedcaramelanything]@Chestofdraws Agree to disagree. Not everyone who lives in a new build likes the modern, clean/slick look. You need ways to add character and interest to a house [/quote]
You do, sure, I agree, but fake period pieces isn’t the way to do it. It’s like putting lipstick on a rhino. It’s still a rhino.

saltedcaramelanything · 20/02/2022 18:16

@Chestofdraws Not all panelling is "fake period piece" though. The very classic version maybe. But nowadays what people are adding tends to be a more "modern" style like the squares

User76745333 · 20/02/2022 18:21

I have it in my dining room. We did it about ten years ago now to give a New England look. This is the style of the whole house though so it is in keeping. We have it 2/3 up the wall and the wallpaper above.

Aweefatcat · 20/02/2022 18:40

I’m wondering if in 100 years everyone will be saying how much character the current new builds have? (I bet they will)

Llamasinpajamas · 20/02/2022 18:43

We have it and I love it! Edwardian house though and we have thin panelling which is more discrete!

mrshoho · 20/02/2022 22:27

It is a fad that like most home decor will go in and out of fashion. it can look very stylish both in period and modern homes. I personally prefer smooth plain walls as it's taken us years to replaster and everywhere and just want the ease of crisp clean walls. Had to put up with woodchip and dodgy wonky walls for too long!

D0lphine · 20/02/2022 22:34

It's a fad unless it's in keeping with the age of the home and other decor.

Ipadflowers · 20/02/2022 22:38

@Aweefatcat

I’m wondering if in 100 years everyone will be saying how much character the current new builds have? (I bet they will)
I really don’t think so, and I’m not even sure many new builds will still be standing in two or three hundred years to be honest, even if someone wanted to keep fake panelling that long.