Finishing materials from wood are very popular. They never go out of fashion, practical and attractive. Such cladding creates an atmosphere of warmth and comfort in the room.
To decorate surfaces, wall panels made of wood are actively used today. They are in perfect harmony with other materials and fit into any interior. You can use this finish in both residential and office premises. We will talk about what these materials are and what are their features in our article.
What types of wood panels for the walls?
Panels come in many shapes and sizes. They differ in appearance and material of manufacture. The size of the wall panels made of wood depends on the needs of the owner of the room. It can be both small tiles and huge shields that cover the surface from the ceiling to the floor.
The length of the panel varies from 2.4 to 3.7 meters, width from 12.5 to 30 centimeters. The minimum thickness of the plank is 0.8 centimeters, and the maximum is 1.5 centimeters.
Such products differ in the method of connection. The panel can be represented as a separate shield or several rails. In the latter case, each bar has a spike on one side and a groove on the other. Using such a connection, the elements are tightly interconnected, forming a continuous surface.
A wide variety of shapes and colors of the cladding allows you to choose the finish for the premises of any kind and purpose.
Advantages of wood panels
Decorative wood panels are considered an excellent material for creating perfectly even and smooth cladding. They are able to hide minor defects of 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 the 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 durable and durable.
Panels for interior decoration are characterized by rich colors and a variety of textures. This allows you to create with their help complex decorative elements that are in harmony with any interior.
Scope of application of decorative wall panels made of wood
Wood panels are rarely used to finish all walls in a room. Most often they decorate individual sections. For instance:
- surfaces near doorways;
- window slopes;
- surfaces in large wardrobes;
- sections of walls behind the head of the bed, a mounted TV, near bar counters;
- pillars, niches, columns;
- surfaces on glazed loggias;
- walls near work desks, etc.
A feature of the panels is that they can be installed on any surface. It can be brick, concrete, plaster, drywall. Wood wall paneling is most often found in country houses made of log houses. There, this material looks as organic as possible.
The panels can be placed both vertically and horizontally. If you want to make your room look unusual, set the slats 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 wood. Depending on the production technology, the materials are divided into several groups:
- solid products;
- materials from MDF;
- Fiberboard panels;
- Particleboard for wall decoration.
Each variety is characterized by its advantages and has certain disadvantages. The selection of a suitable option should be based on visual preferences and material capabilities. Consider the characteristics of each option.
Characteristics of solid wall panels
Wall panels made of solid wood 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 most presentable and with proper care is able to serve the owners for more than 50 years.
The array is decorated with tinting varnishes, gilded compounds and carvings. Perhaps the addition of the panel with metal and mirror elements.
The most valuable varieties are considered panels made of solid oak, mahogany, cherries and exotic species. However, not everyone can afford such a finish. Its cost starts from 3500 rubles. per m 2 .
You can not use an array in all rooms. Wood does not tolerate temperature fluctuations, exposure to moisture and steam. For this reason, it is installed only in rooms with a stable and dry climate.
MDF panels and their properties
An excellent alternative to the previous option is wood chipboards. They are much cheaper, but this does not affect their decorative properties.
The basis of such a material is an MDF board. It is made from small chips and shavings. The raw materials are grinded and pressed under the influence of high temperature.
The finished plate is covered with a decorative film layer that imitates the pattern and structure of wood. In addition, the film can create the effect of dullness, mirroring and gloss.
Often, natural veneer is used to decorate. Similar products imitate wood cut exactly. This makes them very attractive to the buyer.
MDF boards can be of absolutely any size, which allows them to be used on various surfaces. The laminating layer reliably protects the chip base from external factors, due to which the material has a long service life.
Fiberboard and particleboard panels for walls
Hardboard and particleboard materials are the cheapest varieties of wood products. They are made from the waste of woodworking enterprises and have a not 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. Moreover, they are much cheaper.
Wall panels for interior woodwork are used in all rooms. They decorate skirting boards in the hallway, separate areas in the kitchen space, walls in the hall and even ceilings.
Like any wood material, panels do not tolerate moisture and heat. You can clean them from dust and dirt only with a slightly damp sponge.
Interesting ideas for decorating the interior with panels
Wood wall panels for interior decoration combined with certain colors and materials can create bright and contrasting interiors.
For example, if you are a fan of the Scandinavian style, paint the walls of the room in bright colors. In addition to white shades, you can use pistachio and blue.
Place panels of dark colors on the walls. It can be small geometric shapes, individual thin planks, or solid lining of any part of the room. Light color will emphasize the texture of the panel, the interior will look nice and modern.
Fans of Scandinavian and marine design are recommended to use panels of bright colors. In this case, the background should be white or pale blue.
But for decoration in Provence style, it is better to purchase panels of white, gray or light pink. Artificially aged wood shields will fit perfectly 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 this array. It is better to refuse decorative coatings. This rule applies to the classic design. If light colors are not particularly attractive to you, get dark panels. The main thing is to see the natural pattern and texture of wood.
Features of the choice of panels
A warm, cozy and filled with unusual solutions atmosphere show photos of wall panels. The tree itself is very attractive and goes well with other finishes. Therefore, acquiring such a facing, you can not doubt the good result.
But it should be remembered that the products are afraid of moisture. If you decide to wall them 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 the natural cladding.
Remember that the dark 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 lining for the bottom of the wall in the corridor, choose waxed options. Dust and pollution are better erased from them.
Otherwise, the choice depends only on your preference for opportunities.