Wood paneling is used in architecture and design, ornamental treatment of the walls, ceilings, doors, and furnishings that consist of a sequence of broad, thin sheets called panels that were framed together by smaller, thicker strips of wood. It was developed in antiquity to make rooms in stone buildings to look more comfortable. The panels work to insulate the room from the cold stone.

In modern buildings, it is installed for decorative purposes. Wood paneling such as wainscoting and boiserie in particular, may be extremely ornate and is particularly associated with 17th and 18th century interior design, Victorian architecture in Britain and its international contemporaries. Wainscot is a paneling design used to the lower 900mm to 1500mm of an interior wall, underneath the decorative rail on the wall or chair and above the skirting board or baseboard.

This style is traditionally created from tongue and groove boards though bead board or decorative panel such as wooden door might have is also common. Wainscot is also referring to other materials used in similar fashion. Its original purpose was to cover the lower parts of the walls in which in houses constructed with poor or nonexistent damp proof courses are often affected by rising dampness but now it general purpose is for decorative use. Boiserie is the term used to define ornate and intricately carved wood paneling.

Some early examples of boiserie were unpainted but later the raised moldings were painted or gilded. Boiserie is popular during the 17th and 18th century French interior design and Palace of Versailles has many fine examples. Wood panels were not just confined to the walls of the room but were also used to decorate doors, frames, cupboards and shelves. Wood paneling has been popular for hundreds of years ago and indeed it a natural wood adds warmth and elegance but the only way the craftsmen of earlier were able to apply wood paneling was in frames or what they called wainscoting.

Now, wood paneling became so popular that it is used in homes everywhere, in the kitchen, dining room, living room and bedroom. Today, wood paneling in homes have a lighter and sleeker look. Those people who buy or own older homes with dark paneled rooms may be faced with the decision of keeping the paneling as in, removing or changing it and the easiest and most cost effective way to change the look of a paneled room is to add color by painting the paneling.

The wood paneling is often passed over as a quality building material. The images of the inexpensive imitation composite paneling the gained fame and fortune during the last half of the 20th century tend to dominate not to knock the cheaper alternative. Wood paneling can be a wonderful and economic addition to any other living space but many homeowners fail to consider the higher end wood paneling options available to them.

From a dramatically crafted raised panel accents to knotty pine tongues and groove walls and ceilings wood panels can convert any home from ordinary to extraordinary overnight. In wood paneling, you have many options to choose from that are available in the market today that will suits your tastes and budget. And if you are really fascinated in wood paneling, you can ask the help of an experience contractor, dealer or installer about what alternatives is best for you. And without a doubt, quality wood panels are one of the most beautiful and timeless investments you can make when it comes to enhancing the look and character of your home.