Bathroom Inspiration: Discover the Beauty of Wood Panelling
Find out how wood panelling and tongue-and-groove can add colour, warmth and style to your bathroom scheme
Karen Wilson
21 November 2015
UK based Houzz contributor and freelance property and interiors journalist with experience in both the regional press and national magazines. I've picked up loads of tips from homeowners and experts alike, having visited hundreds of gorgeous real homes across the North of England.
UK based Houzz contributor and freelance property and interiors journalist with experience... More
Wood panelling, or more budget-friendly MDF cladding, can bring a whole new dimension to your bathroom, whether your look is coastal, luxurious, industrial, retro or oriental. Painted, colour-washed or left natural, it’s sure to create extra warmth and style in your scheme.
Panelling can be used in so many different ways: up to half height, all over, on a single wall or perhaps on the ceiling. And its flexibility means you can choose to have it laid horizontally, vertically or even diagonally. Whether you’re updating an existing suite or starting from scratch, take some inspiration from these beautiful bathrooms where timber panelling is key to the look.
Panelling can be used in so many different ways: up to half height, all over, on a single wall or perhaps on the ceiling. And its flexibility means you can choose to have it laid horizontally, vertically or even diagonally. Whether you’re updating an existing suite or starting from scratch, take some inspiration from these beautiful bathrooms where timber panelling is key to the look.
Maximise the sense of space
Placing panelling horizontally across the bath panel as well as the wall and ceiling not only frames the bath as a focal point, it leads the eye upwards and makes the room feel bigger. It would be easy to throw your hands up in despair when faced with making a design statement in such a tiny room, but this clever idea proves a small space can still have serious style.
Placing panelling horizontally across the bath panel as well as the wall and ceiling not only frames the bath as a focal point, it leads the eye upwards and makes the room feel bigger. It would be easy to throw your hands up in despair when faced with making a design statement in such a tiny room, but this clever idea proves a small space can still have serious style.
Sneak in some storage
If you’ve settled on panelling up to dado-rail height, remember it can also be used to hide the toilet cistern and provide handy concealed storage for cleaning products and toiletries, too. Paint your panelling the same colour as the walls to help it blend with the background, or opt for a darker shade on the panelling and a lighter wall colour above to make it a feature of the room.
Check out more bathroom storage ideas Houzzers love
If you’ve settled on panelling up to dado-rail height, remember it can also be used to hide the toilet cistern and provide handy concealed storage for cleaning products and toiletries, too. Paint your panelling the same colour as the walls to help it blend with the background, or opt for a darker shade on the panelling and a lighter wall colour above to make it a feature of the room.
Check out more bathroom storage ideas Houzzers love
Try colour-washing
If you like to see wood’s natural grain, colour-washing your panels in chalky pastel shades is a great option. Choose three different seaside-inspired hues and lay the planks horizontally for that relaxed beach shack vibe. Alternatively, try a whitewash to create a weathered feel.
If you like to see wood’s natural grain, colour-washing your panels in chalky pastel shades is a great option. Choose three different seaside-inspired hues and lay the planks horizontally for that relaxed beach shack vibe. Alternatively, try a whitewash to create a weathered feel.
Go for full panelling
Or why not opt for elegant Georgian or Regency-style floor-to-ceiling panelling on all four walls of your bathroom to create a stunning backdrop for a statement bath. This opulent look is best reserved for larger rooms, however, as you will lose valuable inches due to the thickness of the panelling.
Or why not opt for elegant Georgian or Regency-style floor-to-ceiling panelling on all four walls of your bathroom to create a stunning backdrop for a statement bath. This opulent look is best reserved for larger rooms, however, as you will lose valuable inches due to the thickness of the panelling.
Complete the look
A door that doesn’t match the rest of your scheme could undermine the look you’re trying to achieve, so don’t overlook this important element of the design. This homeowner has chosen a tongue-and-groove panelled door to link in with the rest of the walls, creating a pleasing sense of unity.
A door that doesn’t match the rest of your scheme could undermine the look you’re trying to achieve, so don’t overlook this important element of the design. This homeowner has chosen a tongue-and-groove panelled door to link in with the rest of the walls, creating a pleasing sense of unity.
Go east
Create a look inspired by the Orient with narrow boards of dark-wood panelling. While this homeowner has pulled out all the stops with a short and deep Japanese bathtub (known as an ofuro), for those who prefer to stretch out, a larger teak bath would look equally stunning. And if you want to mimic the shoji screen-style panel, traditionally used in Japanese rooms, a freestanding folding screen will give a similar effect on a budget.
See more Asian-inspired bathrooms
Create a look inspired by the Orient with narrow boards of dark-wood panelling. While this homeowner has pulled out all the stops with a short and deep Japanese bathtub (known as an ofuro), for those who prefer to stretch out, a larger teak bath would look equally stunning. And if you want to mimic the shoji screen-style panel, traditionally used in Japanese rooms, a freestanding folding screen will give a similar effect on a budget.
See more Asian-inspired bathrooms
Be bold and bright
While muted shades, such as grey, duck-egg blue and sage green, tend to be the go-to colours for bathroom panelling, adding bright colour might offer a more cheerful and invigorating start to your day. You could even play it safe on the wall panelling, but up the ante with a vibrant shade on the bath panel. Have fun and experiment – it’s relatively inexpensive to repaint if you don’t like the result.
While muted shades, such as grey, duck-egg blue and sage green, tend to be the go-to colours for bathroom panelling, adding bright colour might offer a more cheerful and invigorating start to your day. You could even play it safe on the wall panelling, but up the ante with a vibrant shade on the bath panel. Have fun and experiment – it’s relatively inexpensive to repaint if you don’t like the result.
Divide the area
Installing panelling three quarters of the way up the wall and adding contrasting wallpaper above is a great way to introduce pattern without overpowering the space. It also means you can create a feeling of continuity with the rest of your house. This homeowner has gone for a mid-century modern The wallpaper, but if your home has a classic Victorian feel, perhaps pick a botanical design. Or, if there’s an elegant Art Deco edge to your decor elsewhere, choose a paper with a glamorous fan motif.
Installing panelling three quarters of the way up the wall and adding contrasting wallpaper above is a great way to introduce pattern without overpowering the space. It also means you can create a feeling of continuity with the rest of your house. This homeowner has gone for a mid-century modern The wallpaper, but if your home has a classic Victorian feel, perhaps pick a botanical design. Or, if there’s an elegant Art Deco edge to your decor elsewhere, choose a paper with a glamorous fan motif.
Team with marble
For a supremely luxurious look, mixing up panelling and marble is the way to go – and a more economical choice than all-out marble. When you’re ready to paint your panelling, pick out the colour of the swirls and veins in the marble for a complementary effect.
For a supremely luxurious look, mixing up panelling and marble is the way to go – and a more economical choice than all-out marble. When you’re ready to paint your panelling, pick out the colour of the swirls and veins in the marble for a complementary effect.
Enhance your brickwork
Fans of the industrial look know all about the impact of exposing a brick wall, but it could feel a little cold and stark in a bathroom, especially on every wall. However, mixing it with wood panelling softens the look and, if built up to dado-rail height, brings the added benefit of a ledge for display.
TELL US
What kind of panelling would you pick? Share your thoughts or photos in the Comments section.
MORE
14 Bathroom Trends Expected to Be Big in 2015
Why Wood Works So Brilliantly in the Bathroom
Natural Selection: 14 Tranquil Bathrooms Inspired by Mother Nature
Fans of the industrial look know all about the impact of exposing a brick wall, but it could feel a little cold and stark in a bathroom, especially on every wall. However, mixing it with wood panelling softens the look and, if built up to dado-rail height, brings the added benefit of a ledge for display.
TELL US
What kind of panelling would you pick? Share your thoughts or photos in the Comments section.
MORE
14 Bathroom Trends Expected to Be Big in 2015
Why Wood Works So Brilliantly in the Bathroom
Natural Selection: 14 Tranquil Bathrooms Inspired by Mother Nature
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I am just in the process of panelling two bathrooms to create a look very similar to *nessbow's* bathroom. I was tempted by the moisture resistant MDF but three assistants in the DIY store advised me against it and said that whilst it will be better than normal MDF, if water gets into it it will "blow" and then the whole lot will need to be replaced. As a result I've done them with pine strip wood. After a couple of coats of oil based paint they should last for a very long time. The cost wasn't that much more than the MDF. Its costing about £100 in wood to do the larger bathroom and about £80 to do the slightly smaller room. The MDF would have been about £60.
Just thought I'd add an update about my MDF panelling. We are a year in to using our bathroom and it is showing no signs of damage or swelling yet. It is heavily used as it's the only bathroom in the house currently, so hubby and I both shower daily and the kids get bathed or showered every night and i can assure you the water goes everywhere when the kids are bathing!! When we installed, I was slightly concerned around the sink as this is the only area where the panelling was likely to come into direct contact with water, but we made sure when installing everything was painted with the oil-based paint before we installed the sink.
Also there is a product called Marine Plywood, which is what was used to clad behind the shower before tiling, this could be an alternative, but we chose not to use it as it is more costly, we're talking approx. £55 for marine ply vs £20 for MDF for equivalent amount.
Help! We live in a period property with original pine skirting boards + pine doors throughout the house. We would like to renovate our downstairs loo and add wood panelling to the walls to continue the farmhouse look... but I am confused how to do this without clashing with the pine skirting boards as every example I see online the panelling and skirting boards are painted and match. Can you please help? (Meghan.springgay@gmail.com)