Bring new life and texture into your home by reclaimed wood paneling. Used in abundance, reclaimed wood has a great way of filling empty spaces and adding a nice amount of balance to an otherwise neutral area of the home. While you can use reclaimed woods for countertops and flooring, the prices can quickly add up. Using reclaimed wood for a feature or accent wall is a cheap way to bring more texture and aesthetics to your home. Here are a few things to consider before you get started on reclaimed wood paneling.
Balance of space
Unless you are planning on completely covering all walls of a room with reclaimed wood, the general rule of thumb is to just use it as a feature wall. Using too much reclaimed wood will impact the overall balance of the room, leading to an overwhelming range of textures and colors. Using reclaimed wood as a feature wall for a staircase or bedroom can create some truly beautiful and stylish additions to the overall look of the room. Consider using the wood to highlight a particular area of the home such as a mirror or piece of art. The texture and color of the wood will draw people’s eyes to it, so make sure it’s something worth looking at!
Color palette
The color palette is a something worth considering highly when going for reclaimed wood paneling. Reclaimed wood can come in all finishes and colors, from smooth grays to rough blacks. Plus when paint is used for the color, your options are truly endless. If you are struggling with your color scheme, white walls work best with any color of wood. Depending on your palette, you may want to use wood from trees that are native in your local area. This is a great way of bringing the natural beauty of your home’s location into the house.
Choosing the right kind of wood for your project
Reclaimed wood comes in hundreds of different forms. From old stacking pallets, barns, sheds, timber offcuts, boats and basically anywhere that wood is used. It can be easy to find in some areas, and difficult in others. You can grab a batch of reclaimed wood for free if you know where to look. You should first check local areas that spare wood might be found like barns and reclamation yards. If you do not find anything you like, some companies are starting to source and sell different kinds of reclaimed wood. Expect to pay a higher price if you choose to do this.
Best places for reclaimed wood paneling in your home
Reclaimed wood can be used in many different ways to produce interesting and unique accents or installations in your home. Cladding a wall with reclaimed wood will add a sense of scale and brings a warm feeling to the room. It also connects your home to nature and promotes the creativity and character of your house. Here are a few great places to use reclaimed wood in your home.
Feature Wall
Wood paneling can be used as a rustic backdrop in for a living or eating space. When mixing a dark wood with some brighter colored furniture helps to punctuate the wall and soften its raw feel.
Rustic Canopy
Using timber as a canopy over your bed makes a unique and rustic feel to your bedroom. Match the width of the wood to your bed and run the cladding up the wall and across the top of the ceiling. This will heavily accent the bed and when mixed with green plants and bright bed covers, creates a truly rustic aesthetic.
Kitchen Units
Using random shades of reclaimed wood for your kitchen cabinets and draw fronts make a strong impression. Doing this will make your kitchen have that ski-lodge feel. When mixed with stainless steel, the overall look will appear less frumpy and more stylistic.
How to identify usable planks
All piles of reclaimed wood will have pieces that are just scrap. Obvious things like wood rot and damage will stand out, but there are a few things you want to look out for. The key is to find pieces that are in good condition and are not too warped. Boards with minor warping can still be used, though it will add on some time for the installation. Always check for bug infestations before taking the wood into your home. The last thing you need is an infestation of termites in your newly decorated home. If you find any termites, you might want to treat the rest of the wood just to be safe. Not only will termites damage the reclaimed wood, they can also create structural damage to your home. Don’t be afraid of using wood with visible signs of age as these can lend a great deal of texture to the overall aesthetic of the room.
How much does it cost?
This will vary dramatically depending on where you find the wood and the condition it is in. As mentioned above, you might be able to source the wood for free. Otherwise, you should expect to pay somewhere in the region of $4 to $7 per square foot. The cheaper stuff will require more treatment and work before it will be useable.
Keep your eyes open!
Always wear gloves when treating reclaimed wood. Watch out for splinters and old nails sticking out. Any nails can be removed with a hammer, or simply hammered into the wood to not cause injury. You will have to do some minor work on the boards before you install them such as sanding and cutting the boards into size. If you have the tools and know-how you can do this yourself. Otherwise, you will have to hire a professional.
Who should I hire?
If you cannot do the work yourself, you need to hire a professional carpenter for reclaimed wood paneling. Working with old boards can be a tricky process since the boards will be warped and misshapen. The carpenter will be able to deal with problems that the average DIYer would not have encountered before. Plus they will have all of the needed tools to do a great job.
