Wood cladding isn’t just for the exterior of your home or building; there are many ways you can use cladding to add dimension, interest and texture to your interior walls as well. Wood façade cladding can be installed indoors in several different ways, allowing you to get a variety of different looks depending on the architecture and style of the building. These five variations of interior wood cladding will help give you an idea of what may be possible for your interiors. (See also our 18 Interior Wood Wall Paneling Design Ideas)
1. Timber Wall Cladding
Photo by Jiri Havran
This Waldorf school is full of color and texture both inside and out. To give a backdrop to the bold colors used on the windows and doors, a natural wood façade is used to add contrast and character to both the interior and exterior walls. Lining the interior corridors of the school is a modern, vertical installation of natural wood cladding; bringing the kind of nature-inspiration that Waldorf schools are often known for. The color of the wood cladding helps to brighten the corridors where natural light isn’t as prominent. And by running the boards from floor to ceiling, t the design remains simple, letting the bold colors of the accents within the classrooms stand out and take center stage in the building’s design.
2. Decorative Wood Façade
Photo by Tommaso Sartori
This coffee bar was designed to help immerse people in the experience of ordering and preparing coffee. The curvature of the bar allows people to approach more effectively from all sides and the overhead mirror provides a better view of the barista at work. The face of the bar was clad with wood and layered with accents to create a deep, dimensional appeal. The wood cladding was the perfect material to follow with the curve of the bar, in a natural and organic way. Wood was also used to create a multi-tonal surface that enhances the simple color scheme of the space and the coffee beans themselves. The juxtaposition of natural wood and steel, create a modern and industrial space that retains a certain element of warmth, which invites patrons to relax, enjoy the pleasant aromas and watch a delicate art in practice.
3. Interior Contrast
This bath house uses natural wood cladding both inside and out. However, to create a space that defines both areas and helps add some dimension to the design, the installation of the wood on the exterior differs from that on the interior. While the exterior of the building has the wood spaced slightly apart, the interior shower area features a much tighter shiplap styled installation. This helps makes the walls watertight, while offering privacy and interest at the same time. The shower stalls themselves stand out from the rest of the interior with a vertical installation of the same cladding, adding an extra layer of dimension to the rooms and helping to define the space more effectively.
4. Unification through Cladding
Photo by Markus Photography
This contemporary home carries the design of the exterior wood cladding to the interior, connecting the spaces and displaying an acute appreciation of fine craftsmanship. The exterior uses several riveted accent walls of generously spaced boards. To complement this, a similar style of wood cladding was used along the face of the kitchen island and opposing wall. The planks here are spaced similarly to that of the exterior walls, however these boards are slightly more narrow giving it a more refined and delicate appearance; appropriate for an interior application. Using similar design elements, both outdoors and in, creates a very organic flow and unifies the building as a whole.
5. Privacy Screen
It can be difficult at times to let light into rooms without also leaving the space open for viewing to whomever walks by. The hallways of this hotel have solved this problem by using floor to ceiling cladding installed over the interior walls. The cladding is spaced apart just enough to allow light to pass through the windows beneath the wood façade, but closely enough together to allow privacy for the rooms at the same time. By cladding the entire wall, instead of just the window areas, it also helps to disguise what’s going on behind the timber cladding, while adding interest and warmth to the building at the same time. The wood contrasts the metal and crisp white walls used elsewhere in the interior, making each element of the room stand out beautifully against the rest.
Clad Your Interiors
Wood cladding has been used on home and building interiors for hundreds of years. From wood workshops, to commerical structures, it brings natural warmth, texture and character wherever it’s installed. And with so many different options for spacing, placement and installation style, you can easily create your own unique look anywhere within. Consider using wood cladding for your interiors to create the dimension and beauty that only natural wood can bring.