HISTORIC & MODERN - Panelling is a decorator's secret weapon when it comes to new builds with bland rooms, as panelling detailing will instantly soften a space. 'It's also a great way to sew together a property that has been built over different eras,' says Georgina Cave of Cave Interiors. 'We recently worked on a listed property with a modern extension that lacked atmosphere. To address this, we clad the walls in tongue-and-groove - a detail carried through from the original house.' To create a design distinction between traditional and contemporary, Georgina advises using V-shaped boards with a 3mm groove: 'I feel that any wider has a less subtle effect and doesn't look as sharp.'

 PRACTICAL USES - While used decoratively today, panelling has humble roots as a serviceable wallcovering for high-traffic areas of a home. It's also an inexpensive solution for cloakrooms, as it negates the need for a tiled splashback behind the basin. 'Just run the panelling up to 115cm from the floor and paint it with a good-quality eggshell,' Georgina says.

(Homes & Gardens Magazine - July 2023)