Question 1

What options are available as timber Wall panelling ?

Accepted Answer

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Question 2

What is timber wall panelling?

Accepted Answer

Timber wall panelling is a wall lining system made from timber boards, profiles, or panels fixed to an interior wall, ceiling, or selected feature area. It is used to add warmth, natural grain, texture, shadow, and architectural depth to a space.
Unlike a painted feature wall, timber panelling changes the physical surface of the wall. It gives the room a more permanent, tactile, and designed feel.

Common timber wall panelling formats include:
Tongue and groove panelling
V-groove / TG&V panelling
Shiplap wall panelling
Sarking / square-edge timber lining
Vertical timber boards
Slatted timber wall panels
Timber battens
Board-and-batten style walls
Textured timber wall panels
Custom architectural timber profiles

Common timber species used for wall panelling include:
Western Red Cedar
Accoya
Thermally modified pine
Oak
Hemlock
Sydney Blue Gum
Reclaimed hardwoods
Other architectural hardwoods and softwoods

The best result comes from choosing the right combination of species, profile, board width, surface texture, finish, and installation detail.

The Blackwood Project

Question 3

What should I consider before choosing timber wall panelling?

Accepted Answer

Before choosing timber wall panelling, start with the feeling you want the space to have. Timber changes more than the appearance of a wall — it changes the mood of the room. It can make a space feel warmer, calmer, richer, more grounded, more natural, or more architecturally considered.
For homeowners, the first question is not just “which timber should I use?” It is:

What do I want this wall to do for the room?

A timber feature wall can:
Make a living room feel warmer and more inviting
Create a strong focal point behind a fireplace, TV, bedhead, or entry
Add texture and depth to a plain plasterboard space
Bring natural material character into a modern home
Make an open-plan space feel more defined and intentional
Create a sense of calm, retreat, luxury, or drama
Connect interior spaces with outdoor timber, decking, soffits, or cladding
Turn a simple wall into the part of the room people remember
Once the design feeling is clear, the practical choices become easier.

The main things to consider are:
Location: Is this a fireplace wall, entry wall, bedroom wall, stairwell, hallway, ceiling, or indoor-outdoor area?
Mood: Do you want the wall to feel calm, natural, refined, bold, dark, textured, warm, or dramatic?
Timber species: Different timbers create different colour, grain, and character.
Profile: V-groove, shiplap, tongue and groove, slatted, battened, smooth, or textured boards all create different shadow lines.
Board direction: Vertical boards can make a room feel taller and more architectural. Horizontal boards can feel wider and more relaxed.
Surface finish: Natural, stained, brushed, textured, charred, or prefinished timber all change how the wall responds to light.
Lighting: Timber looks best when light catches the grain, texture, and shadow lines.
Edges and corners: A premium wall needs clean finishing details at corners, ceilings, floors, and exposed ends.
Maintenance: Interior timber panelling is generally low maintenance, but high-sun or high-touch areas may need more consideration.

For architects and designers, the strongest timber wall panelling choices usually come from matching the emotional purpose of the wall with the right species, profile, finish, lighting, and detailing.
A good timber feature wall should not feel like an added decoration. It should feel like it belongs to the architecture of the home.

Question 4

What is timber wall panelling?

Accepted Answer

Timber wall panelling is an interior wall lining made from timber boards, panels or profiles. It is used to bring natural warmth, luxury, grain, texture and depth into a room.
A painted wall can change the colour of a space. Timber wall panelling changes the surface itself. It gives the wall shadow, rhythm, material character and a more permanent architectural feel.

Timber wall panelling can be used as:
A single feature wall
Surrounding a fireplace wall
Bedroom bedhead wall
Hallway or entry walls
A stairwell feature
Ceiling lining
Wine cellar wall
Commercial interior walls
A reception or hospitality feature
A full room lining where a warmer timber interior is wanted

Common timber wall panelling types include:
Tongue and groove boards
V-groove / TG&V boards
Shiplap boards
Sarking or square-edge lining
Slatted timber panels
Timber battens
Textured timber boards
Custom architectural profiles

For homeowners, timber panelling is usually chosen because it makes a space feel warmer, more tactile and more considered. For architects and designers, timber wall panelling is a way to turn a flat wall into a considered architectural element. The species, profile, board width and finish all affect how much warmth, shadow, texture and visual weight the wall brings to the room.

Question 5

What are the main types of timber wall panelling?

Accepted Answer

The type of timber wall panelling you choose changes how the room feels. Some profiles are calm and subtle. Others create stronger shadow, texture and architectural presence.

Common timber wall panelling profiles include:
Tongue and groove: a clean interlocking board system used for walls and ceilings
V-groove / TG&V: creates a fine shadow line between boards for a neat linear look
Shiplap: gives a stronger board rhythm and more visible shadow line
Sarking / square-edge lining: creates a more natural, simple timber-lined appearance
Slatted timber panels: repeated narrow strips for a modern linear effect
Timber battens: deeper shadow and stronger three-dimensional rhythm
Textured timber boards: a more tactile surface that catches light and shadow
Custom profiles: designed where a specific architectural effect is needed

For a calm, refined interior, a fine V-groove or smooth timber lining may work best. For a stronger feature wall, shiplap, slatted timber, darker finishes or textured boards will usually create more impact.

The profile should be chosen before the species is finalised, because the same timber can feel completely different depending on whether it is smooth, grooved, slatted, brushed or heavily textured.

Question 6

What timber species are best for wall panelling?

Accepted Answer

The best timber species for wall panelling depends on the look, feel, durability and budget of the project. Different timbers create very different results, so the species should be chosen for both its appearance and how it will perform in the space. Many timber species work well as feature walls and they all bring a individual feel to a room.

Common timber options include:
Accoya — very stable, durable and premium. A strong choice for high-end architectural wall panelling where movement control and finish quality matter.
Western Red Cedar — warm, lightweight and naturally rich in grain. Good for interiors where you want softness, warmth and natural character.
Thermally Modified Pine — stable, warm-toned and suitable for modern feature walls. A good option where you want a more architectural timber look without moving into premium hardwood pricing.
Oak — refined, clean and timeless. Often used in higher-end interiors where the wall needs to feel calm, elegant and controlled.
Hemlock — pale, even-toned and subtle. Useful for lighter interior schemes where the timber should add warmth without dominating the room.
Sydney Blue Gum — dense, rich and visually strong. Good for darker, bolder feature walls where the timber is intended to have real presence.
Totara — distinctive New Zealand character timber. Suits projects where local material identity and natural variation are part of the design story.
Reclaimed hardwoods — aged, rustic and full of variation. Best where the wall is intended to feel textured, lived-in, natural or character-rich.

For a calm, light room, pale timbers such as oak, hemlock or light-finished pine often work well. For a warmer, more natural wall, cedar, thermally modified pine, Totara or reclaimed hardwoods can bring more character. For a stronger architectural feature, Accoya, Sydney Blue Gum, darker stains, brushed surfaces or textured finishes can create more depth and impact.

Question 7

Where should timber wall panelling be used in a home?

Accepted Answer

Timber wall panelling works best when it is designed with intent. It should give a room a clear focal point, guide the eye, or help define how the space feels.

It is most effective when it is used deliberately. That does not always mean limiting it to one wall, because a single isolated panel can sometimes feel like decoration.

A stronger approach is to place timber where it supports the architecture of the room and the feel of the house, then connect it to a secondary location so the design feels considered and complete.

For homeowners, the best location is usually the wall that naturally draws attention when you enter the space. This may be the wall behind a fireplace, a hallway, or the wall that connects an indoor living area to the outdoor space.

A well-placed timber feature wall, supported by a second related detail, can often create more impact than covering an entire room without a clear design purpose. (Less is More)

Timber is strongest when it feels like it belongs to the design of the house or room — not when it feels like a decorative panel added afterwards.

Question 8

Can timber wall panelling be installed over plasterboard?

Accepted Answer

Yes, timber wall panelling can often be installed over plasterboard, but it still needs to be fixed properly.

In most cases, the timber should be fixed through the plasterboard into framing, or battens, or another suitable structure. Plasterboard on its own is usually not enough to hold timber panelling unless the system has been designed for glue fixing.

The simple answer: yes, timber panelling can often go over plasterboard, but the wall still needs proper fixing and preparation before installation.

Question 9

How is timber wall panelling fixed to the wall?

Accepted Answer

Timber wall panelling is usually fixed with mechanical fixings (screws or brad nails), these can be concealed fixings, (secret nailing, hidden screws) and sometimes adhesive with small mechincal fixings. But as a general rule Mechanical is best.

For premium interiors, concealed fixing is usually preferred because it keeps the face of the timber clean and uninterrupted.
Common fixing methods include:
Secret nailing through the tongue
Hidden screw fixing
Fixing through a shiplap overlap or rebate
Adhesive plus mechanical fixing
Fixing to timber battens
Fixing through wall lining into framing
Fixing to plywood backing
Face fixing where visible fixings are part of the design
Visible nails or screws can work in rustic, industrial or traditional interiors, but they should be a deliberate choice. For most modern timber feature walls, hidden fixing gives a cleaner and more architectural result.

For homeowners, this matters because the fixing method affects the final look. A premium timber wall should not be let down by visible fixings unless that is part of the design.

Question 10

How are the edges and corners of timber wall panelling finished?

Accepted Answer

Edges and corners are what make timber wall panelling look finished. They should be planned before installation, not solved at the end. A good wall panelling system will come with these options.

A beautiful timber wall can lose its impact if the cut edges, corners, ceiling junctions or side returns look unfinished.

Common edge and corner details include:
Mitred external corners
Butt joined 
Timber corner trims
End trims
Scribers
Shadow gaps
Return boards
Boxed corner details
Aluminium trims
Colour-matched coating on exposed cuts
Concealed terminations into adjacent walls, ceilings or floors

Mitred corners & butt Joins usually create the cleanest architectural result because the timber appears to wrap around the corner. Trims are often more practical where edge protection, movement tolerance or easier installation is needed.

Cut edges should not be left raw if they contrast with the finished face of the timber.

Question 11

Should timber wall panelling be prefinished?

Accepted Answer

For premium feature walls, prefinished timber wall panelling is usually the better choice. It gives more control over colour, coating, surface texture and consistency before the boards are installed.

Prefinished timber can help with:
More consistent colour
Cleaner coating application
Less mess on site
Better control of textured surfaces
Faster installation
Easier sample approval
Reduced risk of patchy site finishing
Better protection before and during installation

Site finishing can still work, but it is harder to control, especially with darker colours, textured surfaces, brushed timber, charred finishes or walls where the finish quality is highly visible.

For homeowners, prefinished panelling gives more confidence because you can see and approve the surface before it goes on the wall. For architects and builders, it reduces uncertainty and helps protect the design intent.

Question 12

Does timber wall panelling need maintenance?

Accepted Answer

Interior timber wall panelling is generally low maintenance. In normal interior spaces, it usually only needs occasional dusting and gentle cleaning.

Basic care may include:
Dusting with a soft cloth or microfibre pad
Gentle cleaning only when needed
Avoiding excess water
Avoiding harsh abrasive cleaners
Using products suitable for the finish
Protecting high-touch areas from repeated impact
Refreshing oiled finishes only when required

Maintenance depends on the finish and the location. A bedroom feature wall may need almost no maintenance. A hallway, restaurant wall, reception area or wall exposed to strong sunlight may need more care over time.

Question 13

How much does timber wall panelling cost?

Accepted Answer

The cost of timber wall panelling depends on the complete specification, not just the square metre rate. The timber species is the primary influence on cost, and volume of timber. Current prices for finished panelling range from $260.00 m2 - $340.00 m2.

The main cost drivers are:
Timber species
Board dimensions 
Smooth or textured surface
Natural, stained, oiled, brushed or charred finish
Total project size

Simple softwood lining boards are usually more cost-effective. Premium hardwoods, Accoya, thermally modified timber, custom profiles, textured surfaces, charred finishes and detailed trims will cost more.

But timber wall panelling does not need to cover a large area to be effective. A carefully chosen feature wall can create a strong architectural result using a relatively small amount of material.\

For homeowners, the better question is not always “what is the cheapest wall panelling?” It is:
Where will timber create the most impact in my home?

Used in the right place, a smaller timber feature wall can make a room feel more finished, more valuable and more intentional than a larger area of cheaper material.

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Timber Wall Panelling & Feature Wall FAQ

What options are available as timber Wall panelling ?

What is timber wall panelling?

What should I consider before choosing timber wall panelling?

What is timber wall panelling?

What are the main types of timber wall panelling?

What timber species are best for wall panelling?

Where should timber wall panelling be used in a home?

Can timber wall panelling be installed over plasterboard?

How is timber wall panelling fixed to the wall?

How are the edges and corners of timber wall panelling finished?

Should timber wall panelling be prefinished?

Does timber wall panelling need maintenance?

How much does timber wall panelling cost?

Architectural Timber Feature Wall