4 clever ways to style black panelling
Panels are a timeless interior design element that instantly adds dimension and style to any room. Most of us are familiar with seeing panels in neutral shades like oak or white, for a clean and classic look.
But what if you want a style that's a little bolder, with a bit more umph?
Black panelling exudes cool, modern vibes, showing off design confidence (when done right). It’s surprisingly versatile, despite having a reputation for being intimidating.
To help you overcome any hesitation or give you some creative inspiration, we’ve highlighted four clever ways for you to incorporate this rich shade into your home.
1) Mix and match with dual-tone panelling
Can’t make up your mind whether you want natural or black panelling? You don’t have to, there are interesting ways to incorporate both colours into a room.
As you can see above, the neutrality of black panelling means that it can be paired with almost any colour. In this example, it’s paired with our grey oak panels, but positioning it at different eyelevels creates a style continuity that runs up the entire wall. What works really well here is that both panels are in the slat design, allowing both panels to feel cohesive despite the colour difference.
Wrapping black panels around a feature such as a breakfast bar or kitchen island is also a great way to create a focal point. In this instance, the black panelling is bold without being loud, which gives a space a moody and quite modern vibe.
Think about: What complementary panel colour do you want to use with a black panel? Darker browns, like walnut, will give a softer look, whereas light oak will provide more of a contrast.
2) Go bold with a feature wall or panel drench
[Sometimes, you want maximum impact on a space. Nothing beats that feeling of walking into a room and thinking, “wow”, this is a space that feels fully curated. And it’s not about ‘filling’ the room, it’s about making sure that every decision feels intentional and aligns on the bigger vision.
As you can see from above, this space leans on rich colours like dark greens, bronze, and black. But there’s also texture with glass and wood. The walls are very minimalist, but what really elevates the room is the floor-to-ceiling statement panelling wall.
In this instance, the panelling feels like art in itself, making it an excellent substitute for traditional wall art. Equally, the rich black makes the space feel lux, it’s brave and assured, and that translates even through an image.
Think about: If you want to recreate this, think about wall positioning. Do you want the panelling on one wall or, like above, do you want it continued onto the next wall, which creates a softer transition from wall colour to panel?
3) Lighten the look with half-height panelling
Black panelling has a very rich quality; if you want the benefit of that without losing an airy and open quality, half-height panelling is a winner.
In bedrooms, like above, half-panelling works really well for complementing other decor in the room. Imagine a white bedspread and pillows against a white wall, it has the potential to feel flat, there’s no contrast or dimension.
In comparison, black wall panels actually amplify that fresh linen feeling by providing a rich contrast. It doesn’t only do this for bedding but for other elements like plants and lighting too.
Equally, half-height walls can be used in a very functional way too, by providing narrow shelving. Use this for displaying art, as they have above. This gives a relaxed, artsy vibe, but also means you can avoid putting nails in walls!
Think about: Consider the thickness of the panelling, what can you realistically lean on top? You could also install a shelf on top of the panelling for added depth.
4) Use panelling to zone functional spaces
You may have heard of ‘colour zoning’, which is the concept that you can use wall and ceiling colours to create functional zones within a room. For example, this could be a cosy reading zone or a working desk zone (like above)
But you can do this with black panelling too. This works particularly well for home office areas because the colour black feels calming and unintrusive, which can be the perfect antidote to work.
Don’t be afraid to think of panelling as a canvas, you can still add elements on top of the panels, like this desk table above.
Think about: What corners and spaces of your home feel neglected from a style perspective? Could you utilise colour or panelling to make them feel more intentional?
Choose the right black panels for your space
If you feel like black panelling is the right choice for you and your space, the next decision is choosing the style of panelling.
We’ve broken down a few popular choices below:
- Ribbed: These panels have evenly spaced ridges that create texture and often shadow across a surface.
- Slat: These panels are slightly more two-dimensional, made up of flat vertical or horizontal strips with visible spacing between them, creating a linear look.
- Fluted: These panels have rounded or concave grooves, giving a softer, more sculptural finish
Not sure which you prefer? Take a look at our sample pack, which includes five different styles of our high-quality black panelling.
