Knotty pine paneling is a beautiful gift from nature to adorn walls and ceilings. It doesn’t have to be your grandfather’s vertical wide knotty pine boards. It’s available in other forms and sizes today that can make home interiors look stylish.
Choose the layout style, width and length of the paneling, its color, and install it with a nail gun. You can create special walls and ceilings by researching different layouts or create a unique one of your own.
What Is Knotty Pine Paneling?
Knotty pine paneling is made from various species of pine trees primarily used for walls and ceilings. It is typically made into boards that are 4”, 5”, 6”, and 8” widths and varying lengths. The best is milled from red pine, also called Norway pine, and has a tongue and groove/end-matching design. It is considered softwood as opposed to hardwoods like maple and oak.
Knotty pine paneling stands out from other woods because it contains dark knots, color and grain variations, and sometimes mineral streaks. Pine is more affordable than hardwoods or imported exotic woods because pine trees are replanted for future use. It is lightweight and easy to saw, drill, sand, and handle. It is also popular for cabinets, vanities, hobby projects, and toy making. It is also a joy to stain and finish for any project. Here are some tips for buying your knotty pine paneling.
Use A Special Layout On The Walls
Creating a stylish interior is easy with a special layout and knotty pine paneling. Most walls are somewhat plain and boring but they don’t have to be. Use pine paneling for:
- Accent Walls
- Wainscoting
- Horizontal Layouts
- Vertical Layouts
- Diagonal Layouts
- Combination Layouts
- Unique Arrangements
Install special layouts on one or more walls in your home, cabin, cottage, or business building. Each of the above styles can be viewed online to help make the decision. You may want to use two or more different layouts throughout the house or perhaps in one room. Your décor is only limited by your imagination. Make this project into an exciting and beautiful display.
Try An Assortment Of Paneling Widths
Tongue and groove knotty pine paneling is used for both walls and ceilings. The favorite wall sizes are 4”, 5”, 6”, and 8” widths in assorted lengths. Basic paneling patterns include:
- Each row has the same width paneling
- Each row has the same length paneling
- Each row has the same width with varying lengths
- The end-joints can be arranged in a staggered pattern
- Wainscoting can be used instead of a full wall
Ceilings are typically made with 4” or 6” width paneling boards. The most common layout is a straight pattern with all boards the same length. You can design the layout in any of the ways mentioned in the list above. Tongue and groove boards are secured to wall framing and ceiling joists with a nail gun. They can be placed over existing wall and ceiling material with or without furring strips, depending on their structure.
Try Whitewashing Pine Paneling Interiors
Once you have selected the layout pattern, width and length of the panels, consider finishing the wood walls or ceilings with stylish whitewash stain. Interior designers tell us that whitewash adds an old-fashioned charm to rooms. If you are a vintage lover, you will definitely love this look. The main reasons why homeowners like a whitewash finish is because it is:
- A simple idea
- Inexpensive
- Easy to use
- Availability of stain
White ceilings seem to never go out of style in traditional, modern, or log homes. Whitewash stain is better than white paint because it soaks into the wood’s pores instead of sitting on top of the wood. Stain allows the wood to “breathe” and doesn’t cause nail heads to rust through like they can do with white paint.
Consider New Stain Colors For Pine Paneling Interiors
A popular way to create special eye-catching and stylish walls is staining them with some of the new colors on the market. They vary from whitewash to dark shades that give you plenty of choices. The popular shades that are easily obtainable and easy to use include:
Blue Shades Bronze Walnut Chestnut Classic Gray Early American Fruitwood Washington Cherry Wheat White Ash
Mixing and matching colors is another approach to finishing walls. You can mix them within rows and from one row to another instead of finishing the entire wall with one shade. One coat of stain is generally enough but you may want to apply a second coat if the first one is not dark enough. TIP: Apply the stain to the front of a scrap piece of paneling to test the color before doing the walls or ceilings.
Stains can be applied with a soft cloth or brush and are available in water-based and oil-based variations. We hope these ideas will help you create stylish walls and ceilings for your new house, cottage, cabin, or a remodeling job. Knotty pine is also a great choice for flooring, trims, moldings, and interior decking.
