Tips And Tricks To Give Wood Paneling A Natural Rustic Look

While wood paneling soared in popularity during the 1970's, this trend has since fallen out of popularity over the years. However, with a few tips and tricks, you can bring wood paneling back into style by giving it a natural rustic look. The first step is to sand it down. You can do it by hand with sandpaper or use an orbital sander to create the look you want. Sanding returns the wood to an even base that is perfect for adding even more texture. 

Increasing the aged look is key, and you can create even more yummy texture and aging by using items you already have at home. Consider using nails or chains to scratch and puncture the wood. This creates irregularities in the design for that natural, reclaimed wood look. For even more visual texture and aging, you can tint the wood using tea or vinegar. You can even remove and reinstall your wood paneling with a new, unique pattern. Try installing planks horizontally instead of vertically or cut boards at an angle to completely change the orientation.

If you want to take it a step further, focus your efforts on a specific design like mimicking old barn wood or whitewashing to bring dated wood paneling back to life. For an old barn wood look, sand and score first and then add black paint around the edges of each plank. Thin out the paint with water, then take a damp rag and blend it into the wood grain. Be sure to paint around the edges of each plank and avoid stark lines of paint for a seamless look. Once the paint is dry, finish with a satin or matte polyurethane and rehang the panels horizontally or at a 45-degree angle. 

You can achieve a similar old white paint stain look by making your own chalk paint with plaster of paris and white paint. Known as whitewashing, this effect immediately gives a true farmhouse vibe to your décor. Like the old barn wood stain, simply brush the white paint mixed with plaster of paris into the grooves of the wood, focusing on the edges. Give it a few coats and finish with a satin or matte polyurethane before rehanging the panels of your newly designed rustic wood paneling.