Installing half-wall paneling is a simple idea for those who want to add some interest and dimension to blank walls. Otherwise known as wainscoting, there are many types of wood paneling that you can use to cover the lower half of your walls, such as beadboard, shiplap, board and batten, coffered panels, raised panels, flat panels, chair railings, and wood trim or wall molding.
You can clad the walls of any room in the house–from the living room to the bedroom, hallway, dining room, bathroom, and beyond—to add some architectural detail and make your space feel a little more finished and inviting.
Keep it traditional with raised paneling in natural wood or painted white and paired with wallpaper or a contrasting or complementary color on the walls above. Add a modern farmhouse feel with a horizontal or vertical shiplap half-wall. Or use minimalist flat panels painted in the same color as the walls to add subtle detail to a contemporary home.
Check out these half-wall paneling ideas in a range of styles and spaces for inspiration.
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01
of 40Dark Painted Half-Wall
Make a small hallway feel cozier with a simple half-wall finished with wood trim and painted in a dark color, like this space from Jessica Nelson Design. Paint the door frames in the same color for a cohesive look.
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02
of 40Natural Wood Paneling
Natural wood paneling that runs about two-thirds up the wall and matches simple crown molding adds a warm feel to this transitional living room from Marie Flanigan Interiors. A pair of sconces and a large piece of vertical art straddling the wall paneling and white wall above give the living room seating area an integrated feel.
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03
of 40Wood Trim Half-Wall
Design by Ajai Guyot for Emily Henderson Design / Photo by Ellie Lillstrom
Use thin, widely spaced wood trim squares and paint to create a modern half-wall in a bedroom, like this space from Ajai Guyot for Emily Henderson Design. The bed alcove is painted in an earthy sage green and finished with illustrated black-and-white wallpaper on the top wall to add contrast.
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04
of 40Victorian Wall Paneling
Design by Chango & Co. / Photo by Sarah Elliott
In this Victorian home remodeled by Chango & Co., half-wall paneling in the foyer is carried onto the stairwell. The half-wall is painted the same color as the walls in the entryway, while a light taupe color gives the staircase paneling definition.
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05
of 40Colorful Half-Wall Paneling
Christina Kim Interior Design / Photo by Lisa Petrole
Paint your wainscoting in an eye-catching color of your choice for a bold look. Christina Kim Interior Design paired raspberry pink sherbet-colored wainscoting with leafy tropical wallpaper, then painted the crown moldings and ceilings in the same color. The half-wall is finished with thin wood trim detailing to complement rather than compete with the more intricate crown moldings.
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06
of 40Contemporary Flat Panels
Sissy + Marley Interior Design / Photo by Marco Ricca Studio
Install a half-wall of flat panels to add a minimal look in a contemporary space, like this New York City duplex hallway from Sissy + Marley Interior Design that is decorated in shades of white and black.
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07
of 40Dining Room Wainscoting
Classic painted white dining room wainscoting is paired with green grasscloth wallpaper to give this dining room from Mary Patton Design a high-contrast look.
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08
of 40Raised Half-Wall Paneling
Raised panels will create a dimensional and slightly 3D effect. Becca Interiors chose wainscoting painted in a neutral taupe to complement the creamy walls and neutral palette in this traditional home.
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09
of 40All-Gray Walls and Panels
Becca Interiors painted both the vertical shiplap wall panels, walls, trim, and wooden shutters in the same shade of soothing gray to erase the lines between finishes and create a warm and cozy feel in this vintage-style bathroom.
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10
of 40Beadboard Half-Walls
Beadboard has a similar look to shiplap, with thinner boards for a more delicate look. Jessica Nelson Design clad the walls and shower divider with a half-wall of beadboard paneling that is painted in the same soothing sage green as the rest of the space for a cohesive feel.
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11
of 40DIY Geometric Wainscoting
If traditional wainscoting feels too limiting, consider designing your own. The House That Lars Built added personality and originality to this inviting entryway by pairing bold floral wallpaper with DIY geometric wainscoting painted in a soothing blue.
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12
of 40Supersized Shiplap
Design by Chango & Co. / Photo by Sarah Elliott
In this large, double-height entryway, Chango & Co. made the airy, high-ceilinged space feel more welcoming with a modern take on shiplap that includes giant wall panels with grooves that for a supersized effect. The giant shiplap mimics shiplap finishes throughout the home for a cohesive feel.
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13
of 40Board and Batten Bedroom
Board and batten is a simple DIY project that can transform a bedroom. A Beautiful Mess finished this board and batten wall treatment with pink paint and vintage accents.
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14
of 40Simple Half-Wall Paneling
Paint simple half-wall paneling a few shades darker than the walls for a subtle feel, like this bedroom from Desiree Burns Interiors.
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15
of 40Half-Wall Paneled Headboard
Marie Flanigan Interiors added a three-sided half-wall made of horizontal and vertical panels stained in a dark chocolate tone to make this bedroom with tall vaulted ceilings and white walls feel a bit cozier. The half-wall is decorated with integrated wall sconces and a small gilded mirror.
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16
of 40Royal Blue Panels and Trim
Tyler Karu Design + Interiors chose a bold royal blue with a semi-gloss finish to highlight the wainscoting and window and door trim of this traditional living room, adding neutral grasscloth on the walls above to add balance.
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17
of 40Vertical Wall Panels
Forbes + Masters installed simple white painted vertical wood panels that mimic the coffered ceiling and temper the bold hand-painted wall and window treatments in this contemporary dining room.
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18
of 40Wood Slat Half Wall
Ashley Montgomery Design added texture to this entryway and hallway with vertical wood slat half-paneling painted in the same beige pink as the walls.
How to DIY a Wood Slat Wall -
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of 40Black Wall Paneling
Design by Leanne Ford Interiors / Photo by Alexandra Ribar
Leanne Ford Interiors ran saturated black wall paneling about a third of the way up the wall of this living room to add dramatic contrast with white walls and to complement the dark wood trim and vintage fireplace for a moody feel.
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20
of 40Simple Wood Trim
Use simple wood trim to create a half-wall border effect, like this eat-in kitchen from deVOL Kitchens. Paint the trim slightly darker than the walls to create definition. In this room, another layer of wood paneling was added two-thirds of the way up and painted in the same color as the walls to make the high-ceilinged room feel a bit cozier while maintaining a simple appearance.
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21
of 40Paneled Bathtub
Sissy + Marley Interior Design / Photo by Marco Ricca Studio
Sissy + Marley Interior Design ran simple white wood paneling around this spacious bathroom, finishing the front of the built-in tub in a matching finish for a seamless look. Pale gray textured grasscloth keeps the room feeling serene.
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22
of 40Half-Wall With Fireplace
Design by Leanne Ford Interiors / Styling by Hilary Robertson / Photo by Amy Neunsinger
A half-wall of painted white wood paneling wraps around the bump-out carved wood fireplace in this elegant dining room from Leanne Ford Interiors for a built-in look with classic appeal.
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23
of 40Graphic Modern Wallpaper
Design by Chango & Co. / Raquel Langworthy Photography
In this spacious entry, Chango & Co. paired tall vertical wall panels stretch two-thirds the way up with graphic neutral wallpaper for a modern feel.
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24
of 40Entryway Vertical Panels
Design by Leanne Ford Interiors / Photo by Erin Kelly
A half wall of tall vertical panels painted white adds contrast with a warm beige finish on the walls and ceiling and dark wood trim in this traditional home entryway from Leanne Ford Interiors.
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25
of 40Vertical Shiplap Bathroom
Studio Peake concealed pipes and plumbing with a vertical shiplap half wall painted in a fresh shade of minty green that matches the window trim. The top half of the wall is covered in white subway tile and the adjacent wall is finished with green-and-white wallpaper with a botanical pattern.
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26
of 40Extra Tall Wainscoting
Marie Flanigan Interiors modernized the look of traditional white dining room wainscoting with extra-tall panels that end around three-quarters of the way up the wall. The wall above is painted in a warm cocoa brown to mimic the drapes, adding warmth to the pale neutral room.
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27
of 40Playroom Wainscoting
Design by Chango & Co. / Raquel Langworthy Photography
Chango & Co. paired vibrant neon yellow and white striped wallpaper and colorful art on the top half of the wall and simple white wainscoting on the bottom that mimics built-in toy storage in this cheerful playroom.
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28
of 40Chair Railing
Design by Leanne Ford Interiors / Photo by Erin Kelly
Leanne Ford Interiors gave this cozy eat-in kitchen a dose of authenticity with a classic chair rail edging the top of an off-white painted wall, hanging vintage wood folding chairs for an authentic feel.
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29
of 40Beadboard and Wallpaper
Pair beadboard wainscoting painted in a darker color with light patterned wallpaper on the wall above to create a cozy feel in a kids‘ bedroom. Brexton Cole Interiors bathed the wainscoting, window seat, and built-in bookshelves in olive green, then added patterned wallpaper on the wall that adds movement.
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30
of 40Shiplap Dining Room
Michelle Berwick Design made this airy modern farmhouse dining room feel a little more intimate with a half-wall of vertical shiplap panels painted taupe, filling the blank wall space above with a pair of oversized pendant lights.
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31
of 40Soothing Blue Wainscoting
Paint wainscoting in a fresh blue that makes a change from white while retaining a traditional feel. Brexton Cole Interiors paired robin’s egg blue wainscoting with a black-and-white illustrated landscape mural and gilded furniture and mirrors to elegant effect.
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32
of 40Paneled Breakfast Nook
Design by Chango & Co. / Raquel Langworthy Photography
Chango & Co. added a paneled half-wall beneath the windows of this airy breakfast nook, extending the paneling a third of the way up the window wall gaps to make the space feel more finished.
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33
of 40Curvy Wood Paneling
@thetravellingapartment / Instagram
Choose wood paneling with a curvy inlay rather than clean straight lines to complement a bedroom finished with classic wallpaper and antiques, like this inviting bedroom from The Traveling Apartment.
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34
of 40Half-Wall Ledge
Design by Leanne Ford Interiors / Photo by Tessa Neustadt
Use half-wall paneling to create a ledge for framed art to create a casual and effortless feel, like this white shiplap corner ledge from Leanne Ford Interiors that is decorated on both top and bottom.
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35
of 40Game Room Wainscoting
Playful multicolored dotted wallpaper tops classic white wood paneling to give this bright game room an eclectic feel.
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36
of 40Horizontal Shiplap
Design by Chango & Co. / Photo by Sarah Elliott
Chango & Co. used the same horizontal shiplap paneling in the neutral hallway and colorful bathroom for continuity. In the bathroom, the shiplap and door are painted in a vibrant green, and the curved ceiling is covered in iconic banana leaf wallpaper for a fun and spirited look.
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37
of 40Sitting Room Wainscoting
Nile Johnson Interior Design used simple wainscoting to anchor a sitting area with a small love seat and a pair of armchairs in this neutral space that makes the room feel more pulled together and polished.
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38
of 40Basement Half-Wall
Michelle Berwick Design wrapped thie walls of this basement home office with vertical shiplap wall panels painted in a calming shade of blue that helps to ground the space and take the emphasis away from the low ceilings, making the room feel more balanced and inviting.
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39
of 40Double Staircase Half-Wall
Design by Chango & Co. / Photo by Sarah Elliott
Chango & Co. ran wainscoting up the walls of this double staircase, zigzagging to follow the lines of the varying levels to create a custom look.
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40
of 40Mudroom Half Wall
A half wall painted in a soothing shade of green helps to integrate the irregular walls of this compact mudroom laundry room from Jessica Nelson Design.