Written By: Lavanya Chopra
The past few years have witnessed an undeniable resurgence in homeowners and design professionals selecting wood and its many finishes for their spaces. Timeless and far from being stereotyped as a ‘trending’ material, wood has had an enduring clasp on the world of interior design.
The material and its unique textures, grain, and hues are celebrated for instantly adding a touch of warmth, comfort, and cosiness to the rooms they are utilised in. With end-users spending more time at home, the need for more robust and inviting spaces has ranked at an all-time high, making wood a champion of materials.
A dynamic blend of pragmatic and aesthetic, our design experts share tips on how the material can be worked into your space’s design language.
Flooring Finesse
Wood has had a lasting connection with floors for centuries, from decadent castles to today’s modern homes!
Often called ‘Parquet Flooring’, wood takes on an expressive and bold persona in homes. Some popular picks in the laying formats include herringbone, chevron, brick bond, and wood strip options that lend room for a punch of character.
Modern retail offerings include laminate and veneer varieties that emulate the look of natural wood while making budgets and upkeep more attainable for wooden flooring.
2. Panelling Prowess
Wood panelling has been a design trend that has seamlessly transformed from historical landmarks to contemporary homes. Panelling often fulfils 3 essential functions: as an accent material addition, for interior insulation, or to protect surfaces/conceal certain areas.
A great fit in modern or rustic-themed spaces, wood panelling, can envelop rooms in the embrace of warmth and texture, elevating the ambience by many notches! Areas like entryways, living spaces, bedrooms, and stairwells can be treated with wood panelling for an impact.
3. The Ceiling is Your Canvas
^ Photo by Jason Briscoe on Unsplash
Despite being often ignored, a room’s ceiling is a design canvas that holds potential. Wood can make a promising debut across ceilings in the form of false ceilings to draw one’s sight upwards while driving the design quotient higher.
Wooden false ceilings can define certain zones in a larger room, incorporate diverse lighting systems, or create a geometric identity, such as coffered, slatted, and rafters. These false wood ceilings can be finished in laminates or veneers of different kinds, lending them a unique look with natural varnishes, lacquers, or melamine.
4. Versatile Wood Furniture
Whether it’s the loved Mid-Century Modern aesthetic or the easeful allure of Modern-Coastal Design, wood has been omnipresent in furniture design. Be it beds, dining tables, sofas, consoles, or wardrobes; natural wood is the frontrunner of furniture across design styles kudos to its durability and versatility of finishes.
A vital trick of the trade while curating wood furniture is to stick to one palette: warm, neutral, or cool to approximately match the finish of large pieces while dabbling in a slight play of contrast.
In addition, materials like natural stone, concrete, and metal pair well with wood, creating a visual and tactile balance in spaces.
5. Decoding Decor
^ Photo by Sarah Khan on Unsplash
There is something out there for every design style and period when it comes to wooden decor. Pepper your space with natural wood strategically to balance colours and textures.
Consider installing open-faced/floating wood shelving systems to create a focal point. Add artefacts like bowls, sculptures, picture frames, wall installations, vases, and planters in different wood finishes to create a well-curated vignette.
Wood: A Timeless and Trusted Champion of Interior Design
Highly adaptable in its demeanour, natural wood works like a charm across design themes!
The material can inculcate a sense of cosiness and decadence with equal strength, transforming any space with its carefully balanced presence. Nature’s gift to interior design, wood can undoubtedly be the muse of one’s design scheme.
Do you want to channel the grace of wood in your home’s expanse and wonder where to get started?
Touch base with our expert panel of interior designers at Hipcouch to book a free consultation service.
Contact us to learn more about our studio and its design offerings that could be perfect for your vision!