How I Updated My House With Reclaimed Wood

When we moved into our home it was a sea of tan. While I’m grateful the previous owners left me a blank slate, I also knew that I wanted to add some high design detail to our home without breaking the bank.

We chose a fairly quick DIY of adding reclaimed wood above our fireplace.

It was an easy project that took us only two hours after choosing the wood. We loved how it turned out, and because of our little project, a family member asked us to help recreate the look in a bigger game-room space that brought old-world charm to a brand new home.

While darker, hardwood paneling may be better off left in the 60s, horizontal reclaimed wood paneling is a very popular way to add texture, and if done in the right balance, can create value for a resale as well.

Whether wanting a fresh update to prepare a home to sell or just to liven up your living space, if you’re thinking about reclaimed wood, here are some points to consider:

Add the Right Texture: Do you want wood that tells a story or wood that only appears to tell a story? There’s something to be said for either, and both can serve a purpose.

New wood might be better on usable surfaces like a headboard or in a baby’s room. However, old wood adds an element of feel good for you and the environment. Just like a good piece of art, knot holes, chipped paint and hollowed out nail holes of old wood can tell a story on the wall.

Go Horizontal: To keep the look trendy, stick with a horizontal pattern.

Use Different Size Panels: Create one row of a thicker panels offset by a row of thinner panels. Or if you want to get really creative, a herringbone pattern can also be a great way to showcase the wood.

Stagger the Joints: For best results line up the pattern before you place it on the wall. Keep the joints at least 6-8 inches away from one another as you stack the lines. The more random the joints, the better the pattern. In other words, you don’t want all joints to create a single line up the wall.

Balance the Room: The idea is to keep the room looking spacious and airy. If too much wood is used, the room can often feel closed in, dark or gloomy. Using neutral colors or using it as an accent wall is a great way to combat that feeling of a musty, mid-century flop.

***Local Orange County friends, there’s a place that specializes in reclaimed wood that we used where the staff was friendly and knowledgeable and you can find it here.