It's late in the evening and you have just spent another hour going down the rabbit hole of Pinterest inspirations. Finally, you find your holy grail - a space or ambience that you are dying to recreate in your new home. You waste no time and open several dozen tabs in your browser. The hunt for the new décor has officially begun.
I wonder if, in all the excitement, you have considered a broader context of your interior idea. Have you researched where in the world the beautifully designed space you liked is located? What is the form and style of its exterior? Is it a new or old built?
I have recently asked myself these questions, which ultimately led me to the decision to remove most of the panelling from the walls of my flat. Through that process, I reflected a lot about the current fashion for panelling and the related aspects I have failed to consider when I made the decision to incorporate it in my home.
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After months of convincing by my interior designer, and despite the initial hesitation, I agreed to decorate the walls of my modern flat with polyurethane wall panels. While the idea didn't come to me organically, I decided to give it a go. After all, panelling elevates the space, adds an extra oomph to an otherwise boring room, and - of course - the Internet is full of charming panelling inspirations.
I very quickly realised that what looked good on paper, didn't quite work in real life. The clash between the over-the-top elegant interior and the sleek modern exterior became painfully apparent. The two seemed so detached from one another that I couldn't find harmony in my newly refurbished, and otherwise beautiful, home.
As the renovation progressed and more items filled the rooms, the perceived size of the space has - perhaps unsurprisingly - dramatically shrunk. Panelling made it look small, busy, and crammed. Every inch of the space was used. It became very clear that a 74m² flat with 2.5 metre ceilings is not the right setting to show off the beauty of wall panelling - at least not in the amount we have incorporated in my space.
Finally, polyurethane panelling, which we chose due to its popularity and accessibility, didn't seem authentic. Having spent a decade living in Edinburgh, a city of incredible old architecture often complemented by traditional wood panelling, I couldn't help but notice that this artificial material is merely replicating a genuine feel of a classical space.
It took me some time to understand where the lack of harmony came from, and even longer to digest the realisation that our idea was wrong. Yet through that process I clarified for myself what type of spaces make me feel at peace. This is very different to understanding what spaces I admire to look at. I'm a minimalist at heart and wall panelling, as beautiful as it could be, is certainly not minimal.
Last week I took most of the panelling off. I was amazed by the dramatical change it brought. The flat instantly became more spacious and more aligned with its surroundings. It gave room for the furniture and décor to show its form and place. There finally was enough space to breathe.
I have decided to keep some panelling in the bedroom and home office, at least for now. I see this as a play with style and convention, which currently - as it is not overtaking the entirety of my flat - looks more intentional and fun. It no longer dictates the feel and perception of the space. Rather, I see it as a playful addition which makes the whole place look a tad more interesting.
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