Although wood paneling may have originated as elegant wall coverings in the 17th and 18th centuries, its 20th-century cousin of the 1970s gave it a bad rap. Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, wood paneling, usually made out of veneered plywood rather than solid wood, made its debut and was tremendously popular across the United States because of its easy installation and low price.

However, this also led to a general perception of wood paneling as being dark, claustrophobic, and of poor quality. Here, we take a look at eight projects that refute those views by bringing in a refreshing sense of light.

1) Large-Paneled MDF Boards by Carney Architects

2) Original Eichler Paneling, Updated by Klopf Architecture

3) Vertical Batten Paneling by Mike Shively Architecture and Andreas Kokkino

4) A Cedar-Clad Pavilion by FLOAT Architectural Research and Design

5) Modern and Rustic Ipe Paneling by Sean Lockyer

6) Stained-Chevron Paneling by UrbanLab

7) Pitched Ceiling and Paneled Walls by Abramson Teiger Architects

8) Traditional Cedar Paneling With a Seaside Twist by Gray Organschi Architecture

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8 Bright and Airy Wood-Paneled Spaces