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Stairs wall panels


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(Image credit: Future)

Stair paneling ideas can maximize the style of this area of a home. Paneling is often considered a traditional feature, but it might equally have modern style, or a cottage look, and can therefore be used in many different types of houses.

And while it is aesthetically pleasing, stair paneling is also one of the hallway ideas that’s supremely practical. It can protect walls from bumps and scuffs making it a finish to consider for busy family homes. With the right paint finish, it can simply be wiped clean of any marks, too.

Here, we’ve collected inspirational stair paneling ideas along with expert advice from interior designers to inspire designs for the entrance to your home.

Stair paneling ideas

If you're looking for staircase ideas that bring character and architecture to a hallway, wall paneling is a great place to start. Consider stair paneling ideas that employ it on the stair wall to full height or to dado level, or feature it on the lower part of the staircase. Be inspired, too, by finishes in clean light hues, moody darks, and natural wood tones.

1. Use stair paneling to add texture

(Image credit: Dodson Interiors Photograph: Nathan Schroder)

You might opt for stair paneling ideas rather than wallpaper to bring texture to a wall.

‘Paneling adds depth to this entryway, and dresses up the space,’ says Julie Dodson of Dodson Interiors . ‘On stairs, paneling is nice because it’s wipeable and easy to clean. 

‘This particular home was gutted and restored, and we wanted to create some depth and texture on the wall. You can do this with wallpaper, but that wasn’t the homeowners’ style. They are a little more traditional-meets-transitional, so we chose a more modern paneling with even squares.’

2. Match paneling to the staircase

(Image credit: Pooky)

Where a staircase has a wood rather than painted finish, consider matching paneling to the steps, spindles, newel post and staircase railings to bring warm organic tones to the hallway.

In this home, the paneling makes a further connection to the staircase design, echoing the sweeping lines and ornate detail of its components. The effect is one of grandeur, and perfect for a traditional home.

3. Take a lead from the flooring

(Image credit: Cherie Lee Interiors)

Consider picking up a color from a patterned floor tile for stair paneling. ‘This hallway was quite a large space with a balance of contemporary and traditional features,’ explains Cherie Lee of Cherie Lee Interiors . ‘The floor was a traditional Victorian tile and there was a super large Crittall screen in the hallway. The use of paneling helped balance the contemporary screen.
 
‘We took the color palette from the tiles and used it on the staircase, banisters, walls and the paneling. It created a cohesive scheme and made everything feel calm and classic whilst combining more contemporary elements.’
 
The paint color of the panelling here is Farrow & Ball’s Manor House Gray, and it's even echoed in the staircase runner idea.

4. Make a cozy nook

(Image credit: Cormar Carpets)

Whether you're looking for landing ideas or to add character to a hallway, paneling on the lower part of an L-shaped staircase makes an inviting nook for an armchair and footstool in this hallway. The horizontal boards create a farmhouse feel that’s welcoming and elegant without being over formal, and the paneling is repeated on the stair wall to complete the look.

Painted in a soft, off-white finish the effect is one of spaciousness and light that’s continued by the finish of the staircase itself.

5. Combine traditional and modern

(Image credit: Future Publishing Ltd Photograph: Davide Lovatti)

Stair paneling ideas that are traditional either because they are original features of an older home or have authentic period style can be successfully teamed with more contemporary choices.

In this hallway, the lower part of the staircase has elegant paneling that’s repeated on the other side of the hallway but a contemporary glass baluster. The barely there baluster with its clean lines lets the attractive and more detailed paneling take center stage. And it has the advantage of allowing a clear view to it as well.

6. Create a color surprise 

(Image credit: Adrian Briscoe)

Make paneling a highlight by using staircase paint ideas in an unexpected shade using contemporary paint effects. In this home, a pistachio green pops against the quieter hues of the neutral carpet and the painted armchairs. 

And because the paneling extends all the way up the wall, the color also draws the eye up the stairs and beyond for an inviting impression.

7. Swap to wallpaper panels

(Image credit: Arte)

While stair paneling ideas generally mean using wood, panels made with wallpaper can be an arresting and sophisticated staircase wall idea.

‘Staircases, much like hallways, are often the first space you or your guests will encounter upon entering your home,’ says Philippe Desart, managing director, Arte . ‘Often an afterthought when it comes to design, these spaces need to be highly functional as well as create a welcoming atmosphere that sets the tone for your interior. 

‘Choose bold, graphic prints and evocative designs to bring this area to life and don’t be afraid to experiment with textures. This is an area you pass through rather than dwell, so here you can afford to be bold with the scale, color or texture of your wallcoverings.  

‘Bolder prints and patterns installed in panels are a great alternative to hanging artwork on the walls, adding visual interest and a striking design feature without compromising on what is often a small, narrow space.’

Shown here is the Flamencos Andinos design, which has a natural woven jute texture.

8. Complement a cottage

(Image credit: Vanessa Arbuthnott)

Tongue and groove is a distinct contender cottage staircase ideas. Add it alongside the staircase to dado height for a fuss-free look that suits rustic interiors to a T; here it’s used in the hallway, too.

Paneling’s ability to protect walls can be valuable on narrow flights of stairs and corridor-style entryways where knocks are more likely to occur. 

The paneling is finished in a soft neutral in this home, allowing the colorful patterned fabrics plus the painted wood of the staircase and bench to come to the fore.

9. Expand the space with a light shade for paneling

(Image credit: Little Greene)

Weigh up the merits of choosing a paint finish for paneling that will give the illusion of extra space. 

‘If your stairs and floor are light in color, you may wish to choose stronger shades for the paneling to provide a contrast,’ says Ruth Mottershead, creative director, Little Greene . ‘However, if you have darker flooring and stairs, choosing lighter tones such as Wood Ash (seen here) will work better to brighten up your hallway and staircase, giving the illusion of space in an area which can often be quite narrow.

‘Consider adding design details by painting your woodwork or dado rails in a different tone,’ she suggests.

10. Work with dark paneling shades

(Image credit: Future Publishing Ltd Photograph: David Merewether)

And here is an example of the power of painting stair paneling in a statement dark shade. 

In a large hallway with excellent natural light even full-height paneling can be given a moody finish, while for smaller spaces, a reflective white wall above dado height will keep the space bright with the darker shade used on paneling below dado.

This rich gray introduces a modern twist to an older home and is repeated on staircase risers for a cohesive design.

What are the different types of paneling?

There are many different types of paneling that can be chosen for staircase walls, and each creates its own effect. More informal designs include both shiplap and tongue and groove. The former consists of individual boards most often used horizontally. The overlapping panels fit together via joints called rabbets which create a tight seal. 

Tongue and groove has a similar appearance but a different joint between boards – from which it gets its name. Beadboard also has a tongue-and-groove joint, but has a milled bead on the tongue side and a chamfered edge on the groove side.

Board and batten paneling consists of a series of flat boards with battens laid on top at the joints. It has a look that’s chic without being overly traditional. 

Paneling can also feature flat or raised panels along with vertical and horizontal rails, and can be original in an older home, or a new version with authentic detail, or a contemporary take, which may often be less intricate. Generally, it has a grander look that choices such as shiplap, and tongue and groove and beadboard.

Is paneling a good idea?

Paneling can be a great idea for different areas of a home, including for the stairs as well as the hallway. Paneling can add interest to a wall, so consider it as an alternative to wallpaper to introduce texture and pattern.

For a busy family home, paneling can be a sound choice because it protects walls from bumps, and it can be given a wipe-clean paint finish so any marks can easily be removed. Paneling can also hide any slight unevenness in a wall finish, which is another advantage of using it. 

Paneling is also a versatile choice; it can be a fabulous original feature of a Victorian or other historic home, but the right design can suit modern or transitional spaces. 

Sarah is a freelance journalist and editor. Previously executive editor of Ideal Home, she’s specialized in interiors, property and gardens for over 20 years, and covers interior design, house design, gardens, and cleaning and organizing a home for H&G. She’s written for websites, including Houzz, Channel 4’s flagship website, 4Homes, and Future’s T3; national newspapers, including The Guardian; and magazines including Future’s Country Homes & Interiors, Homebuilding & Renovating, Period Living, and Style at Home, as well as House Beautiful, Good Homes, Grand Designs, Homes & Antiques, LandLove and The English Home among others. It’s no big surprise that she likes to put what she writes about into practice, and is a serial house renovator.  

Easy to Follow Tutorial - How to Panel a Staircase

A while ago I started the hallway makeover. It’s by no means finished, but we have made progress! Woohoo! One of the tasks left on the list was to panel the hallway, going up the stairs and on the landing. Here’s how to panel a staircase even if you don’t have a fancy mitre saw that will cut whatever angle you want. It took me a while to figure out how to work out the angles, but I have a sneaky hack for you to make panelling your hallway really easy – read on!

What Wood to Use for Stair Panelling?

The first job was to work out how much wood I would need. By wood, I mean just moulding. I’m not faffing around with actual panels here, this is the faux panelled look. It’s much easier (especially in an old wonky house!). I drew a scale plan of the wall and drew on the panels. As the lengths of moulding come in 2.4m lengths (which only just fit in my car!) I worked out how many lengths I would need and added on a couple extra just in case. There’s nothing worse than running out of material halfway through a job! Especially as all my DIY needs to be done in school hours – I don’t have time for extra trips to B&Q!

 

What Tools do You Need for Wood Panelling?

You will need:

If you have one of those electric saws that allows you to cut mitres, you can follow this amazing YouTube tutorial on how to cut different angles which was kindly sent to me by Laura at Beechmount House over on Instagram Unfortunately I don’t have one of those so I had to come up with another method – this is where the cardboard comes in 😉

How to Panel your Staircase Wall

I firstly measured where I wanted the dado rail to be. This should be roughly in line with your banister, or around 1m from the ground. It can be difficult to measure on the stairs, so I cut an offcut of wood which I used as a guide to make sure my dado rail was at the same level all the way up the stairs. I drew a line on the wall as a guide.

Attach the dado rail using No More Nails. If the walls aren’t straight, use a panel pin to keep the dado rail in place while the No More Nails dries. I had to get Mr R to help me with this in between his various meetings for work. I tried it before on my own and stuck the bloody thing on wonky, so I had swallow my pride and ask for help.

 

Where the staircase meets the top of the stairs there is an angled join on the dado. I used the dado rail coming up the stairs as a guide and marked the angle on another piece of dado, which I then cut. We have this random bit of wood that sticks out of the stairs – I have no idea what it’s for but I kind of like it.

 

I divided the wall into three equal sections and drew a line where each section starts. I left a 10cm gap around the outside of the panelled box, and marked this on the wall too. I used a block which was 10cm high to make sure the bottom piece of the panelled box sat level with the skirting board.

 

The next job is to work out the angles for the panelled boxes on the wall. I’m sure there are some really clever ways of doing this (that I don’t know!). I bought a site protractor but couldn’t work out how to use it. I downloaded a protractor app on my phone but it just made me cross. In the end, I came up with this nifty little trick which worked perfectly! This is how to panel a staircase my way!

 

I drew the angles on the wall. Rather than trying to work them out and then set up a jig to try and cut them, I cheated. I have no idea what the angles are. I transferred the lines on the wall onto a piece of cardboard. I then drew round the moulding so I had a lovely V shape on my cardboard which matched the angle on the wall. I drew a line down the middle of this to split it in half. I then cut out the shapes and voila! I had a template which matched the angles on the wall. I used these templates to cut the moulding to the right angle, and attached it to the wall using No More Nails. They’re not perfect by any means, but when they’re caulked and painted they look pretty good!

You can see how the two pieces will join together here. Stupidly I didn’t take a photo of the strips of cardboard, but they’re essentially two points that join together to make the correct angle. You cut out the V shape, then cut it in half.

 

 

I panelled up the stairs and on the landing outside the bedrooms. Panelling has added interest to what was otherwise a bland, boring space.

 

 

I then painted it all in Wevet but wasn’t a fan of how it looked in such a gloomy space so went back to Cornforth White. To be fair, Hols and Mr R both said they liked Cornforth White better than Wevet but I didn’t listen. They didn’t gloat TOO much when I had to repaint it all! The next step is to tackle the scratty woodwork and get a new stair runner but as my work life is going to get really busy over the next few weeks I’m not going to have chance to tackle it for a while.

 

From Cornforth White and Wevet…

To all Cornforth White! I might change it back when I start on the scratty woodwork but that’s a big job for another day.

 

I’m so pleased with how the hallway panelling has turned out. It’s a job I just couldn’t face over lockdown but now things are looking brighter, the world is opening up again and I feel like my DIY mojo is coming back a bit. Only a bit.

 

I hope I’ve shown you how to panel a staircase and this tutorial has been helpful! For other wall panelling tutorials check out:

How to Panel a Victorian Hallway (An Easy Tutorial!)

A Tutorial for Wood Panelled Walls in the Bathroom

Our Master Bedroom Transformation – with Wall Panelling Tutorial!

Wooden wall panels | STIM. Design and manufacture of stairs in St. Petersburg

Ask a Question

Want to know more? Ask us your question!

In a modern interior, wooden wall panels are often used for finishing and decorating walls. Wood has long earned a reputation as a reliable, versatile and durable material. In addition, today manufacturers offer different texture and color variations, among which you can choose suitable for any style of interior.

When choosing finishing materials, reference points are the features of the interior, preferences in appearance and budget.


The market offers the following types of wooden wall panels:

Wooden panels are used not only for wall decoration, but also for ceilings and other surfaces in the interior, for the manufacture of decorative panels.

The popularity of wood flooring is growing every year thanks to a set of advantages:

When choosing a finish, it is necessary to take into account the sensitivity to high humidity inherent in most wood and veneered materials. If we are talking about a bathroom or kitchen, then it is important to pay attention to this. Also, experts note the need for additional leveling of surfaces if wooden panels are planned to be fixed with glue.


Most often, wooden wall panels are used as decoration for living rooms, bedrooms and offices, rooms and lounge areas, balconies and loggias in country houses and apartments. The versatility of wooden finishes, various forms of elements, an abundance of shades - from traditional textures to bright decorative colors, the possibility of tinting and repainting - all this works great for creating unique interior solutions focused on any request. The color scheme, the type and shape of the panels, the texture of the material must necessarily fit into the overall concept of interior design.

Wooden panels on the walls and ceiling, various wooden panels can be found in interiors of completely different styles: classic and Scandinavian, Provence and loft, modern and eclectic. Wood is a unique material in every sense and allows design ideas to roam in the creation of individual interior projects.

Projects: Wooden cantilever staircase with glass railing / Design project: furniture and interior elements made of solid oak / Infrared sauna made of thermo aspen

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