2020 was the year of home renovations and commercial upgrades — a trend that’s still going strong well into 2021. Designers are bringing in rich color palettes and unique texture-mixing accents that bring visual interest every day while working and living at home.

Wall paneling trends are increasing as well, thanks to innovations in the industry. Gone are the days of old wood paneling that warps and looks unsightly. Today’s high-quality wall paneling is durable, beautiful and can enhance any space.

Below are our favorite 2021 wall paneling trends. Which is your favorite?

Nordic Simplicity With Modern Flare

Work-from-home is now commonplace and looks to be here for the long term, so many employees are committing to cozy and calm work nooks. One way to create a calm, comforting feel is to use natural materials such as wood. However, the problem with many natural wood paneling materials is that wood can warp and chip without plenty of maintenance. Warped wood needs replacement, which is costly both in time wasted and money spent. It’s also a headache that many prefer to avoid.

Panasphere’s Thermally-Fused Laminate panels are produced by thermally fusing a sheet of decorative paper directly to a substrate such as particleboard and other composite panels. This allows for an array of designs and colors, keeping designers within their clients’ budgets without sacrificing durability or style.

This cozy working nook is also great for commercial co-working spaces, libraries and educational settings.

Mixed Neutrals

If not done right, mixing neutral colors can look bland at best. But when you incorporate a natural texture with decorative wall paneling, the look is instantly elevated. 2021 color trends emphasize mixing neutral shades in both texture and design. This creates depth and visual appeal that is cohesive and anything but boring.

Designs like this one work well in an array of spaces: modern apartments, corporate offices and even high-end retail spaces that emphasize experience as well as product.

Accent Walls

Interior design panels are perfect for accent walls. Residential studio spaces or corporate break spaces like this one can often look monotone and cold. Using interior wall panels in contrasting materials for an accent wall brings this look to the height of sophistication while still creating an effortless and relaxing feel.

Opt for a textured look in 2021 trending colors like clay, teal and earthy browns, like in the image above featuring Aura panels in Loft, for an interesting contrast to the other white walls and cool-toned cabinets.

Mixed Textures

We can’t say enough about texture, but choosing the right one for your space can feel daunting. Many interior wall panel manufacturers don’t offer an array of options, limiting your design and making it look like all the rest.

Regardless of the space you’re working with, design options should be plentiful and that includes textured wall panels. In high-end hospitality and commercial spaces, it’s all about little touches even in often overlooked areas like restrooms. A pop of stone or leather or wood texture as an emphatic accent is a style trend that will only continue to grow.

Showcase Pieces

One of our favorite 2021 design trends is a showcase or feature piece. Bringing in functional artwork, like this wooden lounge chair, and framing it with subtle, textured wall panels brings what could be a cold and uninspiring space to a work of art.

The textured wall ensures the entire space doesn’t feel too bland or too forced with just a unique chair to bring interest. Instead, the wall and feature piece work together to increase the value of the space and complete the scene perfectly.

The wonderful thing about showcasing functional and artistic pieces is that while the design is popular, and will remain so in 2021, every design is unique. This look can also be created with natural wood tones and shades.

Traveling the Road in Style

As remote work becomes more popular, the ability to work from the road is becoming more enticing as well. Workers no longer need to stay in one place to work from an office, and instead, are traveling the world — oftentimes in an RV.

While the idea of an RV may not be synonymous with design, modern RVs are beautiful and functional. Just look at the RV pictured above. The owners used decorative wall panels for a bright, fresh look that makes the space seem larger and makes traveling a delightful experience.

Functional Home Office

Whether working from home or going into the office, a functional workspace that feels both homey and inspiring is essential for 2021 designs. Particularly for residential offices for employees who need that extra space, wall shelves and cabinets are an absolute necessity.

And as Zoom and other video conferencing software become the new normal, you want to have a clean, professional background in your calls. Using decorative wall paneling, such as in the image above, for your cabinets and functional shelving ensures you get the storage you need that can stay hidden. After all, who wants messy, unorganized shelves distracting callers from the important points you are making in the meeting?

These simple white wall units work seamlessly with the light-toned wood textured wall panel. As more and more employees move to, or continue in, remote work, easy-to-install materials are essential. While it used to be a challenge for designers, architects and contractors to source beautiful, functional and durable materials, Panasphere’s interior wall paneling makes finding the perfect solution as easy as it is to install.

Let Us Help You With Your Next Project

Creating the perfect design that reflects both your clients’ vision and style AND incorporates popular 2021 trends can be challenging, particularly when sourcing materials.

Let us solve your sourcing challenges. Check out all of our stylish Collections and request a free sample. Or if you have questions, we have answers: Contact a wall paneling expert today.

Our Favorite Wall Paneling Trends for 2021