panelled

Panelled is an adjective describing something that is divided into panels or covered with panels. In architecture and interior design, panelled surfaces are created by installing a frame with several panels, typically rectangular, within doors, walls, ceilings, or furniture. Paneling serves decorative purposes and can also protect underlying surfaces. The term is commonly used in British English (panelled) and, in American English, paneled or paneling.

Panel configurations vary. Common wall paneling types include flat panels, raised panels, and fielded panels, each framed by rails and stiles and often trimmed with mouldings. Doors and cabinets frequently use panelled designs to create a sense of depth and proportion. Materials range from solid wood such as oak, pine, or walnut to plywood-based panels, medium-density fibreboard (MDF), or plaster in older constructions. Modern paneling may use faux or reconstructed materials for cost and moisture considerations.

Historically, panelled walls and ceilings have been prominent in European architectural styles dating from the late medieval period through the Georgian era, with elaborate raised panels featured in aristocratic interiors and in large houses of the 18th and 19th centuries. In later periods, paneling remained a common architectural device, especially in formal rooms and in period restorations. Today, panelled surfaces are used both for traditional aesthetics and contemporary interior design, including feature walls and acoustic paneling in commercial spaces.

See also: wainscoting, beading, coffered ceiling, panel door, paneled furniture.