Every cottage style home is bound to have bead board in at least one room of the home. Bead board is my number one favorite accent next to paint. It makes a big impact for little money! Bead board is versatile, budget-friendly, and easy to add to walls or furniture. It’s reminiscent of lakeside cottages and New England inns and perfect for adding instant cottage appeal to your home.
What is bead board? It’s a type of wall paneling made from fir, cedar, solid oak, pine, or wood composite, or most popular and cheapest MDF. You’ll know it right away because of its unique appearance. Bead board paneling is a series of thin, raised strips of wood that join together and interlock snugly to create a continuous panel. If buying the MDF version, it is purchased in paneling sheets and is very reasonable in price.
Bead board can be used in its natural state or it can be painted to match or compliment your décor, making it one of the easiest and quickest ways to make a significant impact in a room or as a beautiful detail on furniture.
Ideas for Using Bead Board
•Frame a mirror
•Add to the back of a hutch as a beautiful backdrop for your china
•Use below wainscoting in the living room, den, bathroom, bedroom, kitchen, dining room, or office
•Top end tables or coffee tables with bead board
•Remove the back of a bookshelf and replace it with bead board
•Bead board on the ceiling is an interesting architectural accent and creates visual interest – sunroom, porch, living area, kitchen, etc.
•Create headboard and footboard for a bed
•Cover an entire accent wall in a room
•Surround the kitchen island, craft table, or sewing table
•Backsplash behind kitchen sink or stove
•Set-in accent on cabinets, armoire doors, hutch doors
As you can see, there are almost limitless ways you can incorporate bead board into your cottage style home. It’s easy to create cottage charm with this amazingly versatile decorative accent.
I have used bead board liberally in my house. I have covered my ceilings in my living room. I have used it in bathrooms to add cottage charm. I can’t say enough good about this fantastic home accent!
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I absolutely LOVE beadboard!! We have used it in my office and on the back of a couple of bookcases. I’m thinking about using it on my kitchen cabinets, kitchen island, and master bath tub surround. I have to be careful or I’d be using it everywhere.
Just love the look of beadboard, but can you tell me where that green piece of furniture is from? The grren hutch? Thanks…Love your site and help!
Mary,
Sorry I don’t know where that piece if furniture is from. Wish I could help you.
Denise
Yes! We are planning to beadboard the ceiling of our family room. My husband just saw today that Armstrong actually makes it for exactly that purpose!
Really? Would love to find out about that. We have done 4 ceilings, and they aren’t easy. We have learned some things along the way. I will have to research Armstrong’s product.
Thanks!
Ooooh I love that beadboard in the hutch!
I have a question about beadboard, We have a 10 year old home that is slightly Victorian in style, We have beadboard in the breakfast room under a chairrail. You cannot see the breakfast room from the dining room. Would it be appropriate to put beadboard in the dining room? I would like to put it from the floor up six feet and top it with a shelf to display plates. Our ceiliing are nine feet.. What is your opinion?
Mary,
Yes I definitely think it is appropriate for your dining room. Sounds like a lovely idea that you have. Go for it! Sounds like it is very approriate for the style of your house also.
Denise