Originally designed to protect walls from furniture and the general chaos of the house, panelling is enjoying a serious comeback in home interiors.
The earliest examples of panelling can be traced back to the 13th century. The Victorians were more recent fans, applying panels from the floor to the mid-wall and topping it off with a dado rail. Many Victorian homes in the UK still have this highly-coveted feature (along with elegant ceiling roses and elaborate cornices), leading those in newer homes to adopt the trend too.
