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.

Consisting of large, thin sheets of solid wood or veneer, wood paneling enjoyed its heyday in the 1970s when designers clad entire walls with it to create warmth and texture.

Hitting the wall over tacky old paneling. Nov 8, 2003. Q: We own a 50-year-old tract home in which all the rooms, including the kitchen, are covered in luan paneling.