Barn board - what is it?
The idea of reusing building materials has been around for quite some time. A few decades ago, furniture, picture frames, and interior items began to be made from old wood, which had already been used in construction and decoration.
Wall decoration with old boards
Important! Barn board is a material that was obtained after the demolition of old buildings (houses, barns, sheds). Such raw materials are very different in color from new ones, and also have noticeable traces of use - chips, chips, scratches, nicks, holes from fasteners, bark beetle burrows.
Externally, the barn board is literally imbued with the spirit of antiquity. It has its own history and evokes nostalgic feelings and peace for many.
Old wood has amazing beauty and can be considered a true antique with a unique appearance. No stains or paints can age new material as effectively as time has done.
The use of barn boards has not only aesthetic, but also practical advantages:
- non-shrinkability;
- absence of harmful substances in the composition, environmental friendliness;
- ease of processing.
Some users are concerned: will a coating that has already served for many years be reliable? It turns out that high-quality wood can be used for centuries, since over the past years it has completely dried out naturally.
Thanks to the slow evaporation of moisture, the lamellas did not deform and remained stable. Therefore, they can easily withstand fluctuations in temperature and humidity, and do not fall apart when nailing or sawing.
Not every product is suitable for reuse. Some boards will have to be immediately rejected and thrown away. We are talking about cracked, twisted, rotten specimens.
Important! For further work, only the strongest, undamaged lamellas are selected, after which they are thoroughly processed.
Old boards with paint residues
First, the material is disinfected, then the old paint, staples and nails are removed. Next, it is cut and sanded, but so that abrasions, knots and other authentic features remain. The length and thickness of each board depends on the needs of the user and the specific design idea.
Types of material
Barn board is classified based on the type of raw material from which it is made. The most expensive and high-quality material is oak. Rough but noble-looking products look great in retro interiors, but are no less suitable for modern styles.
Old oak table top
In Russia and the CIS countries, barn boards made of larch, coniferous trees, and aspen are also often used. In Asian countries they use slats made of teak and Chinese elm, in America - from oak and whitebark pine.
Interesting! Australian eucalyptus material is considered the most prestigious, and the raw materials for it are obtained after dismantling piles, piers, and bridges.
The age of the boards can also vary. Typically, products that have served for 15 to 30 years are used. The older the raw material, the more valuable it is and the more expensive it is.
The material also varies in color, which also depends on the type of wood. Most often there are various shades of brown, grayish, less often greenish and red. There are also very light-colored, sun-bleached boards.
Do-it-yourself from a board: features of making various products
The board is probably the most popular construction and finishing material, at least in the Russian Federation, which is rich in forest lands with different types of wood. Therefore, there will always be people who want to make something out of it themselves.
These could be, for example, outbuildings, a bathhouse or greenhouses made from boards with your own hands. The use of such material is extremely widespread, and we will try to cover this topic in more detail, and you will also find a video in this article.
Where can the material be used?
As a rule, naturally aged wood is used in interior decoration. It is also suitable for cladding facades, but the cost of finishing will be very high.
Important! It should be taken into account that a square meter of aged wood costs 2000-5000 rubles or more. Therefore, it is worth immediately calculating the cost of home renovation.
The oldest antique boards, which are over a hundred years old, are used to make exquisite things: panels, picture frames, icons, furniture.
Barn board panel
There are many possibilities for using boards in the interior. For floors, products with a thickness of 5 cm or more are used; less massive lamellas are suitable for ceilings and walls.
False ceiling beams made from old wood, accent walls, doors and partitions, and decorative elements are popular. Verandas are made from barn boards, terraces and balconies are decorated. As for furniture, slats are most often used to make cabinets, cabinets, chests of drawers, headboards, and tables.
Bed with wooden headboard
Usage
There are many possibilities for using old barn boards in the interior. Most often they are used for wall decoration, replacing wallpaper with them. A very popular option is an accent wall. Barn boards are used in different rooms: living room, bedroom, kitchen, children's room.
In addition to walls, boards are also used as flooring. These floors look amazing both in an apartment and in a country house. It must be remembered that the thickness of the board must be at least 50 mm. You can also use laminate with imitation of natural material.
Another area of application for barn boards is the manufacture of doors and partitions. The latter zone the room very effectively, so they will be very useful in the interior of a studio apartment. In addition, boards can be used as decorative elements. They can beautifully highlight the head of the bed, fireplace, or individual areas of the veranda. And, of course, barn boards make amazing furniture. Countertops made of this material would be appropriate in the kitchen, a small table can be placed in the living room, and bedside tables in the bedroom.
What styles is the coating suitable for?
The material is successfully implemented in a variety of interiors - from classic to modern. The main directions of its application depending on the style:
- Loft. Barn board in industrial design looks appropriate and very fashionable. It seems to embody the “working” atmosphere of past years, while being successfully combined with stone, brick, and concrete. Typically, in the loft style, the board is used to make furniture or decorate an accent wall.
- Country and Scandinavian style. The main idea of these interior trends is unity with nature, therefore all natural materials are suitable for interior design. Wood is used to cover the walls or make an accent area, lay it on the floor, make beams, doors, picture frames.
- Classic. Furniture made from old boards will fit perfectly into almost any classic interior. Antique panels, frames for mirrors, paintings, and other accessories made of aged wood will look no less beautiful.
- Minimalism. With the help of boards, rooms are zoned, floors and ceilings are decorated. For minimalism, predominantly the lightest materials are selected.
Advantages of this option
First of all, it is necessary to note the most significant positive aspects that the use of wood trim gives:
| Originality | You don’t have to decorate the entire room - use a natural moisture board for one of the walls, and it will become the central accent of the entire interior. The natural texture of wood blends equally organically into both classic and modern settings, while with the help of different compositions the surface can be given a variety of shades or even made multi-colored |
| Environmental friendliness | Wood has the ability to absorb and release moisture, which allows it to maintain an optimal indoor microclimate. In addition, many breeds emit substances that are beneficial to human health, which have a positive effect on the well-being of all people in the room. Natural materials have always been valued and will continue to be valued very highly. |
| Reasonable cost | With a solid appearance of the finish, its price is quite affordable, and you can use improvised materials that will look no worse than new ones. A simple, nondescript board can be artificially aged and with the help of impregnation it can be given a magnificent look, that is, from leftover materials you can create an excellent decor with your own hands for free |
| Durability | Since an optimal microclimate is always maintained indoors, wood is practically not affected by adverse factors in the form of changes in humidity and temperature, which allows it to serve for decades without deteriorating its performance properties and characteristics. |
Important! Another advantage is the huge number of wood textures; if you wish, you can find very unusual options, even using a rough fence board.
A wall board can be deliberately rough, this gives it a special charm
Recommendations for arranging premises
Barn board is a high-quality and beautiful building material, but it requires proper use in the interior. Experienced designers do not advise using too many wooden coverings in one room - it will look excessive and tasteless.
Advice! It is better to introduce wood into the design little by little, for example, on only one wall, in the form of ceiling beams or floors. Additionally, a barnwood accent wall pairs well with accessories or furniture made from the same material.
When laying boards, you can interestingly alternate raw materials of different shades, for example, light and dark lamellas. A combination of wood and brickwork, leather, and forged elements will look no less successful. For decorating windows in rooms where the walls are decorated with wood, linen, cotton and other natural fabrics are ideal.
Examples in the interior
Barn board looks good in bedroom design. It is used to cover the wall behind the bed, while changing the direction of the lamellas, selecting decorative elements, alternating shades.
An accent wall will attract attention in the living room, especially in combination with brick or plaster in a beige or cream shade. Also, in the room for receiving guests, you can arrange a wooden floor, and cover the walls with light wallpaper, complementing the interior with fluffy textiles: sofa covers, a carpet.
Barn board wall panels are all the rage right now. Often the walls are finished with seamless panels mounted on thick plywood. They are left in their original form, varnished, waxed or painted, and various designs are applied.
Original signs, 3D panels, clocks, and signs are made from barn boards. In eco-style, such products go well with green plants, eco-walls or moss compositions.
Using barn boards in the interior is a great way to make the atmosphere warm, homely and cozy, diversify the design and add a “zest” to it.
