The timelessness of timber

Timber doesn’t just belong on the floor, in fact, it’s never looked more at home than on the walls this season.

Resene Woodsman Cedar Natural Wood Oil hues like Resene Tararua and Resene Kahurangi transform wood, creating the perfect pieces to fit together for a striking feature wall. Timber has long been a symbol of craftsmanship and warmth – from historical designs to contemporary trends, it’s remained a beloved material. Now the spotlight on timber is brighter than ever. It’s not just about leaning into a retro vibe, it’s about embracing the beauty of wood in unexpected ways.

The love affair between timber and interiors dates back centuries, but it reached a particularly prominent peak in the 1970s. Wood panelling, exposed beams and timber cladding were staples in homes across the world in this era. In an age that really celebrated natural materials, wood’s versatility became apparent – it could be used in sleek, modern designs as easily as in rustic spaces. The warmth and texture timber brought to walls, ceilings and furniture made rooms feel inviting and lived-in and is sought after today.

Wood brings a unique tactile quality to spaces; timber has a unique ability to convey a sense of nature’s presence inside. It’s a material that’s both rustic and refined, simple yet sophisticated. While we’ve seen plenty of minimalist, flat surfaces in recent years, now we’re embracing more dynamic, layered spaces. The idea though is to balance texture and colour in a way that doesn’t overwhelm the senses. Timber is the perfect material for this, its grains, knots and natural imperfections are visually rich.

Designers are also veering away from traditional uses of wood. We’re seeing it paired with unexpected materials like terrazzo, concrete and soft textiles. It’s appearing in panels as feature walls and in bedrooms as bedheads. A blending of textures is what makes timber such a versatile player in modern interiors; it’s the perfect balance of classic and contemporary.

You’ll want to enhance timber’s natural beauty if you’re planning on giving it the limelight in a living space – Resene Woodsman Cedar Natural Wood Oil is the ideal way to do this. Oils don’t just protect the wood, they bring out its best features – its colour, grain and texture – while also adding richness and depth. Whether you're working with wood like macrocarpa or pine, a carefully chosen wood stain will enhance your timber’s unique make-up.

This cosy and calm oasis celebrates the rich tones of timber, which are softened by a complementary colour palette. The lounge space is Scandi-inspired and can easily make the transition from summer to winter with the addition of a few throws and rugs when the time comes.

To create our timber feature wall, we combined panels of wood finished in Resene Woodsman Cedar Natural Wood Oil in the shades of Resene Tararua, Resene Kahurangi, Resene Paparoa, Resene Fiordland, Resene Mt Richmond and Resene Aotea. These rich hues bring out the natural beauty of our timber while adding more warmth to the living room. The result is a wall that feels alive, full of texture and dimension.

If you’re keen to try this look yourself, here’s how you can create your own timber feature wall:

1. Choose your wood: Opt for a timber like macrocarpa or pine, which has noticeable grain patterns and texture.

2. Apply Resene Woodsman Cedar Natural Wood Oil: Start with a wood conditioner to prepare the surface, then apply your chosen shade of Resene Woodsman Cedar Natural Wood Oil with a brush or cloth. Follow the wood grain to ensure a smooth, even finish.

3. Layer your colours: For depth, consider using a combination of lighter and darker stains in different sections of the wall, creating subtle variations that enhance the natural beauty of the wood.

To bring the rest of the room into balance, we painted our side wall in Resene Westar, a soft off-white, to complement the timber and add a fresh, airy feel to the space. This hue also works to visually anchor the room, offering a neutral backdrop to allow the timber to take centre stage. For the skirting, a soft tone like Resene Eighth Rice Cake works wonders. It’s subtle enough not to distract from the timber features, yet its light and creamy hue helps to ground the space.

We added a side table painted in Resene Otter, a muted grey-brown, to add contrast without feeling jarring. Our bookcase painted in Resene El Paso brings a rustic touch to the room, its rich brown tones adding depth and interest to the space. It’s the perfect spot for both books and logs of firewood for the colder months.

A large vase painted in Resene Sour Dough adds warmth that echoes the natural wood elements, while smaller vases painted in Resene Cape Cod and with a trio of ombre vases in Resene Bullitt, Resene Waterloo and Resene Eighth Rice Cake add subtle pops of colour. The ombre effect, created by layering the darker tones of Resene Bullitt and Resene Waterloo over the lighter Resene Eighth Rice Cake, brings a playful yet sophisticated element to the space.

The armchair we chose is in keeping with our dark wood ‘70s aesthetic. A rug with subtle pops of red and warm yellows adds a little vibrancy. Flooring plays a critical role too in tying everything together. Resene Colorwood in Resene Breathe Easy provides a gentle, pale hue. This floor colour works seamlessly with the feature timbers, enhancing the room’s overall sense of harmony. The overall effect is a space that feels both cosy and modern, with a Scandi-inspired lightness balanced by the rich, layered warmth of the timber. Whether you’re building a new space from scratch or refreshing an existing one, the key is to let timber take centre stage. It’s not just a trend for this summer – it’s a design choice that undoubtedly will stand the test of time.

Colours and products mentioned in this article

Styling by Katrina Hobbs. Photography by Bryce Carleton. 2024