The Ultimate Guide to Using Wood Planks in Your Home

Welcome! You're about to embark on an exciting journey to transform your living space with the rustic charm and timeless appeal of wood planks. In this guide, you'll learn not only about the versatility of wood planks but also about the different types you can use to decorate your home. From warm cedar boards to reclaimed barn boards, interior wall planks, and wide plank wood floors—every piece of wood has a story to tell, and we're here to help you tell it.

Whatever type of wood planks you choose, they bring a sense of warmth and comfort to any space. Wood planks are varied, versatile, and can adapt to most interior design styles—rustic, modern, farmhouse, or traditional—making them a smart choice for updating almost any room in your home.

Using wood planks in a home is not a recent trend. For centuries, people have used sawn planks to panel walls, build floors, and create ceilings. Today, with the rise of sustainable living and the appreciation for natural materials, using wood planks in home décor is more popular than ever, especially when they are sourced from well-managed forests or reclaimed from older buildings and barns.

The Versatility of Wood Planks

The versatility of wood planks is truly astounding. They can be used in a multitude of ways in your home—from the floors to the walls, the ceiling, and even outdoors on decks and porches. With the right type of wood plank, you can create a rustic cabin look, a clean modern Scandinavian vibe, or an elegant classic interior that perfectly matches your home’s architecture.

Wood planks for walls, also known as wall planks, are a great way to add texture and character to vertical surfaces. They can be installed as a full wall treatment or a single accent wall in any room, from the living room to the bedroom, to create a focal point behind a bed, sofa, or fireplace. You can also use wood ceiling planks to add warmth overhead—great for large rooms that feel a bit cold or echoey.

Wood floor planks are a classic choice that never goes out of style. They add warmth and elegance to any space, pair well with area rugs, and, with the right species and finish, they are incredibly durable and easy to maintain. Properly installed and cared for, plank floors can last for generations.

Types of Wood Planks for Home Use

There is a vast array of wood planks available for home décor. Each type of wood has its own unique grain, color, hardness, and durability characteristics.

• Cedar boards: Known for their rich color and aromatic scent, cedar boards naturally resist insects and decay. They are ideal for closets, saunas, exterior siding, and outdoor projects, as well as interior feature walls where you want that characteristic cedar aroma.
• Pine planks: Affordable, easy to work with, and full of knotty character, pine is ideal for casual interiors, cottage-style rooms, and pine plank floors in low to moderate traffic areas.
• Oak and other hardwood planks: Hardwoods such as white oak, maple, and cherry are more resistant to dents and wear, which makes them excellent for high-traffic plank floors and stair treads.
• Barn boards and reclaimed planks: Reclaimed barn wood brings a weathered patina you can't fake—perfect for a barnwood feature wall, fireplace surround, or rustic bar front.

Wall planks can be made from a variety of woods, including pine, oak, and cedar. They come in different widths, lengths, and finishes (pre-finished, unfinished, brushed, hand-scraped), allowing you to create the perfect look for your walls. Wood ceiling planks are typically lighter softwoods such as pine or cedar and can be painted, stained, or whitewashed to match or contrast with your trim and furniture.

Wood floor planks are offered as solid hardwood, engineered hardwood, or laminate-look planks. Solid and engineered wide planks highlight the natural grain, while engineered products often offer better stability over radiant heating or concrete slabs.

The Beauty of Wide Plank Wood Floors

Wide plank wood floors are a stunning addition to any home. Wider boards (often 5–10 inches or more) showcase the natural beauty of the wood, highlighting dramatic grain, mineral streaks, and attractive knots. Fewer board seams also create a calmer, more expansive visual field, making rooms feel larger and more open.

These floors are not only beautiful but also durable when you choose the right species and finish. Wide plank floors can withstand heavy foot traffic in busy family rooms or open-plan living spaces and can be sanded and refinished multiple times over their life. In many markets, authentic wide plank floors add tangible resale value to a home.

Wide Plank Oak Floors

If you want to elevate your interior design, consider wide plank white oak floors. These floors are incredibly beautiful and versatile. The wide boards allow the natural character of white oak to shine through, creating a subtle but luxurious visual effect that works in both contemporary and traditional homes.

Wide plank white oak floors are also durable and relatively easy to maintain. With a high-quality finish, they handle heavy furniture and resist scratches and dents better than many softwoods. You can choose clear finishes to emphasize the natural color or select stained finishes ranging from pale greige to deep espresso.

How to Use Cedar Planks for Grilling

Wood planks aren’t just for floors and walls—they can also be used in the kitchen and on the grill. Cedar planks for grilling are a simple way to add a gourmet, smoky flavor to salmon, vegetables, chicken, or even pizza.

• Soak cedar planks in water (or wine/beer for extra flavor) for at least 1 hour before grilling.
• Preheat the grill, then place the soaked plank on the grates until it starts to steam and lightly smoke.
• Set your food on the plank and grill with the lid closed, allowing the steam and smoke to infuse the food with cedar flavor.
• Monitor flare-ups around the edges and keep a spray bottle handy if needed.

After grilling, discard heavily charred planks and never reuse boards that are cracked or burned through. Always use untreated food-safe cedar planks intended for cooking—not construction lumber.

The Rustic Charm of a Barnwood Wall

Another fantastic way to use wood planks in your home décor is to create a barnwood feature wall. Barnwood walls are made from reclaimed wood, which adds rustic charm and a sense of history to your space. Each board often has its own story: old nail holes, saw marks, and weathered paint from decades of use.

A barnwood wall is incredibly versatile and can suit many interior styles. For a modern farmhouse look, pair reclaimed wall planks with white trim, black hardware, and simple furnishings. For an industrial loft style, combine barn boards with metal shelving and exposed brick. Barnwood is particularly effective in rec rooms, media rooms, and as wainscoting in entryways and hallways.