4 Must-Know Trends in Exterior Wooden Wall Cladding Designs

Cladding made from timber reflects a classic and artistic design choice for building facades. It is a construction material that beautifully combines natural appeal, warmth, and strength while providing insulation alongside protection from outside elements. With the advancement of modern architecture, trends in wooden wall cladding designs are slowly gravitating towards innovation, green building practices, and sophistication.

Here are some notable changes in exterior wooden wall cladding designs that will influence modern and traditional architecture-

1. Sustainable and Eco-Friendly Cladding

Sustainability in construction has been a major topic of interest for years, especially in design and architecture. Awareness about protecting our environment and decreasing carbon footprints is on the rise. As a result, architects and designers are more conscious about the type of wood and eco-friendly treatments they use in wall cladding.

Sustainable Wood choices

More and more construction projects are using wood sourced from well-managed forests and certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) or Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC). Some examples of responsible and sustainably sourced wood include:

• Thermally Modified Wood: This wood is treated to undergo a specific heat treatment process that increases its durability, rot, moisture, and insect resistance without the option of using chemicals.
• Reclaimed wood: This brings a one-of-a-kind, antique charm while reducing the need for new timber Ever heard of reclaimed wood? It is salvaged from old structures, barns, or factories. It surely is an amazing way to add a weathered aesthetic and keep the demand for harvested wood to a minimum, but have you ever wondered how cool it would be to add value to nature too? Reclaimed wood does just that, it is a perfect combination of beauty with nature and keeps us living in a cherished balance with nature.
• Bamboo cladding: Bamboo isn’t dependent on specific terrains like hardwoods. Rather, it grows rapidly and can regenerate quickly. This makes bamboo wall cladding an amazing alternative.
• Eco-Friendly Treatments: The use of oils, wax-based finishes, and non-toxic sealants to preserve wooden cladding instead of chemical-based preservatives overlooks the natural beauty of wood. Not only does it help to seal the wood from any possible damage, but it also helps lessen the impact on the environment.

2. Textured and patterned wooden cladding

Diversity isn’t simply limited to shapes & colors – it’s in patterns too! Wood cladding is no longer restricted to flat and uniform cutouts. Engineers and architects alike have started to experiment with a plethora of texturing and detailing styles to give wooden facades more depth and personality.

• Textured Finishes: Giving the exterior of a house a rustic feel has never been so easy. In modern and country-styled homes, rough-sawn and weathered textures are a hit, for they are easy to clean and provide a raw appeal.
• Brushed and burnt finishes: Techniques like wire-brushing enhance the natural grain of the wood, while the Japanese Shou Sugi Ban method of charring wood not only creates a striking aesthetic but also increases resistance to moisture and insects.
• Geometric Patterns and Custom Designs: Today’s innovative wooden cladding designs have evolved to include patterns like chevrons and herringbone and even diagonal installations. These patterns break the monotony of conventional horizontal or vertical layouts to create visually appealing facades.

3. Mixed-material cladding for Contemporary Appeal

Another notable phenomenon in Modern design is the use of wood with other materials for the exterior wall cladding. The addition of other materials like metal, glass, or stone is not just appealing but very practical.

How To Mix Materials Perfectly

• Wood and Metal: Wooden walls are cladded with steel or aluminum panels which adds an industrial edge to the building, making it elegant.
• Wood and Glass: Having large glass walls with wooden cladding enhances light while integrating the surrounding nature.
• Wood and Stone: Blending the milled and raw textures amid nature amplifies the beauty of the building.

Functional Benefits of Mixed Materials

There are endless benefits to using different materials when cladding a structure’s exterior. Besides aesthetic beauty, they enhance the building’s efficiency in insulation, weather, and maintenance. For example, metal and stone structures can add more strength than wood while needing less care.

4. Vertical & Slatted Wooden Cladding

Vertical wooden wall cladding design has become more popular in recent times, especially due to its aesthetic appeal over traditional horizontal wooden wall cladding and its sleek modern looks.

Vertical Cladding Trends

• Scandinavian Style Aesthetics: Vertical wooden Wilson cladding is preferred in Nordic architecture because it is sleek and minimalistic. This is becoming quite popular as it gives the illusion of taller buildings with a more elegant touch.
• Seamless Monolithic appearance: The use of large wooden panels which are fixed using concealed means provide a polished, seamless finish.

Slatted Wood Cladding

• Shadow and Light Play: Wooden slats support lighting and air passage while providing unique shadow effects to the house.
• Privacy And Ventilation: Many homeowners and architects use slatted wood panels as semi-private facades for buildings. These panels serve the purpose of ventilation and shade with style.
• Versatile Aesthetics: Slatted wooden structures can be implemented in fencing, partition walls, pergolas, and other exterior architectural details.

The evolution of wooden wall cladding is apparent and it is clear that it is now more focused on sustainability and modern design. From eco-friendly materials and textured finishes to vertical and slatted cladding, these trends are redefining the way wood is used in architectural design.

Homeowners, architects, and builders aiming for a blend of beauty and practicality will find these emerging trends assist them in being aesthetically and environmentally friendly in their designs. If you are adding on to or changing your home’s exterior, these wall cladding design trends will help ensure your property is infused with timeless beauty and strength while still modern.