No longer confined to the basement, wood paneling is proving itself a worthy addition to entryways everywhere. We love how the designers used crisp white walls and a staircase with a glass railing to elevate the wood in this space, making it look more modern and less midcentury.

In smaller doses, wood paneling can be downright cozy. Designer Jeff Troyer thought so, too, which is why he brought stained beadboard into this reading nook. The wood treatment emphasizes the intimate nature the space, while the pillows and books make it kid-friendly. Troyer can attest to the fact that, "[It] has become a favorite spot for my clients' young children to hang out in."

“Mixing wood is like mixing metals,” says designer Raili Clasen. “You don’t want to be too matchy-matchy.” She chose white oak in varying stains and grains for the floors and cabinets of this Pebble Beach, California, home; the walls and ceiling are hemlock fir. To keep the wood from overwhelming the space, she broke it up with white counters, a sage backsplash and an island and hood in forest green.

Go ahead and marvel at the wood-paneled backdrop in this breakfast nook — we'll wait. By partnering the treatment with a modern material like white marble, designer Natalie Myers instantly took the wall from "fashion faux pas" to "pretty and polished."