Renovating
The Power of Ply: 10 Stylish Uses for Plywood From Floors to Furniture
If you still think of plywood as cheap and cheerful, think again. Plywood is strong, powerful and can look amazing
When building a house not too long ago, I suggested using plywood to the kitchen designer. He looked up from his glossy brochure and seemed a little upset. “Why would anyone want to use a waste product for their kitchen?” he said. Undeterred, I found someone else to design my kitchen, so stuck was I on the idea of plywood.
Love it or hate, it seems like plywood is everywhere. Being a waste product is entirely the point for someone like me who finds it painful to throw out a cardboard box. It’s what gives it a reputation for being relatively inexpensive (not always true) and gives it green credentials (again, not always true – depends where it comes from and how it is made). Of course, it’s not new – the iconic plywood Eames chair was conceived in 1946. It’s just that now we’re seeing so much exposed plywood in the most stylish of homes. Being strong and pliable, plywood has a multitude of uses. Here are some of our favourites.
Love it or hate, it seems like plywood is everywhere. Being a waste product is entirely the point for someone like me who finds it painful to throw out a cardboard box. It’s what gives it a reputation for being relatively inexpensive (not always true) and gives it green credentials (again, not always true – depends where it comes from and how it is made). Of course, it’s not new – the iconic plywood Eames chair was conceived in 1946. It’s just that now we’re seeing so much exposed plywood in the most stylish of homes. Being strong and pliable, plywood has a multitude of uses. Here are some of our favourites.
Plywood is made by glueing many thin layers of wood together at right angles to each other. With each new layer, the ply becomes stronger – this is what gives ply the reputation as a strong and durable material. Some of the glues used had traditionally been high in formaldehyde but there are now plywoods made only with low-formaldehyde glues.
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See more of this church renovation
2. Kitchens
Plywood can be a beautiful and practical material for a kitchen and, as with ceilings, can create a lovely warm glow in the heart of the home. The type of plywood used in this kitchen is hoop pine, which is frequently used in Australia.
Plywood can be a beautiful and practical material for a kitchen and, as with ceilings, can create a lovely warm glow in the heart of the home. The type of plywood used in this kitchen is hoop pine, which is frequently used in Australia.
In this photograph, a poplar timber veneer on a plywood substrate has been used and finished in clear satin polyurethane. Different plywoods have different looks and grains to choose from. The varying types depend on the wood from which they are made. Birch is another beautiful ply, known for its strength, but much of it is imported from Scandinavia and Russia, so is potentially more expensive.
All plywood comes in different grades. The plywood that you’ve seen for sale at the local hardware shop is a different product from what you might buy from a specialist plywood supplier. There are structural grades of plywood used behind the scenes which are different to the plywood you see on display in kitchens and bathrooms. The surface look, the thickness and strength all depends on what it’s being used for.
3. Storage
Sleek and strong, plywood is great for cupboards, bookshelves, wardrobes and other types of storage. Be aware that plywood can warp and bow so talk to your builder or cabinetmaker about choosing the correct grade and thickness of product for the application.
Sleek and strong, plywood is great for cupboards, bookshelves, wardrobes and other types of storage. Be aware that plywood can warp and bow so talk to your builder or cabinetmaker about choosing the correct grade and thickness of product for the application.
Plywood for shelving can be less expensive and more durable than some timbers commonly used for shelves, such as pine. Some people like to add a trim to the rough plywood edge but I personally think it looks good smoothed down and left exposed.
You can paint the finished product or leave the beautiful grains on show. Finishes include oils such as tung oil, or water-based and oil-based polyurethane finishes (available in low-VOC), which allow the beauty of the grain to shine through.
More: Stylish Storage: Show-Stopping Shelving Suggestions
You can paint the finished product or leave the beautiful grains on show. Finishes include oils such as tung oil, or water-based and oil-based polyurethane finishes (available in low-VOC), which allow the beauty of the grain to shine through.
More: Stylish Storage: Show-Stopping Shelving Suggestions
4. Bathrooms
There’s an idea that plywood can’t be used around water but, of course, plywood can even be used to make boats. You don’t even need to use marine-grade for high-moisture areas; you just need to specify to the supplier that the plywood be appropriate for high-moisture areas and then ensure it’s finished with the right product.
There’s an idea that plywood can’t be used around water but, of course, plywood can even be used to make boats. You don’t even need to use marine-grade for high-moisture areas; you just need to specify to the supplier that the plywood be appropriate for high-moisture areas and then ensure it’s finished with the right product.
Plywood can be coated with any colour paint. Using lots of different colours in the same cabinet, like this one, can really inject life and colour into your bathroom space.
5. Floors
An alternative to traditional timber flooring, plywood is potentially less expensive than many kinds of flooring. Here, the sheets of plywood were sanded down before installation and a few coats of polyurethane were applied for a protective layer to counteract wear.
An alternative to traditional timber flooring, plywood is potentially less expensive than many kinds of flooring. Here, the sheets of plywood were sanded down before installation and a few coats of polyurethane were applied for a protective layer to counteract wear.
Ok, so this floor isn’t technically plywood; it is another engineered wood panel product, OSB (Oriented Strand Board), which is more often used for bracing or temporary hoarding. According to architect Ben Statkus of Statkus Architecture, it is “an inexpensive product and has a great finish when properly sealed and polished; two of its advantages. It also has a lovely, warm character.”
6. Room dividers
Because it has a light, airy feel as opposed to darker, heavier timbers, ply can be used to make excellent room dividers, especially in areas where you are after a subtle division, as in an open-plan space.
Because it has a light, airy feel as opposed to darker, heavier timbers, ply can be used to make excellent room dividers, especially in areas where you are after a subtle division, as in an open-plan space.
7. Stairs
Look how light and beautiful these stairs are. The plywood creates both a safety barrier and a screen (complete with peek holes) from the lounge area. There’s even a space to put the family’s bicycles.
Look how light and beautiful these stairs are. The plywood creates both a safety barrier and a screen (complete with peek holes) from the lounge area. There’s even a space to put the family’s bicycles.
8. Outdoors
Plywood can also be used outdoors. The dark cladding of this beach house is 12mm ‘Shadowclad’ plywood panels, textured and grooved with Shadowclad natural anodised horizontal flashings and 90-degree box angle corners. It’s finished with ‘Timber plus’ Quantum transparent stain.
Architect Heidi Pronk of McKenzie Pronk Architects says: “This sheet cladding gives both a lively natural timber texture and grain (it is slightly rough with a visible timber grain when stained) and also doubles as structural bracing.”
Plywood can also be used outdoors. The dark cladding of this beach house is 12mm ‘Shadowclad’ plywood panels, textured and grooved with Shadowclad natural anodised horizontal flashings and 90-degree box angle corners. It’s finished with ‘Timber plus’ Quantum transparent stain.
Architect Heidi Pronk of McKenzie Pronk Architects says: “This sheet cladding gives both a lively natural timber texture and grain (it is slightly rough with a visible timber grain when stained) and also doubles as structural bracing.”
9. Iconic furniture
The original moulded plywood Eames chair was first conceived by Charles and Ray Eames in 1946. It became popular in the 1950s and is still being reproduced today. Being pliable and strong, plywood is an excellent medium for furniture.
The original moulded plywood Eames chair was first conceived by Charles and Ray Eames in 1946. It became popular in the 1950s and is still being reproduced today. Being pliable and strong, plywood is an excellent medium for furniture.
10. Everywhere!
In this New Zealand home, plywood was used throughout. Even the walls are lined with plywood. This build was on an island so the use of plywood made it more economical because ‘wet trades’ such as plasterers and painters weren’t required.
See more of this home
TELL US
Do you love or loathe the look of plywood? Would you consider using it in your home? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.
MORE
Kitchen Aid: 10 Ways Natural Timber Can Warm Up the Heart of Your Home
Everything You Need to Know About Bamboo Flooring
7 Space-Friendly Ways to Store Your Bicycle
In this New Zealand home, plywood was used throughout. Even the walls are lined with plywood. This build was on an island so the use of plywood made it more economical because ‘wet trades’ such as plasterers and painters weren’t required.
See more of this home
TELL US
Do you love or loathe the look of plywood? Would you consider using it in your home? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.
MORE
Kitchen Aid: 10 Ways Natural Timber Can Warm Up the Heart of Your Home
Everything You Need to Know About Bamboo Flooring
7 Space-Friendly Ways to Store Your Bicycle
It’s a refreshing change from a white plasterboard ceiling, especially in a contemporary home. A ceiling lined in plywood can give off a lovely warm glow in your home. You can decide on the size and arrangement of the plywood panels according to your taste and the shape of your ceilings. The ceiling here is pine ply.