Bringing the outside in: how to use trellis panels for interior design

As our homes continue to open up to the garden, the boundary between inside and out feels softer than ever. Bi-fold doors, garden rooms and courtyard layouts have encouraged a more fluid way of living, where materials, colours and textures move seamlessly between spaces. One of the most elegant ways to achieve this sense of connection is through interior trellis design.

Traditionally associated with gardens, trellis panels are increasingly being used indoors as decorative features, subtle screens and architectural backdrops. When thoughtfully designed, they allow you to enjoy the calm, structured beauty of the garden, even when the weather keeps you inside.

Why trellis works so beautifully indoors

Trellis has an inherently architectural quality. Its rhythm, repetition and openness bring structure without heaviness, making it ideal for interior settings where light and balance matter.

Used indoors, trellis panels can soften hard surfaces, introduce natural texture and create visual interest without overwhelming a space. They also echo the garden beyond the glass, helping interiors feel grounded in nature rather than separate from it.

For homes with courtyards or garden rooms, this approach creates a gentle transition rather than a hard stop between environments.

Interior trellis design ideas for the home

Decorative wall features in kitchens and dining spaces

In kitchens and dining areas, trellis panels can be used as decorative wall features that add depth and warmth. Painted timber trellis works particularly well here, offering a crafted alternative to flat panelling or tiled surfaces.

A trellis-backed wall can sit comfortably behind banquette seating or along a dining wall, bringing subtle pattern and texture. When paired with warm lighting, it creates an atmosphere that feels relaxed yet considered.

For a refined, ready-made option, our Vista Decorative Screens can be adapted for interior use. Their clean lines and contemporary styling suit modern kitchens beautifully, while still referencing traditional joinery.

Garden rooms that feel genuinely connected

Garden rooms are often designed as extensions of the home, but they can sometimes feel caught between indoors and out. Trellis helps bridge that gap.

Using trellis panels internally within a garden room mirrors the structures outside, reinforcing the sense of continuity. This is particularly effective when the same panel design or paint colour is used on both sides of the glazing.

Slatted panels can also work well here, offering a more architectural look while still referencing garden joinery. They can also help with insulation and acoustics, adding practical comfort alongside visual appeal.

Hallways, courtyards and transitional spaces

Trellis truly shines in transitional spaces. Hallways, internal courtyards and glazed corridors benefit from the light-filtering quality of open timber designs.

Mirror-backed trellis panels are a particularly elegant solution here. They reflect light, enhance the feeling of space and subtly reference the outdoors. This approach works well in period properties as well as contemporary homes, especially when paired with classic paint colours such as soft whites or gentle greys.

Our bespoke garden joinery allows these panels to be tailored precisely to architectural details, ensuring they feel integral rather than applied.

Using trellis in commercial interiors

Trellis is not limited to private homes. Restaurants, hotels and hospitality spaces increasingly use trellis panels to create warmth and intimacy without closing spaces off completely.

In dining areas, trellis can act as a decorative screen, defining zones while maintaining openness and light. Square trellis is popular for contemporary venues, while more decorative, diamond lattice patterns suit heritage or luxury interiors.

Because our joinery is crafted to order, bespoke trellis panels can be designed to suit brand identity, colour palettes and spatial requirements, while still drawing on the calm, garden-inspired qualities that trellis brings.

Creating cohesion between inside and out

One of the most successful ways to use trellis indoors is as part of a wider, cohesive design strategy. Rather than treating interior trellis as a standalone feature, consider how it relates to the garden beyond.

Here are a few ways to achieve that harmony:

• Use matching trellis or slatted panel designs inside and outside
• Repeat paint colours across garden structures and interior features
• Echo proportions and spacing so the rhythm feels consistent
• Combine trellis with complementary panelling or storage joinery indoors

We often work with clients who want interior panelling and storage to align with exterior projects, creating a sense of continuity across the property through bespoke garden joinery.

How to get the look using our online shop

While many interior trellis projects are bespoke, there are also ways to achieve a similar effect using panels from our online shop.

• Vista Decorative Screens can be adapted as interior wall features or subtle dividers
• Slatted panels offer a contemporary, architectural look suitable for kitchens and garden rooms
• Painted trellis panels can be used creatively indoors with complementary colours to your interior design scheme.

Choosing high-quality timber joinery ensures that even when used inside, the panels retain their crafted feel and long-lasting beauty.

A natural way to live with the garden

Interior trellis design is about more than decoration. It is about extending the atmosphere of the garden into everyday life. When the weather turns or the seasons shift, trellis allows you to keep that connection with nature close at hand.

Whether used as a statement wall, a subtle screen or part of a fully cohesive inside-outside scheme, trellis panels bring structure, softness and a quiet sense of craft to interior spaces.

To explore the possibilities, browse our decorative screens and trellis panels, or get in touch to discuss bespoke joinery that connects your home and garden with confidence and care.