Erin And Ben Napier Clash Over One Design Trend (& Ben Predicts Its Comeback)

One of the most beloved couples on HGTV, Home Town stars Erin and Ben Napier hit a major milestone in their love story this month when they celebrated 17 years of marriage. But just because they make a great team on — and off — the camera, doesn't mean they see eye to eye on everything. In fact, the loveable Mississippi couple recently revealed that there's one design trend they definitely don't agree on: Faux wood panel wallpaper. "The fake printed wood with the fake grooves — I think that it is going to make a comeback," Ben shared in an Instagram video. "I've already seen some influencers doing it." In the same video, however, Erin admitted that she isn't a fan of the faux wood style.

Known for her passion for vintage pieces, it's not a huge surprise that Erin isn't on board with faux wood wall paneling. In fact, in a 2018 interview with PopSugar, she opened up about her love of authentic, natural wood. "I hope we'll finally see people stepping away more from painted furniture and toward the warmth of natural and stained wood," she said, adding: "The organic movement in wood grain is art!" And while this is certainly true, it's also true that wood paneling is coming back in style, as Ben pointed out. And luckily, there are a few different ways you can incorporate the look into your home — with or without the use of faux wood wallpaper.

Although it was previously considered a dated style, wood wall paneling — which was an incredibly popular design trend during the mid-century, and then had a major revival in the 1970s — is one of the accent wall ideas we've been seeing everywhere in 2025, and the look isn't expected to go anywhere in 2026. The great thing about it is that it can fit seamlessly into many different aesthetics. A dark wood panel, like walnut, works beautifully in homes that lean mid-century modern or cottage chic, while lighter wood options, such as oak, suit minimalist spaces and farmhouse-inspired interiors.  

If you're like Ben Napier and don't mind the look of faux wood panel wallpaper, then there are plenty of options to choose from. This ConCus-T faux wood slat wallpaper, for example, comes in three different colors, making it easy to match your existing palette. Of course, if you're not a fan of faux wood, there are several decorative hacks for creating unique accent walls that won't break the bank. While the obvious choice would be to just install authentic wood paneling, it can be quite pricey, with one wall averaging about $2,800. More affordable alternatives, however, include using bamboo wall panel sheets — like these AmaZulu natural bamboo panels, or MDF paneling kits — such as Armuro's slat wall panels — both of which can give you the warmth and character of paneled walls without the high-end cost.