How to Make a Wood Panel Feature Wall

Feature or accent walls are a simple and quick way to add a unique design highlight to a room and liven up the space. They are a high impact but relatively inexpensive way to create visual interest without completely overhauling the entire room. Wood panelling creates a natural, rustic finish without the hassle of using real wood.

If feature wall panels sound like the kind of design element you want to add to your space, whether that’s in your home, café, retail space, office, showroom or anything in between, then we’ve got you covered.  Take a look at our quick guide for making a wood panel feature wall.

Choosing the wall

The first step is figuring out the wall you want to make a feature. The best walls to use as feature walls are ones that have a corner on each end so that the feature wall materials finishes neatly and cleanly without edges visible.

The eye will already be drawn to these areas, so it’s important not to create too many focal points in one space. You should let the architecture and layout of the room be your guide to finding the perfect feature wall.

Top tip: Avoid putting a feature wall in a small room. This can end up making the space look even smaller.

Choosing the wood panels

After you’ve identified the feature wall, you’ll need to start looking for the perfect panelling. Wood feature wall panels never go out of style, and add a natural, welcoming atmosphere to a room. Wood panels can work with a range of decors and can convey comfort, exclusivity, character, and warmth.

While natural timber is an option for a feature wall the difficulties can be that timber rarely comes in large sheets, so installation costs are higher, and natural timber requires proper maintenance to maintain its appearance.  

In recent times good quality faux or fake wood panels have improved in quality and appear very realistic.  Example of these panels include Panespol faux wood wall panels, which are easy to install and offer fire resistant properties that natural wood does not have, or Swiftbatten timber batten panels, that look like slatted timber battens but come in a sheet for easy installation and require no maintenance.

The best thing about these panels is that they don’t require any construction gear or heavy machinery to install. That means you can easily DIY the installation and quickly add a new design flair to your space.

 

Installation Of Faux Wood Wall Panels

You can see how easy faux wood products are to install at the following pages:

As an example this is how easy it is to install the Panespol panels:

  1. Measure the wall with a tape measure and cut the panels to size and shape. Cut them with a woodcutting tool on a saw horse or workbench to ensure a safe and clean cut.
  2. When cutting, allow room for wall sockets and any other elements built into the wall.
  3. Make sure the wall is clean and dry, as well as the panels.
  4. Add your adhesive to the back of the panels. Follow the instructions on your adhesive for the best results. We recommend using a flexible adhesive such as Sikaflex for the best bond.
  5. Attach your panel to the wall. The interlocking design will allow the panels to connect into each other with ease. Allow the adhesive to dry.
  6. If you want to ensure the panels are extra secure, you can nail or screw them to the wall while the adhesive is still curing.
  7. Fill in any gaps or connection points with joint filler and cover any nails or imperfections with retouching paint.

Summary of Do’s and Don’ts

While creating a feature wall is relatively easy, there are some design do’s and don’ts that everyone should follow to achieve the best results

Do’s

  • Use feature walls to accentuate and define a space. They work well to delineate a certain area in a large or open-plan space, like the dining area within an open-plan living area.
  • Think about complementary colours. Too many clashing, bold colours can make a space look chaotic. Thankfully wood panelling will go with nearly every colour choice and décor style.

Don’ts

  • Don’t put a feature wall in an already crowded room. When a space is overcrowded, adding a feature wall can be overwhelming for the eyes. Your feature wall should be the highlight of the room, so it needs to be the focal point and have space to breathe.
  • Don’t choose a feature wall that isn’t versatile. Your taste might change or you might want to restyle your space regularly, so it’s a good idea to choose something that will go with a lot of different decorations and styles.

Talk to us today about our panels and request a quote online here.

If you have any questions, talk to our friendly team by calling (07) 3861 8888.

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