Wall panelling is one of the easiest and effective ways to enhance the appearance of your walls. It adds character and personality to your space and giving your home a burst of new style without a full renovation.
Here at Blueprint Joinery, we understand that small changes around your house can make a big difference, and with wall panelling becoming a popular DIY trend because of its quick, easy, and cost-effective means, many homeowners can confidently do it themselves.
In this guide, we walk you through how to install decorative wall panelling, providing you with a process that is simple and clear for you to follow.
Why Choose Decorative Wood Wall Panels?
Before we go into the details of how to install decorative wood wall panels, it’s worth understanding why wood wall panels are a popular choice. Firstly, wood wall panels aren’t just a creative way to transform the look of your wall, they’re perfect for adding a premium and contemporary feel to any room. From crafting a feature wall in your living room, to adding warmth to your hallway, decorative wood wall panels provide an excellent finish with minimal mess.
Step by Step Guide on How to Install Decorative Wall Panels
Clean Your Space.
The first thing you must do before proceeding with instillation is to prepare your space. You will need to start by cleaning the wall surface, ensuring that you’re working on a blank canvas for effective instillation. You’ll need to make sure the wall you’re working on is dry, with no obstacles sticking out of the wall. Sanding the walls down is a great way to smooth and level them before any panelling goes down.
Measure Your Wall.
Next, you will need to plan and measure your wall carefully. Doing so will help you work out how much panelling is required. It’s worth marking the centre point of your wall to ensure the panels are all aligned equally, and to know where you’d like your panels to be placed. Laying your panels on the floor before fixing them can give you a good sense of how they will fit. Along with measuring your wall, consider the size and spacing of the panels you’re about to install.
Cut the Panels to Required Size.
Now it’s time to cut the panels down to the size you’d like. You must ensure that you’ve measure the panel to the exact size you’d like as once it’s cut there’s no recovery to the length if too short. You’ll need to use a saw that suits the material and thickness of your panel. It’s vital to cut the panel with the decorative facing down so that you don’t chip the finish. Once you’ve done this, paint your panels to the colour of your choice, second coating them to achieve a long lasting and even finish.
Installing Your Panels Down.
Now to the main stage. Once your wall is prepped and your panels are cut to the size you want, you can begin to align and fix them into place. A reliable approach to fixing your panels onto the wall is by using a strong adhesive to the back of the panel you’re working with, pressing it firmly onto the wall in its correct position. Apply your vertical panels on before moving onto the horizontal ones.
Remember to check and double check the levelling of your panel before placing it down onto the wall. Use a spirit level to make sure the panelling is aligned straight before marking it to go down as aligning the first panels will set the tone for the rest of them that go down.
Adding the Final Touches.
Once the decorative panels are put in place, the final touches ae what make all the difference. Using corner trims can frame your panelling quite effectively, sealing the edges and giving the wall a polished look. Sand down any areas that look bumpy and add another layer of paint if required. Many choose to paint the whole wall after instillation to complete the design. If that’s the look you choose to go for then make sure you prime your walls first to give it a base coating before the main colour is applied onto the walls.
Safety First.
Sometimes, even after using a cautious approach you can be faced with challenges. You must however remember to follow safety precautions whilst using tools and materials during your instillation process. Remember to use a detector if you choose to drill your panels instead of gluing them to avoid hitting any wires or pipes. It may also be a good idea to follow certain tutorials based on a specific type of panelled wall you’d like built as sometimes different designs require specific considerations.
Enjoy the Look of Your Refreshed New Wall
By following the above easy steps on how to install decorative wall panels, you will transform a simple looking wall into a modern featured wall that reflects your charm and style. From a paint ready wall panel to a slated wood panel, once properly installed, the result of your final look is promised to change the depth and personality of your whole space.
Installing a decorative wall panel can seem daunting, and the thought of doing so may even put you off, however, with careful preparation and accurate measurement, you will achieve a striking end result.
We at Blueprint Joinery provide high quality panelling kits for those who are new to DIY instillations. Our goal is to help you create lasting interior solutions with little to no fuss.
Stocking a variety of decorative wall panels with different styles, our kits can change the look and feel of your space. If you require advice on the choice of panels to go for, or how to finalise your instillation then our team is here and ready to help.
You can find out more about the variety of decorative wall panelling kits we have in store here.
If you’d like to find out more information or talk to someone within our team then you can contact us and a member of our team will be there to help.
With a little bit of effort, you can gift yourself a feature wall that feels tailored and personalised to your taste and comfort.