Wood effect wall panels

Wood effect wall panels: what they are and which models you will find

Wood effect wall panels are not made of wood and weigh little: compared with decorative wooden wall panels, they need no battens, screws or varnish. A wall covering of wooden slats is called cladding, and one of framed panels is wall moulding (boiserie). In this collection you will find:

• foam squares of 35 × 35 cm, in sets of 10 or 20, and 30 × 30 cm squares with stripes, in sets of 10;
• panels of 40 × 280 and 40 × 300 cm, with a wood design in relief, a grid pattern or a textured surface;
• a 3D foam set of 20 pieces and other grid panels, including one in XPE foam;
• rolls 40 cm wide: one in foam 10 m long and one in SXP, also suitable for the ceiling;
• a retro-style wood effect wallpaper, in SXP, 40 × 300 cm.

How to choose decorative wood effect panels

The squares of 30 × 30 and 35 × 35 cm are fitted like tiles: handy for a niche, for the TV wall or around sockets and windows. The panels of 40 × 280 or 40 × 300 cm and the 10 m roll cover the wall with fewer joins: up to a height of 2.8 m a single strip is enough from the skirting board to the ceiling. Foam is cut with a utility knife.

The shades available are listed on the page of each item: if you are looking for white wood effect panels for walls, check the variants there. For relief choose the 3D wood effect decorative panels; if the shape interests you more than the grain, see the 3D wall panels with other designs.

Wood effect polystyrene or foam panels: the differences

Many people look for wood effect polystyrene panels, but there are none here: where the product page states the material, it is foam (PE or XPE) or SXP. Polystyrene is rigid, breaks if you bend it and has to be stuck with a specific adhesive. Foam bends without breaking and, in our models, comes with the adhesive already on the back.

In both cases they are decorative finishes: they do not heat the room and they do not stop the neighbours' noise. They cover the wall, they do not repair it: cracks, mould and damp must be fixed before fitting.

Wood effect wall panelling: where to use it

In the living room you normally cover the TV wall or the one behind the sofa: a single wall is enough to change the look of the room. In the bedroom, wood effect wall covering goes behind the headboard: on the whole wall or in a strip as wide as the bed; in the entrance hall and in corridors the 35 × 35 cm squares are practical for the lower half of the wall.

For the ceiling the SXP roll is suitable; other models are among the decorative ceiling panels. In the bathroom and the kitchen use them only on dry walls, away from the shower, the sink and the hob. For areas exposed to splashes there are the PVC panels for bathroom and kitchen walls, and for doors and cupboards the wood effect self-adhesive vinyl.

How to stick wood effect panels on the wall

Almost all the models are fitted like the peel and stick wall panels, without drilling. You need a tape measure, a spirit level, a utility knife and a cloth. If the product page does not state adhesive on the back, use double-sided tape or mounting adhesive. Then:

• clean the wall of dust and grease and let it dry: the adhesive grips on smooth interior walls with well-bonded paint;
• draw a line with the spirit level, vertical for rolls and long panels, horizontal for the squares;
• peel the film back a few centimetres at a time and press from the centre towards the edges to push out the air;
• join the pieces following the grain and trim next to skirting boards and switches;
• cut the strips from the rolls 2 or 3 cm longer than the height and trim them at the bottom when you have finished.

Cleaning and maintaining wood effect panels

For dust, a dry cloth or a feather duster is enough. On stains, dab with a barely damp cloth and a drop of neutral soap, without rubbing: the relief of the foam marks easily. Avoid alcohol, solvents and abrasive sponges, which ruin the print.

If an edge lifts, press it down for a few seconds or add a small square of double-sided tape. Keep the panels away from radiators and heaters, because heat weakens the adhesive.

How much wood effect panels cost and how many you need

The price depends on the size and the number of pieces: the set of 10 squares of 35 × 35 cm is the most affordable and the 3D model of 40 cm × 2.8 m the most expensive. With rolls, compare by square metre: the foam roll of 40 cm × 10 m covers 4 m², so divide its price by 4. To compare sizes and prices, also see the self-adhesive wallpaper in rolls.

To calculate the pieces multiply the width by the height of the wall and add 10% for cuts. A wall of 3 × 2.7 m measures 8.1 m²: you need about 73 squares of 35 × 35 cm, that is, 4 sets of 20. With the panels of 40 × 280 or 40 × 300 cm, 8 are enough, one for every 40 cm. From the 10 m roll you get 3 strips of 2.7 m: for the 8 strips needed you require 3 rolls.