Decorative acoustic panels: the models you will find
The decorative acoustic wall panels on this page do two jobs: they reduce the echo in the room and they decorate the wall. Many are sold in sets of 6, 12 or 18 pieces. If you only care about looks and not acoustics, see the decorative wall panels.
- Hexagons, also in sets of 6 or 12 pieces: they fit together like a honeycomb and make free-form layouts.
- 30 × 30 cm squares with a grid pattern, a stripe pattern or a brick effect, and one model with square slots; if you only want brick as decoration, see the stone and brick effect panels.
- Rectangles: a set of 6 pieces of 30 × 40 cm, one model with adhesive tape and another made of foam.
- A 30 × 30 cm square made of felt and cork, and a set of 12 panels of 26 × 30 cm that are already adhesive.
Material, size and thickness: how to choose
The most common material on this page is PET felt, that is, pressed polyester fibre: sound goes in between the fibres and loses energy instead of coming back into the room. If you prefer a soft material, there is acoustic foam.
For size, start from the area you want to cover. Twelve 30 × 30 cm squares cover 1.08 m², eighteen reach 1.62 m² and six 30 × 40 cm rectangles make 0.72 m². The thickness is given for two hexagonal models, 8 mm and 8 to 12 mm: these are thin acoustic panels, which mainly work on the mid and high frequencies, that is, voices. Low sounds would need a much greater thickness.
Where to put them: living room, bedroom, office and public venues
In the living room, start with the wall behind the television or the one behind the sofa, which are usually the largest and clearest. If you are after acoustic wall art, you can arrange the hexagons above the sofa. In the bedroom, a strip above the headboard is enough, especially if the room has little furniture. A hallway with acoustic panels also echoes less: there, smooth walls and a hard floor send footsteps and voices back.
In the office, a panel on the wall behind the desk reduces reverberation in video calls. In restaurants, waiting rooms and other public venues the murmur grows with the reverberation, and covering part of the walls helps keep it down. Windows also reflect sound: for windows there are the acoustic curtains.
Acoustic panels for walls: how to fit them
Many models have the adhesive already on the back and one comes with adhesive tape. The others are fixed with double-sided tape, with panel adhesive or with hooks and other fixing accessories. Bear in mind that a strong adhesive can take the paint with it when you peel it off: if you need removable acoustic panels, stick them to a thin board first and fix the board to the wall.
- Clean and dry the wall: the adhesive grips better on a smooth surface, free of dust and damp.
- With a spirit level, draw a horizontal pencil line and start from the centre of the layout.
- Remove the protective film from one panel at a time and press firmly over the whole surface, edges included.
- To fit the pieces into corners, use a sharp craft knife and a metal ruler.
Cleaning and caring for felt panels
Acoustic felt holds some dust, like a fabric. Every so often, vacuum with the soft brush, from top to bottom and without pressing. If there is a stain, use a barely damp cloth with a little mild soap, dab instead of rubbing and leave to air dry.
Avoid harsh detergents, alcohol and too much water: felt absorbs it and can warp. For the same reason, do not put it where splashes can reach, such as next to the shower or behind the sink. If a corner comes unstuck, a dot of glue or double-sided tape is enough to make it lie flat.
How much they cost and how many panels you need
The price depends on the model and the number of pieces. To compare them, work it out per square metre: divide the price of the set by the area it covers. For example, a set of 18 square panels of 30 × 30 cm covers 1.62 m². Delivery is tracked, the maximum delivery time for your country is shown on each product page before you buy, and you can return your order within 30 days.
To have an acoustic wall you do not need to cover all of it. Start with a strip at head height: two rows of six 30 × 30 cm squares make a strip of 1.80 × 0.60 m. If you can still hear echo after fitting them, add a few panels on the opposite wall. If what you want is to cover the whole wall, divide the square metres you want to cover by the area of one set.
Absorbing sound or stopping outside noise: what really changes
An acoustic panel reduces echo and reverberation inside the room where you put it: the sound becomes drier and voices are easier to understand. It does not, however, stop the noise coming from outside, such as traffic or the neighbours’ television. Anyone looking for panels for a party wall should know this: these panels are not for that.
Looking for acoustic panels against street noise is a common misunderstanding. To keep out traffic and neighbours you need building work that stops sound passing through, usually a plasterboard lining fitted by a professional. If what bothers you is the echo in the room itself, these are the right panels.
