The ultimate guide to DIY wall paneling

1. A One-Stop Shop for Decorative Wall Panels

While it’s not tough to install a DIY wall panelling, you’ll need the right pieces and materials to build it. Whether it’s a PVC wall panel, 3D wall panels, fluted panels, decorative wall panels or even wainscoting, you’ll need to find the perfect home interior design store. With a curation of products and solutions from a family of brands, AP Homes is your one-stop shop to create a home or space that tells your unique story. Whether you’re looking to quickly spruce up a room with a few décor updates or undertake an entire renovation, AP Homes houses everything from furniture and furnishings to fixtures and home automation solutions.

2. Conceal the Messier Bits in a Room with DIY Wall Panelling

A modern living room comes with a lot of messier bits and bobs that work behind the scenes to make the space more comfortable and functional. These include electric fittings, rows of wiring or ducts for air-conditioning and heating which are always better left concealed. While these could be hidden within the cement of the walls during construction, if you’re looking to upgrade a room without undergoing a massive renovation, a simple slatted wall panel can do the trick! Restrict all the wires and pipes to one wall and cover it with a material that blends well with the rest of the décor. Create a frame or grid in front of this wall and stick wooden slats in equally spaced columns on it to build a simple wood paneling for walls.

3. Mirror Wall Panels can Make any Room Look Bigger

It’s the easiest no-brainer when you want to make any room look visually bigger. A strategically placed mirror always adds depth to every space. And, this trick works beautifully in smaller rooms in the house such as a bedroom or a bathroom. It’s also the simplest DIY hack for glass wall panels. Simply measure the wall you’ll be working on, and cut mirrored glass panels to fit the same size. Make sure you stick these with the right glue. There are two types of adhesives that work best with mirrors—urethanes and silicones Neither are solvent-based, and urethane adhesives are usually sold in two-part solutions.

4. A Simple Wooden Grid Creates a Neat and Uniform DIY Wall Panelling

Symmetrical design always makes any piece of furniture or interior design look neater and more uniform. If you’re looking for wall panel ideas, but scared of making a total mess, try fixing a wooden grid on a wall for a well-proportioned effect. This can be stuck onto the wall with wood glue or nailed together for a stronger hold. Once fitted, you could paint it in the same colour as the existing wall or in a complementing or colour-blocking shade to create an accent wall.

5. A Tufted Fabric Wall Panel for a Cosier Room

This is the perfect DIY wall panel idea if you’re looking to make a bedroom more plush and cosy. A tufted headboard  behind a bed not only gives it a comfy backrest but also brings in a unique style and design to the entire piece of furniture. However, if your existing bed doesn’t have a padded headboard like this, you can always make your own and fix it onto it’s frame with a staple gun. Conceal the staples by sewing fabric-covered bottoms on them. If you’re choosing an upholstery in your favourite colour or pattern, consider extending the size of the headboard across the length and breadth of the entire wall behind it to create an interesting and eye-catching DIY wall panelling.

6. Repurpose Discarded Pieces of Wood to Make a Wall Panel Design

If you’re looking for an eco-conscious or sustainable idea for a DIY wall panel design, try using discarded or scrap materials to create a collage-style wall panelling. From end pieces of MDF boards to wood from discarded furniture which can be repurposed—all these can be fitted together in a unique way to form a patterned wall panel. Since these are smaller pieces than traditional larger wall panels, they will be easier (and lighter) to stick. Any strong-hold glue should do the trick!

7. Try Wainscoting to Panel Only the Lower Half of Your Wall

While wall panelling can be fitted along the wall from the ceiling to the floor, wainscoting is a more functional and practical option which is limited to the lower half of a wall. While it adds a decorative element to the room, wainscoting also serves as a protective layer on a part of the wall that faces the most amount of friction or wear and tear. By adding a layer over the wall, wainscoting protects its surface from scratches and marks from furniture or hands.

STYLE TIP: The top of the wainscoting creates a thin ledge which can double as a makeshift mantlepiece. Display small keepsakes (or other thin items such as framed art or photographs) on it to liven up the room.

8. The Best Design Service for Building the Perfect Wall Panels

You might be wanting to build something from scratch by yourself in your home, but may not have the time or skill to execute it. In such cases, your best bet would be relying on an interior design service that can help you along the way. Whether you’re completely clueless about how to choose the right materials for wall panelling or have a bunch of ideas but can’t find a way to distill them into something realistic, a reliable and seasoned designer and contractor can make a world of a difference. While we all dream of a beautiful home, taking time out of our daily schedule and finding the right people to work with is often easier said than done.