Are your walls looking a little too boring for your tastes nowadays? Wall paneling has become increasingly popular lately because it is an effective, expensive-looking option for changing up a space that doesn’t take special tools or skills. All you need is a small chunk of time, some high-quality paneling, and a vision of how your home could look.
The method for DIY wall paneling is the same no matter where you want to put it, but you should do some research about different types of paneling to see what will work best in certain environments. Not only do you want to choose a style that matches your home, but you need to think about moisture in the air as well - not all paneling is good for a bathroom or kitchen project, for example.
Ready to create an eye-catching paneled wall? Let’s explore the steps to create your home design masterpiece!
Tools Needed for DIY Wall Paneling
As mentioned above, the first thing you need is a vision for how your home will look. Do your research and find the paneling that matches your own personal style and personifies how you live your life. You will need a few different materials and tools to get the job done properly, including:
- Wall paneling of your choice
- A level
- Good adhesive
- Something to cut the panels with (depends on the type of paneling)
- A notebook to write and sketch things out
- Paint (if necessary)
- Something to sand with
- Hammer
- Pin
- Tape measurer (the longer, the better)
- Dropcloth for easy cleanup
And you’re ready to begin!
Planning Your DIY Wall Paneling
Planning out your wall is probably the most exciting part of this! You need to sketch it out, so you can fully visualize what you are going to be doing when you start cutting and applying the glue. Start by looking at your wall and visualizing the pattern. You can even print out some pictures and sketch over them. Try different formations, just to see what you get.
This can also help you plan how many panels you will need, how much glue, and whether or not you’ll need a ladder or an extra set of hands.
To measure your wall, you need to measure the height and width of your walls. Be sure only to measure the portion that you want to panel. Look at the wood paneling that you want, and get that measurement as well. You will need to do some basic math to figure out how many panels you need. We always suggest ordering just a few more than you would need to complete the job just in case you may make a mistake. Also, having an extra piece or two can help you test cleaning products.
If you can have someone else help you take measurements (or double-check your math), you will benefit greatly. You’ll also need to consider if you want some distance between your panels, if you want to mix and match a few different panels, or if you are going to change the shape of the panels in any way.
Map Out Your Wall in Person
Order your panels, and then wait for them to arrive. If you are getting a wood paneling that is slightly different on each panel, you may want to map out the wall before you officially start installing it. Put everything on the floor in the exact pattern it will be on your wall, just to see how the panels interact with each other. Sometimes things look a bit different in person. Don’t cut anything yet, just in case you want to trade in for a different set of paneling.
Make Your Cuts
Once you are happy with the panels, then you need to make your cuts. You can either cut them yourself or have someone help you. If your panels don’t need cutting, you can just skip this step.
It’s important to get good, straight, clean cuts. You want to be careful about any variations in measurements because even one panel cut crookedly can make everything look off.
When you finish making your cuts, you should sand everything down.
Prepare Your Walls
The next step is to sand and smooth your walls for installation. You don’t want to apply panels to walls that are dirty or too textured, or you won’t get a strong enough connection. In rare cases, extreme lumps can even show through the paneling.
Apply Panels
Start by working from the outside of your walls into the center. Apply the base panels first and then to the top. You can mark everything out with a pencil to keep your lines straight - but use a level as well. Apply the strong adhesive to the back and press down firmly. Hold the panel for a few seconds before pulling back and allowing it to dry.
Continue adding the panels one by one, starting with any vertical panels and then moving into horizontal ones. You can adjust as you go, getting the look and feel you want. Just be sure that if you are using straight lines, you continue to check with the level. You can never double-check too much during this process.
Mind the Gaps
If you have any gaps in your wall, you can use caulk to patch them up and make everything look seamless. Try to avoid gaps that are bigger than a few millimeters because these will appear noticeably flawed. Sand down any caulk for a more seamless finish.
Allow It to Dry
While most adhesives dry quickly, you want to give them a few days to really form a bond before you do anything else to the walls. You can then paint some of the paneling, hang things, or just enjoy the paneling like you would any other wall. The possibilities are endless!
In Conclusion
At the end of the day, we all love to make changes to our homes to give them more personality, and sometimes DIY wall paneling is a great way to make just a small change that makes you fall in love with your home all over again. Don’t be afraid to try something that is a little left of the ordinary! After all, wall paneling is totally in!
Sources:
An Easy DIY paneled focal wall in a weekend | Sharp and Grey
