Living Room Wall Panels

One wall, not four

In a living room a panelled wall works as a backdrop to something — a sofa, a fireplace, a TV — with the other walls left plain. Panelling the whole room reads as a corridor. Pick the wall the room already looks at, and take the boards full height rather than stopping partway.

Finish sets the mood

Oak and walnut warm a room. Brick and stone effects suit an industrial or period look. Chevron adds movement without the cost and dust-trapping of slatted battens. Keep the tone in the same family as the flooring rather than trying to match it exactly.

Practicalities

Mark sockets, switches and any TV bracket fixings before the first board goes up, and fix brackets through to the masonry or batten behind rather than to the board alone. 250mm and 1000mm widths at 2.4m and 2.6m.