Bedroom wall panelling ideas are a great way to add form, texture and style to your bedroom walls. There are various ways to achieve this, from using pre-made ready-to-fit wall panels to creating a custom look from scratch with MDF and beading.
Pre-made wall panels are a great option if you want something quick and easy to install and requires little DIY skill. These types of wall panels are available in a variety of materials, including wood, metal, and even fabric.
If you want a more unique look in your bedroom but want to make the process a bit easier for yourself, you can create your custom-built panels. Use moulding to create the numerous pre-panelled sections needed for your bedroom design, which can then be attached to your wall. Another option is to only partially add wainscoting, around the bottom third of your walls.
Natural wood panels in particular are a great way to produce the feeling of warmth, making the bedroom space feel cosy and inviting. They can be used to cover walls, floors, or ceilings, and add a touch of luxury to any room. Wooden wall panels are also easy to clean and maintain, making them a perfect choice for busy families.
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Here are some of my favourite bedroom panelling ideas and styles for adding more character to your space...
Wallpaper Panels for the Bedroom Wall
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Wallpaper panels can be a quick and easy way to add pattern, colour and design flair to your bedroom decor and can be customised to tie in with any colour scheme, bedroom furniture, soft furnishings or bedding, whilst creating the perfect focal point or feature wall on your bed wall.
Another advantage of using framed wallpaper panels is that you can go much bolder with the print you choose than you would dare if you were decorating the entire wall of your bedroom.
3 Ways to Create Wallpaper Wall Panels
1. Hang a pre-bought wallpaper wall panel on the wall, as you would a framed picture. That way you can change up the look whenever the mood takes you.
2. Attach moulding or wooden beading directly to the bedroom wall, where you would like the panels to be located. Cut the wallpaper to the correct size to fill them. Paste the wallpaper, following the manufacturer's instructions, and apply it to the centre of the panels.
3. Make your wallpaper panels by using glue and tacking beading onto MDF or hardboard panels and pasting the wallpaper directly onto the board. You can then either affix hooks for hanging, or attach the panels directly to your bedroom wall.
Tongue and Groove Wall Panelling
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Tongue and groove wall panelling is a popular choice for bedrooms, as it is cheaper than many other options, and is also easy to construct.
This type of wall panelling gives a clean, classic look to any room and can be painted or stained to match any bedroom design.
Tongue and groove wooden slat panelling ideas can not only be used to create a single accent wall but also cover all of the lower wall sections in an entire bedroom.
It is also versatile enough that it can be used in any style and age of home, whether decorated using contemporary interior design ideas or in more period properties with traditional furniture.
How to Fit Tongue and Groove Panelling
Contemporary Bedroom Wall Panelling
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While the mid-century modern and cottagecore trend in country homes has caused a resurgence in popularity for traditional wooden wall panelling, there are plenty of ways to use this material in a more modern and contemporary way.
For a sleek and modern twist on wooden panelling, opt for simple, clean lines utilising a dark wood stain finish. These interior bedroom wall panelling ideas are the perfect look for a feature wall or as an alternative to traditional shiplap.
You can also use wooden panelling to add vibrancy to your bedroom decor by painting it a bright colour or keep it fresh and clean by whitewashing it.
My example above shows how contemporary wall panels can completely change the look of the bedroom and create a unique space with a modern design.
Board and Batten Wall Panelling
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Board and batten wall panelling ideas are another great choice to add character and appeal to a bedrooms decor. This type of half-wall panelling can not only be used on walls and ceilings but also floors.
This particular half-panelling design consists of wide boards that are placed horizontally on the wall. The spaces between the boards are then filled with narrow strips of wood called battens. This creates a 3D structured look that is both visually interesting, unique, and can create the perfect feature wall for your space.
Board and batten wall panelling is a popular style that can be left with a natural wood finish, or painted to suit your bedroom decor and theme. This makes it a great option for those who want to add a pop of colour to their bedroom decor, but don't want to decorate the entire wall space.
Painted Wooden Wall Panelling
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Painted wood panelling can enhance your bedroom decor, giving it an instant makeover. It's also a great budget-friendly way to update your bedroom space. You can use paint to create a variety of looks, from shabby chic to modern, and many styles in between.
Painted panelled walls can be used to delineate space, define an area, or simply add visual interest. When choosing paint colours, consider both the wall colour around the panelling and the trim colour around the windows and doors.
For a rustic look, try painting your wall panelling in a light grey or white hue, then distress the edges with sandpaper for a worn-in look. If you want a more modern bedroom wall panelling, try painting the panelling in a bright on-trend colour like yellow or pink.
If you like this combination of bedroom colours, you may also like these other grey and white bedroom ideas.
Georgian Wall Panelling
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Panelled walls were a popular wall decoration back in the 18th century. Georgian-era wall panelling, like the example above, is making a comeback in 21st-century homes because of the elegance and grandeur it adds to a room, and how it can bring character to your bedroom space.
How to Achieve This Wall Panel Look
One way to recreate this traditional Georgian panelling style is to purchase pre-constructed panels, made of hardwood or MDF (with moulding applied), which are then fitted side by side onto the wall, recreating the style of Georgian panelling. The entirety of the panels are then painted either white or another pale colour, to complete the look.
Another way to achieve this bedroom panelling idea is to simply use moulding and attach it directly to your bedroom walls using adhesive. Create a similar layout to the example above and voila, you have a Georgian wall panelling design to be proud of.
Slimline Wood Wall Panelling
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Slimline wood batten panelling is a contemporary alternative to other more traditional styles and will add a modern design element to your bedroom decor without adding bulk.
This type of panelling is perfect for creating a warm and elegant feature wall, particularly suited to smaller bedrooms, as it doesn’t take up as much of the wall and will not overpower the space.
You can create a slimline wood wall panelling effect using a variety of natural materials, such as pine, oak and cherry wood. To add colour, or simply to match or compliment the colours within the rest of the bedroom, you can also paint wooden battens in any colour scheme of your choice.
The stained wooden battens in this example create a soft warmth within the bedroom, adding depth to the space, and serving as a backdrop and headboard alternative for the bed.
Picture Frame Moulding Panelled Bedroom Wall
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When it comes to interior bedroom wall panelling ideas, in particular the classic style of wall mouldings, there are various possibilities for both material and profile design. One of my favourite looks is created by using picture frame moulding.
This type of moulding is perfect for adding a touch of elegance and sophistication to your bedroom wall decor and is something that you can do yourself with little experience or expertise.
Simply measure and lay out your panelled bedroom wall design, using a tape measure and pencil, directly on the bedroom wall surface. Then check that all the horizontal and vertical lines are perfectly straight using a spirit level. Finally, use the pencil lines to guide where you attach the picture frame moulding.
Modern Bedroom Wall Panelling - Wood Partition
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Wood partition battens are a great way to separate or zone spaces within a room, whilst still keeping some of the natural light from other parts of the room that would otherwise be lost. This is a great solution for opening up a dull space, and on that note, here are 14 more ways to brighten a dark room.
These types of modern bedroom wall panelling ideas also add character and a small amount of privacy to the battened-off space, whilst creating a modern and contemporary design element to the room.
Vertical Bedroom Wall Panelling
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Vertical bedroom wall panelling ideas can be used to create a feature wall, a modern focal point, or as a way to add some extra storage or display space to your walls.
A bonus to using this form of slat wall panelling is that It is also a great way to add sound insulation to your bedroom. Great for budding musicians, loud music players, or heavy snorers!
Laminate and Veneer Wall Panelling
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Laminate and veneer panelling ideas are also popular choices for wall panelling bedrooms, and other spaces within the home, due to the cost savings compared to real wood alternatives.
Veneer is very delicate layers of wood that are glued to other low-value wood, giving an expensive look, without the cost of using the real thing.
Laminate in contrast is a thin plastic sheet that is bonded to plywood, MDF or chipboard. Both options offer a variety of colours and finishes and can be installed on drywall or existing panelling.
How do Prices Compare?
Veneer and laminate wall panelling sheets are less expensive than solid wood panelling, and also easier to install, due to their lighter weight and softer density.
Out of the two, laminate panelling is more durable than veneer, and it is available in a wider range of panelling colour options and styles.
My Final Thoughts
I hope that I have given you an informative overview of the different interior bedroom wall panelling ideas available to you, and wish you the best of luck in achieving your decorating endeavours.
Author: Matthew Chiappini
