Fitting Wood Slat Panels

Looking for easy ways to add wow factor to your home and bring a modern touch to your existing décor? Wood slat panels will instantly transform your living room, bedroom, bathroom or kitchen into a stylish and minimalist space. This Japanese-inspired technique is a great way to incorporate natural textures into your home, creating a warm and inviting feel. 

Our guide covers everything you need for this impressive DIY idea – and trust us, it’s easier than it looks! Read on to get started on your wood slat wall installation, including tips from decorating experts and inspiration to suit every taste.

When it comes to choosing wood slat panels, it’s entirely up to your personal preference. And the way you install your wood panels can make a dramatic difference to the results of your project, so don’t let it be an afterthought! Vertical wood panels tend to be more popular in Japanese-style interiors, drawing the eye up to make the ceiling appear higher. However, horizontal wood slat panels can add depth to a room.

If it’s your first time trying this DIY panelling idea, here’s what you’ll need:

• Dust Sheet 
• Masking tape 
• Sandpaper – medium/fine 
• Good quality 2” paintbrush  
• Small radiator roller with good quality medium sleeve and tray 
• Topcoat: Dulux Quick Drying gloss, eggshell or satinwood or Dulux Simply Refresh MultiSurface in your favourite colour 

Then, follow this step-by-step guide from our Creative Director, Marianne Shillingford, to learn how to install both vertical and horizontal wood panelling – the process is the same for both.

1. Mask off walls, woodwork and flooring then lay your dust sheet    
2. Make sure your panelling is clean and dry before you start.   
3. Stir your paint thoroughly.
4. Work on one panel at a time from the top down using a combination of brush and roller.  Paint the faces of the panels first, using the brush to paint the inside edges/corners and the roller for the flat surfaces.
5. Once dry, sand lightly and remove the dust before applying a second coat.

Wondering how to install wood slat panels yourself? Marianne Shillingford shares her tips for working with a range of surfaces, from plaster to MDF: 

• If your panelling has been previously painted, you will need to give it a good clean with sugar soap before wiping with a clean, damp cloth.  Once dry, lightly sand the surface to key it before applying the topcoat.   
• If your panelling is natural wood or unpainted MDF you will need to apply a coat of Dulux Quick Drying Primer-Undercoat before the topcoat.  
• You will get a better finish if you apply thin, even coats rather than thick ones.  The paint will dry quicker, too.   
• Check the corners of the panels for drips as you go along 

Installing wood slat panels on plaster is one of the easiest methods, as it’s a smooth surface. If your plaster is crumbling or cracked, you’ll need to repair it first. Otherwise, lightly sand over the plaster before applying your panels. 

Although textured surfaces like brick and concrete can be trickier to work with, you can apply wood panelling to them. However, the intricate design of slatted wood panels makes them easier to apply to a flat surface (like plaster or MDF), so we’d recommend these methods instead. But if you decide to go ahead with a direct application to brick or concrete, make sure the surface is in good condition! 

MDF is a flat surface, making it one of the best ways to apply wood slat panelling. It’s useful for panelling kitchen islands, cabinets or headboards and can also be applied to walls. If you want your wood panelling to stand out from the wall for extra impact - for example, on a media wall – you could build an MDF box and panel it. 

Now for the fun part – decorating your new wood slat panels! Woodwork can add depth and texture to a room, whether you oil it to bring out its natural qualities or paint it to match the rest of the room. Get inspired with these wood panel design ideas for every room, or check out our video guide to painting panelling for more tips.