A Practical Guide to Creating Georgian Wall Panelling on Uneven Walls
When it comes to adding character and depth to your interior space, wall panelling is a popular choice. Not only does it provide elegance and charm, but it can transform uneven walls without the need for re-plastering.
Our panelling in the Hotton Room
We’ve done exactly that in our latest project, where we’ve added Georgian-style wall panelling to a wall in our guest room, which was not in the greatest of conditions. In this guide, we'll go through how to create Georgian wall panelling on uneven walls using pre-cut MDF (Medium-Density Fiberboard). This is a fantastic DIY project that can be accomplished with a little patience and a few essential tools.
Materials You'll Need:
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You can purchase pre-cut panelling kits online but they are costly. The more economical approach really is to do it yourself! Having designed our panelling, we made use of B&Q’s timber cutting service, which is normally only found in larger stores. We used 6mm thick sheets of MDF. Having picked our 2.4 x 1.2m sheets, B&Q cut them into 100mm wide strips. B&Q’s will do 5 cuts for free, and every extra cut is just 50p. All our panelling cost less than £50.
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To mark your guidelines on the wall, a pencil and a level are essential, and a framing square ensures it’s all parallel. If you have one, you could use a laser level.
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You'll need this to ensure accuracy in your panel placement.
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Use a grab adhesive that's suitable for attaching MDF to your wall. Some adhesives are formulated for use with uneven surfaces. We used the No Nonsense Grab Adhesive.
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If your walls are smooth you may find that grab adhesive is sufficient to fix the panelling to the wall. Due to the unevenness of our walls, we chose to use nails as well. Mindful that we’d be using a lot of nails, we invested in a small nail gun.
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To fill gaps, seams, and any imperfections in the panels' joints.
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Having bought panels that were 2.4m long, we needed to cut horizontal sections of the panelling. You could use a handsaw but Mr J used his compound mitre saw.
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To smooth any rough edges or surfaces.
The Process
1: Preparation
Measure and Plan: Begin by measuring your wall's dimensions. Plan the layout and design of your wall panelling, considering the height, the number of panels, and the spacing between them. Take care to factor in the position of any sockets and light switches that may be in the wall and try to ensure that your panelling design avoids them.
This is a useful video that outlines the process, especially the measuring. I’ve tried to explain it as best I can but it’s always good to see it in action.
2: Panel Placement
Mark the Panel Positions: Using a pencil and level, mark where each panel will be placed. Ensure that the panels are evenly spaced and level, even if they don't perfectly follow the contours of the wall.
3: Adhesive Application
Apply the Adhesive: Use a grab adhesive on the back of the MDF panels.
4: Panel Installation
Secure the Panels: Press the MDF panels against the wall, aligning them with your marks. If there are gaps due to wall unevenness, that's okay; these will be addressed later.
Nail in Place: Use nails (or a nail gun) to secure the panels further. Nail through the MDF into the wall for added stability.
5: Gap Filling
Fill the Gaps: Use caulk and filler to fill any gaps or seams between the panels and the wall. Smooth it out for a seamless look.
6: Sanding
Smooth the Edges: Sand any rough edges or surfaces on the MDF panels to create an even surface.
7: Finishing Touches
Prime and Paint: Once the panels are securely in place and gaps are filled, prime and paint your wall panelling to match your desired colour. Our go-to primer is Zinnser BIN, which we applied with a mini roller and paint brush.
There you have it. With a bit of prep and patience, you can have a beautiful panelled wall which costs a lot less than you may have originally thought. Would you give this a try, let me know.
Jade x