3D Wall Panels Installation

Here's how I did my 3d wall panels installation in our home. They're like large 3d tiles, easy to cut and make great decorative wall panels.

A couple of years ago, we blocked the old kitchen entrance in order to give us more worktops.  It's been possibly the best decision we've ever made.

Then, the new problem was that we needed a plasterer to cover up the brickwork.  Great.  Not really a problem as I knew plasterers were cheap.

My parents actually pay £80 a wall, but I was quoted over £300 for these three small sections and some chased cables.  So guess what?  I never called him again.  And compare that to this £50 cheap wall panelling for the lot!

I've plastered a few times before on smaller jobs so didn't think £300+ was good value at all.  I know about the prep but where you need the skill is the final bit - getting it smooth!

However, I have recently learnt how to skim a wall with (yes, a cheat), ready mixed skim after filling my chased cables.  You can read how I did it here and what it looked like.  And if I hadn't heard of these 3D wall panels from Mano Mano, perhaps I would have skimmed after I rough plastered.

So let's talk about the 3D wall panelling, shall we?

I was initially dubious about these 3d wall art panels.  I'd never seen or heard of them before and I really like to have a feel for a product before I invest when it comes to DIY.

There are a few styles they come in, that I feared would look tacky, but I think it really depends on your end-use.  I have seen pictures where someone's covered their whole staircase wall and it looked too much.

But I thought, with a less is more approach, it would give my DIY building-site-like home a touch of elegance.  And a little show-home feel I've always desired but never bothered with.

Originally I was going to create a feature wall panel area from recycled pallets as wood panelling.  But there wasn't enough depth for 3d bathroom tiles space from the wall to the bathroom door on the left for batons including wood wall panelling on top.  So these were the perfect solution as opposed to wall planks.

Now they're made of bamboo pulp, so they are hollow, so you really need to think of your lifestyle.  If you have kids that fight, punch walls and doors (my Dad would often have to fix my cousin's bedroom doors), then you might want to look further.

But as there's just us two and I've positioned them in places we don't really touch, then it's ideal for us.  They're also more sturdy than I expected due to the curves.

Its wall texture design also comes in an unfinished white, so you'll need to paint them.  I went for Dulux's latest easy care range to create white wall panelling that was washable, doesn't stain and has been worth every penny.

They're also really easy to apply.  All you need is strong glue to attach and make sure they're straight.  You can find a how-to card at the bottom of this post!

But if you have an uneven wall, as I did on the door we bricked up, then I recommend my rough plastering tutorial to make sure it's roughly level.  It need not look pretty.  As long as it doesn't look uneven when you apply the 3d wall tiles.

As for the walls behind my doorway panels, 3d would give it a more interesting look as opposed to exposed painted brickwork.  I knew these were level and didn't worry about the joints as I could build that up with more glue.

So to cover up my three areas, all I needed was one pack of the panels and about 12 tubes of glue.  It does get a bit tiresome on the hands, but you'll be financially much better off.  Note: you can buy an electric caulk gun.

I am not regretting installing these one little bit.  In fact, I loved the style so much, it spurred me on to finally paint the rest of the house and get the warmth we craved by finally paying for carpets to be fitted.

When it comes to covering up the joints to make them a seamless wall panel design, all you need is decorator's caulk that you can paint over.

But as this was the first time I'd painted my walls using a colour (Denim Drift by Dulux to the right of the end wall panel, I struggled with caulk as I'm not great at it.

If like me, you're not great or confident, I just covered the edges with some wooden painted trim.  I also needed some wider trim as the panels were slightly narrower than the door entrance walls.  Oh, and cutting them is a piece of cake.  A sharp Stanley knife will do the trick.

Tip: You could also create white wood wall panelling with lots of smaller strips and adhesive like these.

If you want to see how easy they are to apply, here's the video and good luck.

Note that they are less likely to work on a section of wall that sticks out as they are hollow.  So if you cut them down to size, you'll be able to see through the gaps on the sides.  It's better to create a smaller section and add trim to frame it.

Disclaimer:  I received these 3D wall panels on a gifting basis from Mano Mano in return for an honest review and demonstration.  This is not a sponsored post and helped resolve a genuine problem we'd been living with.

Are These Suitable as Bathroom Wall Panels?

Unfortunately, I would not recommend fitting these as bathroom panels. They are made of bamboo and are not waterproof wall panels. If you really insisted on trying them, I would recommend making them waterproof on the back and front before fitting.

Can You Fit 3D Wall Art Panels Around Plug Sockets?

The chances your patterned wall panels are flat towards the wall around plug sockets are very slim. These ones, in particular are like a wave wall with gaps behind.

Even cutting around sockets and caulking wouldn't look right. But if you have one with a shallow texture, you might be ok.

3D Wall: Hanging Stuff On

I also don't recommend trying to hang things on your 3d wall. For example. only the sections where it's closest to the wall is acceptable to add screws or nails through.

BUT, once you have something like a mirror hanging on it, it will stick out again the raised sections. I personally think these 3d wall tiles for a living room only make a great accent wall panel area. I.e, by using it as staging with a TV on a floor unit in front.

You could also, for example, use one and frame it as a 3d wall picture. Then paint and hang as a chimney breast feature. Note, they're not fire retardant, so you may prefer to use a special spray to ensure it is. This is also another main reason I would not fit them as a kitchen wall panels due to the risks.

Are These OK As Outdoor Wall Panels?

Again, it's very unlikely these are suitable for outdoor use. Unless you used an exterior paint, whether you wanted to fill the gaps behind and what you were using it for.

I'd suggest you look at PVC wall panel designs.

Would These Work As 3D Tiles For a Bedroom?

Yes, I believe they would be suitable as bedroom wall panels. However, if you don't have fire safety escape windows, I would think again.

Also, you may want to only install them in a bungalow bedroom as opposed to a two storey house.

3D Wall Panel Installation How To

First, to get your wall paneling design, you'll need to ensure your wall is fairly level. By the time you have your panel wall decor in place, you don't want it to look uneven.

So above, I did some patch up plastering before tiling. Note, I left this to dry, but later gave it a brush over with PVA solution.

For other areas that were less of a concern, I gave it a good wash with soapy water before adding a PVA solution.

Finding Centre For Your 3D Wall Sheets

When your 3d panels arrive, they come in large squares. These decorative panels are hollow and easy to cut. But you'll need to plan where you want them on your wall. I thought it was easier finding the centre point in the wall.

I then had to make a choice whether the centre of my texture wall panel would line up with the centre of the wall. OR, the centre wall line was where two 3d wall decor panels joined.

To get your centre line, you can either hang something with a weight using string and draw along it. Or use a long spirit level. (The latter is easier).

I decided to line up the centre of my interior wall paneling with my pencil. This meant:

• Less cutting
• All I needed to do was fill the narrow gap with painted beading
• I'd less likely have dodgy cuts in a tight recess.
• There would be less caulking involved
• The ends uncut with beading would be stronger, say if leaning on

Gluing Your 3D Wall Design

To glue my modern wall panels, I mostly used gripfill. However, something I would probably try in the future is applying it to the wall with a tile adhesive trowel for ease.

I applied on each each that would touch the wall.

Note: for bare plaster, you may need to apply to the wall too.

Then push the 3d interior paneling on and it should stick instantly.

Note, some adhesives, such as Gorilla Glue instant grab will probably create slippage. However, another I do recommend is No Nails.

As for something like Sticks Like Sh*t, it so strong, I would advise against it. I prefer to use products that are suitable for the end use, but not where it causes problems later if I want to remove at a later date.

Cutting Wall Moulding Panels To Fit

After working my way up from the skirting board with my decorative interior wall paneling, I needed to cut one.

It's easy to do, depending on the wall sheet design you've picked.

I measured the gap left above my tile panel at both sides in case different by a few mm.

Using a spirit level or a straight edge and a pencil, I drew along it to meet up my marks.

Then cut along my pencil line on the back of my wall panneling with a stanley knife.

Note, you could also use your straight edge as a guide, but I just did this slowly and carefully.

I next needed to do a test fit to see if it was ok. And once I gave it my approval, I glued and pressed down.

Then repeated for the opposite textured wall art section.

Adding Trim To Your Wall Covering Panels

With all my 3d decorative wall panels, I added some for of trim to finish it off. But this was mostly because I had a small gap either side.

Luckily you can buy wooden trim and beading in many different sizes. In fact, you could buy plastic UPC white ones if preferred that don't require painting.

For the 1" wide one, I stuck on the wall with No Nails with grab adhesive, then painted. For a 1cm width one, I painted first before applying for a neater finish as it was adjacent to a painted wall.

Painting Wall Art Panels

To finish my wall panelling sheets, I painted with Dulux Easycare in Brilliant White. With it being an entryway, I chose this paint as it was washable.

Filling 3 D Wall Art Seams

To make my 3d textured wall panels more seamless, I filled where they met with white caulk.

Then wiped over with a decorator's wipe and left to dry before repainting.

And once everything was painted, I thought my textured wall covering looked absolutely stunning!

Alternative Wall Paneling Ideas:

• Ceramic decorative wall tiles
• Textured wall tiles
• Mosaic as a feature
• 3d bathroom tiles
• Decorative wood panels for walls, such as laminate wall panels
• MDF wall panels
• MDF textures as faux decorative wood panels
• 3d plaster wall panels
• Clad with tongue and groove wall panels, then paint as white wood paneling for a beach house look
• Oak wall panels
• You could achieve your own panel wall art look by creating grooves with filler