ideas & tips FOR

Decorating a
Ceiling

with wall panelling and mouldings

top tip

Add detail to your ceiling

Ceiling panelling is all about attention to detail, and will ensure for an impactful, well-thought out scheme that makes the most of every inch of space available.

Suited to both classic and modern interiors, ceiling paneling ideas can add depth, character and texture to your home.

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Adding detail with mouldings

As well as adding wall panelling, another effective way to add some style to your ceiling is by using wall moulding. You don’t need to stick to the status quo and just install coving. Wall mouldings can add interesting shapes to your ceiling, whether you want a more traditional style with curved corners, elegant accents and ceiling roses. Or maybe a more contemporary, dramatic style creating a coffered ceiling. Wall mouldings allow you to play around and experiment with your design.

Tips for a beautiful ceiling

Contemporary with colour

Adding colour is such a simple way to add a more contemporary look to your paneling, using paint and bold color choices will make for a striking design in your interior space.

Especially if you have a white room, adding a panelling section with a bright paint colour will really add a focal point to the room.

Add lighting

LED lighting can add an understated elegance and breathe life into the most uninspiring rooms. It can add depth to a room, by creating shadows and lighter points in the space.

Traditional and modern

Adding traditional coving to a modern style room is a great way to add character but also bring a room into the 21st century.

Coving adds so much detail to a room but in a subtle way.

Advice & FAQ

What is difference between panelling and mouldings?

Panelling referes to the overall decorative design on a wall which visually looks like frames or rectangles. Panelling is a traditional style which adds character and warmth to a room. We offer pre-made full panels which can be adhered to the wall making installation very simple. These pre-made panels come in a set size.

Wall moulding, are decorative profiles that are sold in 2m lengths. These lengths can be cut to size and mitred up into rectangles to create the panelling look. The moulding lengths are a versatile option because it allows you to create the exact sized panels that your wall requires.

How do I to choose the right mouldings or panels?

We offer a large range of options for wall panels and mouldings and the possiblities are endless. Whether you are looking to create a contemporary style or traditional charm, we can help you choose the perfect wall mouldings and wall panels for your room.

How do I measure my walls for moulding?

It’s essential to ensure that your measurements are as accurate as possible before you buy, as we wouldn’t want you to order the wrong size or number of panels. You’ll need at least two people and a reliable tape measure that’s long enough to assess the height and length of each individual wall you want to put panels on.

Take notes of the measurements as you go, measuring from floor to ceiling and left side to right side on each section of wall. This includes any protruding or inset sections that you intend to install panelling over. Next, think about where you want the panels to be, and measure from the ground up to the desired height. Multiply that height by the length of the wall, and that’s how much panelling you’ll need for that section.

Repeat this for each individual wall and add up every figure to get the total amount of panelling you’ll need. Round up, allowing for around 5%-10% of wastage, to prevent ordering panels that are too short or not ordering enough. When measuring up, you’ll need to take plumbing, electrics, and any skirting boards into account. If anything needs to be re-sited, you must hire a professional to do this properly to prepare for installation.

How much do I need to order?

How much product you need will depend on your project, your walls and which products you are purchasing.

How to measure for Coving or Skirting:

Measure and note down the overall lengths of each of your walls. (Removing gaps from the measurements such as doors if you are ordering skirting) The coving profiles are sold in 2metre lengths. You can either add up all the wall lengths into one total, then divide by 2 to figure out the total number of profiles you need to order. Alternatively and if you want fewer joints in your coving/skirting, you can look at each length of wall and work out how many 2metre lengths will fit in the space. If you do it this way you may end up with more wastage.

Tip - Make sure to add a little bit extra to your order incase you make any mistakes with cutting!

How to measure for Contemporary Wall Panels

These panels come in standard 200cm x 25cm sizes. Generally these will be fitted side by side to fill a wall or area. Measure the overall width you want to cover (in cm) and divde by 25cm (which is the panel width) This will tell you how many panels you require.

Alternatively, you can work out how many panels you need by measuring your overall square meterage required. x2 panels = 1msq. Therefore if you have a wall of 12msq that you want to cover, times that figure by x2 and that will give you the total number of panels.

Tip - Always add a little bit extra to your order incase you make any mistakes with cutting!

How to Measure for Shaker nos 120 and 121 wall panels

These panels come in two set sizes: panel no: 120 measures 150cm x 50cm and panel no: 121 measures 50cm x 50cm.  Work out the area you wish to panel. This may be the full wall height, or perhaps half height would be preferable for your space, depending on furniture arrangements, as well as the position of any windows and/or doors.

Work out how many of the panels will fit across the space width-wise – remember, you can of course use the no: 120 panel either vertically or horizontally.  If the panels do not fit exactly in the space you have, calculate the number of whole panels you can fit, and then divide the remaining space on the wall by the number of panels + 1.  For example a wall of 2.4m in width could accommodate 4 panels (positioned vertically) with 40cm remaining.  Then divide 40cm by 5 to find the size of the gap you should leave between each panel = 8cm.

A popular design is to position the long rectangular panels (no: 120) vertically, with smaller square panels (no: 121) either above or below them. (insert image?)  Try to work out the gaps to be equal vertically as they are horizontally, to give your design a better balance.  Eg. if the gaps horizontally are 8cm, then leave an 8cm gap between the larger and smaller panel vertically too.

If you are panelling only to half height, you can choose a wall moulding to finish the panelled area neatly (insert image?). Our moulding no: 4025 has a very similar profile to the Shaker panels and adds a smart dado rail-style edge to the panelling.  We also supply our coving/moulding no: 324 which can hide LED lighting, which can throw a soft lighting effect either above or onto the panelling itself.

If you prefer, the moulding no: 4025 can also be used to make ‘bespoke’ panels, to be used in conjunction with the set sized Shaker panels.  To do this, simply measure the perimeter of the panel size you wish to create (in cm).  The moulding comes in 2m lengths, so divide the perimeter length by 200 to calculate how many lengths you will need.

If you need any help with your order please get in touch and we would be delighted to help.

Installation Information, Painting & Finishing

Preperation

When your products arrive, unpack them and lay them out on the floor so you can check you have enough for your project. Store the products and adhesives at room temperature and wait 24 hours before installing

Sand down any obvious imperfections on your wall/surface and wipe down the surface after making sure it is free from dust.

Before you start fitting ensure that the walls are dry and grease free.

Mark Up

Plan out and mark up the location of where you want to fit the moulding/panelling onto the wall using a spirit level.

If you are installing a skirting board, always start with this. Always start your project from the bottom of the wall upwards.

Cutting

The material cuts just like wood, so once you have measured up, simply cut your moulding/panelling with a fresh bladed saw.

Glueing Up

Apply the DecoFix Power adhesive to the rear face of your moulding/panelling making sure to run a bead of adhesive along the length if you are using a moulding or for larger mouldings/panels all around the perimetre and a bead down the center aswell.

Fitting

Line up the moulding/panel against the wall, press firmly and remove any excess glue with a cloth or sponge.

If you are fitting items side by side make sure you are using the correct adhesive - see all adhesive products

*Make sure you leave a 1mm expansion gap around panels.

Finishing

Use the DecoFix Filler to smooth out any joints using a application gun along the joins. Use your finger or a lightly damp sponge to smooth out the filler along the join or seam. If you are using vertical wall panels run the filler along all the vertical seams and use a damp sponge to smooth the filler in an upward direction.

Wait 15 minutes and then gently sand any areas that you think need sanding a little.

Painting

Now your mouldings or panels have been installed you can paint them, either by hand or with a spray gun. We recommend using Myland Wood & Metal paint for the most durable finish.

Once your mouldings or panels have been installed you can paint them, either by hand or with a spray gun.

We recommend using Mylands Wood & Metal Paint which are good for both interior and exterior and come in three different finishes: Matt, Eggshell or Gloss. Extremely durable with a high quality finish in each category, the Wood & Metal paint is unparalleled in terms of its performance: scrubbable, sprayable and durable it is perfect for high traffic areas.

Product Gallery

Making an accent or even a statement is possible in various ways: with wall décor, with cool floors, colourful furniture but the ceilings are often forgotten. A bold ceiling can totally change the space and create an ambience, highlight your room décor and inspire! Choose from our selection of simple moulding to create a framed shaker ceiling design or make use of the decorative pre-moulded full panels that you can simple mount onto your ceiling and paint.