Overview of all types of decorative 3D panels

What are modern wall panels?

The first thing I would like to start the review with is the variety of wall panels. Their main difference from each other is not at all in size, color or texture, but in the material from which they were made.

Types of wall panels according to the type of material are divided into:

Natural - solid wood, veneer, glass, stone, plaster, leather, aluminum, etc.
Artificial - PU (polyurethane), PVC (polyvinyl chloride), plastic, etc.
Combined - chipboard (chipboard), chipboard (laminated chipboard), MDF (medium density fiberboard), etc.

Wall panels in a loft that is gaining popularity every year will solve a lot of problems

Gypsum panels

This type of wall panels has not only aesthetic characteristics, but also environmental friendliness. Gypsum-based material has been used since ancient times: simple and complex architectural decorations (bas-reliefs) were made from it. Now it is presented in construction stores in a ready-made format.

The best properties of gypsum panels:

safe, non-flammable composition that does not release harmful compounds into the environment;
like ordinary plaster, they can be repainted many times with water-based and other colors;
are simply mounted (without joints or seams), subject to restoration or individual replacement;
can provide a large volume thanks to a specially designed design (gypsum 3D panels).

Note! Gypsum panels are able to regulate the humidity in the room, absorbing it or releasing it to the interior decoration.

Gypsum 3D panels on the wall in the form of a custom-made bas-relief will make the project truly exclusive

Methods of fastening wall panels

There are different ways to attach panels to walls. Some of them are suitable for almost all varieties. Namely:

For adhesive composition - this method is suitable for light-weight panels and a more or less flat wall surface;
Gluing to the sheathing - this method is rarely used and is suitable as a temporary measure (it is better to use more durable methods of fastening);
Fastening with self-tapping screws - for this method, the sheathing is also mounted. The downside is that due to the natural expansion process of the material and the rigidity of the fastener, the panels may unexpectedly crack;
Using clamps - such fasteners are first mounted on the sheathing using self-tapping screws or nails, and then the panels are secured to them. The connection is aesthetic and durable.

When choosing the lathing material, there are also some nuances. For damp and cold rooms, a metal profile is more suitable, since it is not influenced by these factors. The only caveat is the appearance of corrosion in those places where moisture comes into contact with the sheathing. Paintwork will solve the problem.

MDF panels

Products, the inside of which is a medium-density fiberboard based on wood chips, and the outside (front) is finished with one of the following materials:

Laminated film (plain or patterned).
Highly resistant paint or enamel.
Veneer of valuable trees.

What are the benefits of MDF panels:

beautiful - a variety of patterns and colors allows you to add individuality to the room;
have good moisture resistance, especially if these are special products for wet rooms (bathroom or kitchen);
impregnated with a special antifungal solution, which increases the useful life;
have strength comparable to natural wood;
easy to install thanks to new generation “locks” at the joints.

MDF wall panels with wood imitation on the wall in the living room

Features of panels

The most important advantage of wall products is the decorativeness and beauty of the material, due to which you can refresh and give a modern design to any room. The variety of types makes it possible to visually increase or decrease the area of rooms if desired. In addition, interior wall panels have the following advantages:

perfect alignment of walls;
no additional cladding;
Possibility of installation in wet rooms;
long service life.

Also, due to the large range of colors and different shapes, you can choose models according to the individual preferences of consumers. The products can be installed on the walls or ceiling of a building. They can be used in cosmetic or full-scale renovations, both in small rooms of a private house and in reputable offices.

Important! Since wall models have a long service life, when choosing them you should pay attention to the type of component material. It must be sufficiently environmentally friendly and safe for human health.

Panels or soft panels

Modernity dictates its own rules. Interior designers love to work with soft finishing materials such as faux leather and textiles. Thanks to their colossal variety, the most daring ideas of graphic designers can be realized in an affordable price segment.

The main advantages of soft panels include:

the possibility of zoning a certain part of the room, for example, near the head of the Geometry bed or as an impact barrier in a children's room.
with their help you can hide serious wall irregularities: crumbled plaster, joints on drywall, wiring, etc.
among other things, they have such good properties as additional heat and sound insulation.
soft polyurethane panels have a great variety of textures that help create an exclusive design project.

Soft wall panels near the head of the bed in the bedroom look very majestic

Polyurethane panels

Very light panels for interior decoration of walls and ceilings. Products made from such material are created with great practicality, and if you do not take into account their unnatural basis, you can find many positive aspects in them.

We list the main advantages of polyurethane panels:

artificial material can take on various forms, PU is no exception;
polyurethane itself has poor thermal conductivity, and this is a very good quality for apartments located in cold climates;
thanks to special developments of the new generation, products are created with certain characteristics necessary for comfortable living, such as resistance to mechanical damage, etc.;
Low weight allows for quick and easy installation, which even a non-professional can handle.

Advice! Polyurethane panels are perfect for commercial premises such as offices and restaurants, and you can easily attach various decorations or “Wings” panels to them.

Polyurethane wall panels are often made in rich colors

3D panels as a fashionable interior design tool

If you look at the finished surfaces finished with 3D panels, this will cause two reactions at once: admiration and bewilderment. The fact is that with their help, graphic designers create truly unusual indoor paintings, the cost of which is extremely difficult to determine. And here’s the paradox: they often look much more expensive than it seems at first glance.

So, 3D panels for interior decoration are now at the peak of fashion. Previously, they were only available to foreign houses. It’s good that today this type of product has entered the domestic market, because modern manufacturers have reached a high level in creating imitation of exceptional reliefs. 3D panels are made according to design images in production from various materials: chipboard, fiberboard, MDF, many types of polymers, gypsum, aluminum, wood, etc.

Wall panels with 3D effect made of gypsum

3D panels for walls blue

Gray plastic 3D panels

Advantages and disadvantages of wall paneling

Before you start choosing finishing materials, you need to find out all the pros and cons of specific options. In the case of wall panels, the advantages will be:

wide selection of panels in the budget segment;
durability and strength of most options;
ease of installation and replacement of damaged fragments with new ones;
ease of care without the use of special products;
heat and sound insulation properties (especially in combination with additional insulating materials);
Possibility of installation without preliminary leveling of the surface;
the ability to hide various wires, pipes, etc. behind panels.

Of the disadvantages of panels for wall decoration, repair specialists note only one - their ability to reduce the footage of the room by several centimeters. The fact is that in addition to the thickness of the material itself, it is necessary to take into account the depth of the sheathing for its fastening, especially in cases where the walls initially have significant unevenness. For a balcony or loggia, corridor or storage room, this nuance can be a decisive factor when choosing a finish.

Ecopanels

As a rule, when it comes to eco-panels, no specific type of product or its manufacturer is implied. In the proposed case, we mean exclusively the material of manufacture, which should be environmentally friendly and natural.

The most common eco-panels can be called gypsum, and all because of their attractive cost. Wooden (including bamboo) or glass products are considered more elaborate, but their price is much higher

Eco-panels made of gypsum in an unusual green color in the living room

Wooden panels

They look great in interior styles such as English classics, country or Provence, permeating the rooms with a provincial nature and a certain chic. They fit best into the interior of the kitchen, living room, or attract attention on the wall in the office next to the antique desk. Of course, they require good care for the wood to last a long time.

Wooden panels with a 3D effect are very environmentally friendly and pleasing to the eye

Bamboo panels

A type of expensive wooden panels are bamboo. They are relatively rare: either because they are not popular in hardware stores, or because they are used, as a rule, in African, Chinese or ethnic styles - unpopular for our region.

What types of wall panels are there for interior decoration?

These types of finishing materials, such as wall panels, are in demand among consumers for several factors. Firstly, a large selection of colors, shapes and materials. Secondly, there is a significant facilitation of repairs. Thirdly, you can combine several types and shapes of wall panels, giving the room design originality. Fourthly, the cost of repairs is reduced, since the walls are covered with panels without perfect plaster.

Rack type panels

Wall panels of this type can have an oblong shape with unequal length, width and thickness of the planks, but a similar tongue-and-groove connection system, the joints of which are closed with special elements: plugs or corners. Due to this, the integrity of the finished composition is achieved. Rack parts can be made of any material, including plastic and wood (lining). Wood is usually treated with stain, drying oil, varnish or paint in order not only to give the desired shade and shine, but also to extend its useful life.

Slatted wood panels in a modern bedroom interior

Sheet panels

Such wall panels differ from slatted panels in their larger size (approximately 1.2 by 2.4 meters). Installation of these tiles is very simple, despite their seemingly large size. The most popular manufacturing materials are PVC or fiberboard, coated on the facing side with a protective layer. They are often made to resemble brick, stone or wood. They are attached to an adhesive mixture, which is selected based on the properties of the product composition.

Sheet panels on one wall in a room with imitation brick

Tile panels

The most fashionable and popular interior decoration for the living room, bedroom or kitchen are square tiles. It is this form that allows you to achieve chic relief and volume of wall products (3D panels), especially if they have some kind of graphic design. The parts are connected to each other with an ordinary lock, like on laminate or parquet. This type of fastening allows you to cover walls or ceilings of a very large area.

White gypsum tile panels with 3D effect

Types of panels

The classification of PVC wall panels is mainly related to their appearance and consumer characteristics. So, depending on the dimensions and installation features, the following are distinguished:

Tiled panels are the smallest materials, which are usually represented by squares of various parameters (from 250*250 mm to 1000*1000 mm). They are quite time-consuming and difficult to install on the wall, but with their help you can create a wide variety of design options, including original ones. Squares can be chosen not only in different sizes, but also in different designs and textures. The end result is beautiful drawings, like this one.

Usually they are mounted using a special glue, and they are attached to each other according to the design principle (the protruding part of one part is attached to the groove of another).

Sheet PVC wall panels are the simplest option for finishing large surfaces, since their length is the longest in this class of products (from 1220 to 2440 mm). Installation is carried out quickly (usually the panels are mounted with glue), and the joints are covered with moldings (convex strip).

Slatted typesetting panels are rectangular products, elongated in length (up to 3700 mm) and small in width (up to 300 mm).

They are also easy to install using glue and are often stylized as wood, which creates a cozy atmosphere in any room.

Depending on the specific technology of coating panels with paint, the following are distinguished:

offset printed panels;
panels with thermal printing.

In the first case, a white panel is taken as a basis, and then a certain pattern is formed on its front side, which is painted over with a special paint roller. Next, a transparent ultraviolet varnish is applied to protect the surface, making the product last much longer than thermally printed panels.

On the other hand, products made using thermal printing are more affordable and have a wide variety of designs.

Isotex wall and ceiling panels

Now there are many competitive finishing materials factories on the market. Isotex panels deserve special attention, they are popular all over the world, including Russia. These products are produced using patented Finnish technology, which allows for better sound and heat insulation, as well as simple installation at a low cost of the product.

Such panels are ideal for a nursery or bedroom, which must be well insulated from noise penetration in both directions. They are also good for “loud” rooms where they play musical instruments or watch home cinema, as they perfectly drown out the echo, giving good acoustics inside just one room.

Isotex ceiling panels in the bathroom

PVC: composition and characteristics of the material

PVC panels are products made from polyvinyl chloride - an organic polymer consisting of 3 main chemical elements:

chlorine (57%);
carbon (42% mass)
hydrogen and impurities (1% mass).

Until recently, a small amount of lead was added to the feedstock, which was used as a material stabilizer, but today most often a mixture of zinc and calcium is used for these purposes in approximately equal proportions.

Video description of the technological process.

The material has undoubted advantages:

Finishing with their help is done quickly and easily, the work is clean.
The panels hide surface defects well (uneven walls, cracks, small depressions, etc.).
environmentally friendly material, does not emit harmful substances.
safe material from the point of view of fire prevention: it burns much worse than wood, leather, wool, rubber and many other materials.
The panels improve sound insulation, which is especially important for many city apartments.
With the help of PVC wall panels you can easily hide all communications (for example, electrical wiring).
With this finishing option you can create almost any design option - from classic to modern.

The material is easy to clean - simply wipe it periodically with a damp cloth to remove dust.
Can be used in conditions of high humidity (for example, in a bathroom), since the material absolutely does not absorb moisture from the air.