What’s included with MDF wall panelling kits? We take a look at what they have to offer, to help you pick the right one for the job. 

If you’re thinking of buying an mdf wall panelling kit there are a few things you need to know beforehand. We’ve put together a brief overview of what you get with the various types of mdf wall panelling kits on the market right now. 

Let’s start by looking at the different options of mdf wall panelling kits available. We’ve broken it down by price, starting with the least expensive option:

MDF Wall Panelling Kit – Strips

What’s included? With this type of mdf wall panelling kit you will receive pre-cut strips of mdf. These can be used to create a specific style of wall panelling, however they’re usually quite versatile and can be used to make several different wall panel patterns i.e. shaker, Tudor and slats. These are perfect if you’re looking to create the more popular styles of wall panels and can be installed with minimal fuss. This is a bespoke service that we offer via our mdf cut to size page.

MDF Wall Panelling Kit – Panels

These mdf wall panelling kits come as pre-made panels. Typically the supplier will note your wall measurements and tailor the panels to your requirements. There are a whole range of different wall panelling styles available which can be custom designed. These are usually intricate pieces or panels with more texture – panels that often protrude from the wall for a truly 3d effect. Depending on the complexity of the panels you can install them yourself or if they’re quite difficult the supplier may provide you with installation services – at a price. 

MDF Wall Panelling Kit – Boards

These are the more expensive MDF Wall Panelling kits on the market. Once again these will normally be bespoke, the supplier will need to know the wall and room measurements to develop the boards for you. The wall panels are attached to sheets of MDF which are designed to fit the surface area you will be panelling. Installation should be provided with these as they may need to be amended or trimmed down for the perfect fit. This will be an additional cost.  

As you can see when the mdf wall panelling kits become more complex, the price increases.

If you’re working with a tight budget, we recommend trying the more affordable option of the mdf wall panelling kit with strips. The versatility of the mdf strips means you can be more flexible with the application.

When it comes to wall panelling on a budget – we’ve put together a handy guide to help you reduce costs. It’s much cheaper than the other options available and easier than buying sheets of MDF and cutting them down yourself. You can completely avoid the stress of measuring and cutting each individual wall panel by hand – which is quite monotonous. 

In addition to your mdf wall panelling kit you will also need the following items:

• Tape measure
• Spirit level
• Heavy duty grab adhesive
• Caulk
• Saw / Utility Knife
• Sandpaper/ electric sander
• MDF Primer
• Paint
• Paint Brush / fluffy roller & tray
• Hammer (optional)
• Nails (optional)

We’ve also included why you’ll need each of the above items, because we’re super helpful like that. 

Tape Measure – you’ll need this item to measure the space you’ll be panelling and to double check the measurements of the mdf wall panels. 

Spirit Level – this handy tool will help you to ensure your wall panels are well – level. Nobody wants wonky wall panelling. Unless that’s the aesthetic you’re trying to achieve. 

Heavy Duty Grab Adhesive – you’ll be using this product to attach your wall panelling to your walls. Make sure it’s high quality and most importantly once fitted – leave those panels to dry before you move on to the next step. 

Decorator’s Caulk – this is used to hide any of the seams between the wall panels – use sparingly and follow the instructions on the packaging. 

Saw/ Utility Knife – despite the strips being pre-cut for you – you will need to trim them down to fit the area you will be panelling or to recreate certain styles like Jacobean. For Jacobean you’ll need to cut the strips so the panels fit together instead of overlapping.  

Sandpaper/ electric sander – these are used to smooth any of the edges to ensure the strips of mdf fit together perfectly. 

MDF Primer – This product is really important. You must prime your MDF before you paint it, otherwise large bubbles will appear on the surface and completely ruin your wall panels. You need to apply 2-3 coats of primer before you paint. Make sure you let the primer dry before painting too. 

Paint – Of course you will need paint to bring your mdf wall panelling kit to life. As long as you prime the strips beforehand – you can use any paint you like. 

Paint Brush / Fluffy Roller & Tray – unless you plan on painting with your hands, you will need tools to apply it. We recommend using a fluffy roller to apply the paint to the panels and the paint brush to cut in those awkward spots. 

Hammer & Nails (optional) – for extra hold these can also be used to secure the mdf wall panels in place. Ideal for high traffic areas such as the hallway. 

In a nutshell this is what you will need to purchase in addition to your mdf wall panelling kit. For a more in depth look at the installation process – we’ve put together an informative guide on how to install mdf wall panelling kits.