Decorating the hallway with MDF panels: installation work and types of panels

Today in many houses you can see that the hallway is decorated with MDF panels - and the result looks more than worthy. There are a lot of MDF boards on the building materials market today, you can easily find even those that naturally imitate wood or tiles. This material is also economical and very practical; it does not need any special care.

Fiberboard and their characteristic properties

What is a hallway in an apartment? This room is something like a business card. And the decoration of the walls is generally very important - after all, thanks to such cladding, you can radically transform the entire style direction. Thanks to the texture, the color of a particular finishing material, that very visual image appears, on the basis of which a person draws a conclusion at the expense of your hallway, its design.

That is why it is so important to think carefully about the design of the walls. This detail is important.

What are the advantages of panels, why are they popular in the decoration of the hallway?

  • First of all, installation work is easy. Anyone can cope with such a task - there would be a desire. Also, during the work there will be a minimum of dirt, dust and construction debris: which cannot be said about other cladding options.
Fixing MDF panels to the wall can be done in different ways. Due to this, you will always be able to choose the solution that will be the most acceptable for your home.
  • Another advantage of the panels that you should pay attention to: the strips are very easy to saw - a jigsaw or a hacksaw will help with this. And if it is necessary to replace one or another part that is damaged: there will be no difficulties with disconnecting - the elements leave the base easily, immediately;
  • There are also other pluses: the sound insulation in the room will be good, as will the thermal insulation. There will simply be free space between the walls and the slabs. They put insulation here, and you can hide any communications without any problems.

Materials required for the installation of MDF

Any master, even a beginner, understands perfectly well: decorating a hallway with MDF panels is not the most difficult task. However, even here, preparation is needed - for the result to be of high quality.

In what sequence is everything done?

  • To begin with, you need to purchase the finishing material itself along with the necessary accessories and components;
  • The number of panels required for operation is determined. It is important to consider here not the amount of space that needs to be closed - but its width - this is important.
In the case when individual panels on the wall touch each other, you must also buy. That is, you cannot do without additional costs (you also have to spend time).
  • The right decision is to clad the walls with panels that are intact. The width of the MDF panel (we are talking about typical indicators) is 15 cm. However, there are panels, the width of which is 19 and 24 cm;
  • Do this: the width of the wall is divided by the width of the MDF panel that you are going to use. As a result, it will become clear how many specific finishing panels you need.
  • When buying material, make a certain stock: no one is immune from mistakes, defects. There will be clippings too - this is quite normal.

Varieties of MDF panels

MDF panels differ in types - it all depends on how exactly the front part of the finishing material is finished. For example, the most popular are laminated panels - during the production process, a PVC film is applied to them.

Advantages of laminated MDF panels


  • This material is dust-repellent;
  • It is resistant to mechanical damage (and the level of resistance is high);
  • Veneered panels are finished with high-quality wood veneer - at the request of the customer, you can add any shade to it;
  • If the panel is painted, then high quality compositions were chosen for coloring it, the stability of which is beyond doubt.
If you need to cut these panels, it is best to use a jigsaw. The cut will come out clear, completely even, without any burrs.

Fastening panels - stages

Novice craftsmen may experience different difficulties when attaching panels to the walls in the hallway. To some, this process may even seem difficult. To minimize the problem, you must be aware of what sequence should be followed in the stages of work.

The procedure here will be something like this:

  • First you need to measure the room where the repair is supposed to be carried out;
  • You have to calculate how many sheets will be required for repair;
  • Finishing corners also need to be calculated - they are needed to form a corner. At any angle, the joints can be both external and internal;
  • It is customary to treat those areas with special compositions of disinfecting action where fungus or mold may appear in the future - this happens often.
Now it is worth starting to form the frame - the boards will be attached to it. Wooden slats are usually used here (the size is chosen 4 by 2 cm).
  • The slats are fixed on the wall - plastic filler will help you with this, self-tapping screws, dowel-nails are also often used;
  • The panels for the walls in the hallway have already been selected, so when the crate is made, the master must make sure that the structure is even. The building level will always help you with this. The sheets are attached to a wooden base using thin, small nails. Staples work too - they are called clamps.

Materials required for installation work

And now we will consider those materials and elements without which it will not be possible to complete installation work..

  • You cannot do without finishing corners (they consist of two strips), there is a gap of 2 mm between them. The product is usually coated with a film of the same shade as the MDF panels themselves. This film holds two strips together;
  • The corner easily bends both outward and inward - and all this thanks to this design. Especially, these devices are convenient to use when your hallway is far from the most ideal corners;
  • You will need wood slats to prepare the frame for the cladding. Ideal - when the width of the rail is 4 cm, and its thickness is 2 cm.
Reiki with a large cross-section is not advised to pick up - the panels are light in themselves. Also, you can always find wooden slats in any hardware store without any problems.
  • To fix these strips on the wall surface, you need self-tapping screws that are suitable for working with wood (80 mm length is sufficient)). Plastic dowels can also be used
  • It is also better to stock up on kleimers - using these elements, MDF panels can be easily attached to the frame. You will be able to find kleimers in the same department where the panels themselves are located (sometimes they even come in one set - but this does not happen in all cases);
  • Liquid nails are a great solution for glueing corners. Buy this glue if you don't already have one;
  • In general, special attention should be paid to the glue. It is not necessary to use any random composition here - you need a substance that has certain characteristics.

Namely, what should be the glue:

  1. The adhesive must retain its plasticity even after solidification. It's just that MDF panels are usually made of pressed cardboard, so they are very susceptible to temperature, humidity in the room. An adhesive is needed that can easily cope with such temperature changes. This property is usually described on the packaging in great detail.
  2. Further, the glue that is chosen for MDF panels should help in their installation even where the walls are not perfectly flat. Simply put, the adhesive must be textured so that it can be applied in thick or thin layers to the surface without problems. Thick glue is what you need
  3. All these requirements are ideally matched by the liquid nails already mentioned above, which today are often chosen for such work - when the hallway is decorated with MDF panels.
If you decide that MDF panels are ideal for facing the hallway, pay attention to the following: this finishing material is not among the moisture-resistant ones. So if your room has a high humidity level, the panels will absorb moisture over time and may deform. For such a room, it is better to choose another finishing material, fortunately, the choice is rich today.

Technology for applying MDF panels to the wall

If you have a concrete, wooden or brick surface in your room, it is not at all necessary to clean off the previous coating from it (if it is wallpaper, paint, plaster). Moreover, it is not even necessary to plaster or putty the walls in the hallway before proceeding with the fixing of MDF panels.

This particular point is an important advantage of wood fiber products. However, you still have to remove the old skirting boards: you can't do without it.

  • The master must find the place on the wall that sticks out the most. It is from here that the installation begins;
  • Since the crate will be located horizontally over the entire area, and its maximum step will be 400 mm, it is customary for MDF plates to be placed vertically;
  • In the case when the permissible value is exceeded by the step distance, the curvature of the picture may occur - you must not forget about it;
  • In a situation where strips are being mounted from the corner, it is recommended to ensure that the last part is set in one piece;
  • It is better to check all the calculations in advance once again - attach the purchased panels to the wall and see for yourself: where the material will fit without problems entirely, and where you cannot do without building up the rack base;
  • The hallway is trimmed with panels so that the panel spike is located in the corner, the installation of which is being carried out. Experienced craftsmen advise to cut it off from the very first element;
  • Then, a glue holder is installed in the groove - five to six pieces are placed along the entire length;
  • Each holder-adhesive is attached to a wooden beam - a screwdriver will help you here.
For drywall, it is customary to fix the opposite end with self-tapping screws. However, before fastening with self-tapping screws, it is worth making a hole in the bar - a drill designed for metal work will help with this. Ideal diameter: 8-10 mm. In this case, the hat will definitely not be in sight.

  • It is customary to fasten the next bar so that it goes into the groove of the previous one with a spike - then each subsequent panel is assembled in the same way. All joints will be at the joints, the edges on the side and on top are fixed by means of corners - they are attached with liquid nails;
  • Sometimes it is customary to lay boards diagonally, and in certain cases horizontally. It is imperative that the wood base is perpendicular to the new coating;
  • If there are deep depressions, cracks or pits, you can always lay bars or wedges in them;
  • It is customary to hide the joints from the bottom behind a simple plinth - it can be fixed with nails or glued to a sealant;
  • The joint is formed with a corner under the ceiling;
  • On the wall, the bottom rail is fixed at a certain height from the level of your floor - so that in the future it can be used to attach the skirting board. As a rule, this rail is placed directly on the floor - and it works.

Watch a detailed video about how, when decorating the hallway with MDF panels, the panels are attached to the wall surface:

Possible mounting options

Let's talk about what options for fixing MDF panels to the surface exist today. If there are no serious errors on your concrete surface, it is absolutely clean and even, there is a layer of plaster (which is still strong), putty (which does not peel off), then you can glue the panels directly onto the sealant-adhesive.

This work is done like this:

  • The glue is spread in dots or zigzags all over the board;
  • Then it is pressed to the surface for a few seconds;
  • Then they take it away from the wall for a moment - and then apply it again: this time it is forever;
  • All excess adhesive must be removed with a spatula or knife.

A frame made of metal will also be an excellent basis for such work. For this purpose, UD profiles and hangers are often used.

This technology will be preferred if you plan to:

  • To make a bookmark of insulation;
  • You want to hide many different structures that have volume;
  • If the concrete or brick base has serious deviations;
  • In such a situation, you can even abandon metal rails in favor of beams. This design will be more stable, stronger;
  • If somewhere you need to put an electrical outlet or a switch, an electric drill is used to make a hole of the required diameter;
  • The mounting box (socket) is selected in the same way as when working with drywall sheets.

Insulation lining - process features

Usually, when finishing in the hallway is done, it is important to use additional insulation in the process. For this role are perfect: "penofol A", polyethylene foam. Such materials are good in that they not only perfectly retain heat, but also isolate noise.

When the installation of the metal frame is completed, penofol is glued to the surface. You need to glue this material on the side where there is no foil. The sealant is distributed in thin strips over the polyethylene foam - it is important that there is a step of 10-15 cm between the strips. Glued end-to-end - the edges of the layers should be connected.

Now you definitely have an idea of ​​how MDF panels are used to decorate the hallway. You can not even hesitate about this option - it will suit you perfectly.

If the MDF is of high quality - they are characterized by the following advantages:

  1. Certain moisture resistance (not suitable for bathrooms, of course);
  2. Strength and decorativeness;
  3. Installation work is simple;
  4. The material is durable.

Another very important characteristic of MDF panels is that they are very easy to machine (milling, grinding, fastening, drilling, gluing). All these works can be done using the same materials and tools that are used for wood.

If you have the necessary tools at hand, you will be able to cut out any patterns in the panel, it is also possible to decorate with a decorative cutout: today many do this.

The decoration was quite successful - MDF looks great on the walls in the hallway

Since MDF is a completely flat material, the panels can be laminated and painted without any problems. Maintenance of the surface is easy - you just need to wipe it from time to time with a slightly damp cloth (and make sure that there are no abrasive substances in the cleaning agent). The cost of MDF panels is also an undoubted advantage of this material.

If the film is slightly exfoliated on top of the panel, you need to go over it with sandpaper (choose a fine-grained one). The problem will definitely be fixed.

Such materials, which cost in moderation, are beneficial to use for wall cladding - in a variety of hallways, corridors. If it turns out that some panel is damaged - it can always be replaced with a new one - there will be no difficulties.

A good host can try himself as an experimenter: you can, for example, combine a variety of materials. For example, on top you place wallpaper of some light shade, on the bottom - panels imitating wood. You will definitely get something interesting - there is no doubt about it. The main thing here is to believe in yourself!

Did you like the article? Share it
Print article
To the top