Why Wall Panels Are the Best Modern Solution for Decoration

Creating a stylish and modern interior is a meticulous process involving specialists. Designers closely follow trends and refine their skills, while furniture and finishing material manufacturers provide consumers with cutting-edge solutions.

As trends change, so does the look of a space: whereas in the past most people chose wallpaper or paint for wall decoration, today wall panels have replaced these traditional materials. They help transform the space, and the practical properties of panels have earned them recognition in the professional community.

With experts and UNION, we tell you why you should definitely pay attention to this luxurious material.

What Are Wall Panels and What Makes Them Special?

Wall panels are finishing materials used in various spaces. They blend perfectly into apartment interiors, country houses, or conceptual studios. Wall panels are also chosen for office and restaurant decoration and other public facilities. The material can be boldly called universal, but this advantage is far from the only one.

Thanks to wall panels, designers have a wide field for creativity: they can use various materials in interiors (from wood to composite materials), create vivid accents in space, mask wall defects, hide cables and even doors. Wall panels can be mounted on concrete walls without finish decoration, installation is simple and very fast. UNION has provided for the possibility of integrating a hidden door into the panel system.

Tip INMYROOM: If you want to design an exclusive interior, consider wall panels from UNION. The finishing material is made from valuable wood species with care for consumer health and safety — formaldehyde and other harmful substances are not used in panel production.

Uniflex 3D panels will be a decoration for the space: 3D milling in the form of lines and various relief surfaces emphasize the incredible texture of wood. Doors with hidden frames can be made in a unified style with wall panels — such an approach allows the designer to solve various architectural and technical tasks.

Among UNION wall panel options, each person will find the ideal decoration variant: veneer coated with glossy or matte lacquer, matte or glossy enamel, as well as products made from decorative composite material. UNION wall panels are a combination of reliability, aesthetics, and functionality that has been tested over time.

Pay Attention

Wardrobe SPIRITO, UNION

Shelving VIRGOLA with lighting, UNION

Wall panel COVER, UNIFLEX 3D finish, UNION

FILOMURO door, 60 mm panel thickness, 3D milling, UNION

Premium Solution with Rich History

Today wall panels are considered a sought-after trend, but the finishing material cannot be called a novelty. The premium solution has a very rich past that has acquired new meaning.

The first panels appeared in medieval France: the material had a melodious name «bouzerie» and was used to decorate majestic palaces. Wooden panels with gilding were used for room decoration — they made the space truly luxurious.

Thanks to Louis XIV, bouzerie became a symbol of elegance, wealth, and success: nobles and dignitaries who could afford such luxury decorated their palaces and estates with these wall panels. Later, the trend gained worldwide fame — wall panels appeared in Great Britain, Germany, and the USSR.

In the Soviet Union, wall panels were used to decorate the offices of high-ranking officials. Over time, this refined material only solidified its premium status: wall panels can be seen in the office of the President of Russia, as well as in living and working spaces of European officials.

Opportunity to Feel in Harmony with Nature and Oneself

Wooden wall panels can be called not only an elegant and functional decoration but also the best solution for your mental health. The fast pace of life in megacities and surrounding concrete jungles awaken in us the need for unity with nature. Wall panels perfectly fulfill this task, as wood is a living and warm material that is pleasant to touch.

It is important to note that people living in interiors with wood are less prone to stress: wood gives a feeling of inner harmony, peace, and confidence. The Austrian study «Stress-Free School» (School without stress), conducted by the Institute of Health Technology and Prevention Research in the city of Wetz, confirms these words.

The study results showed that children learning in rooms with wooden finishing feel healthier and calmer compared to those who study in regular classrooms.

UNION offers wooden wall panels with veneer of valuable wood species, coated with lacquer or glossy or matte enamel. There are even stone-like finishes.

Expert Opinion

Alexander Deikov — Medical Psychologist. Residents of megacities are under the influence of stress: high competition, physical load, urgent matters, traffic jams, and other stress factors. All this leads to emotional burnout and other mental disorders, and then physical illnesses (psychosomatics). In my work I see such people every day. Therefore, it is important that the home environment and interior be comfortable, and preferably at work as well.

The presence of wood in the interior has a beneficial effect on human health. The reason is that wood can regulate the microclimate in the room, absorb excess moisture from the air and, conversely, release moisture when the air is too dry, saturate the air with resins and essential oils, adsorb harmful substances and odors.

Humanity is invisibly connected with wood: wood has accompanied us throughout our existence. For centuries, our ancestors lived in wooden houses, breathed its scent, and visually and tactilely experienced it.

Wood, as a piece of nature, stabilizes human psycho-emotional state, strengthens adaptive capabilities, and reduces the risk of developing mental disorders and nervous breakdowns.

The look of wooden surfaces and green plants subtly encourages the activation of memories related to childhood, evokes «relaxation», switches attention from negative thoughts. This creates a feeling of warmth and comfort, enhances the sense of security, and helps focus on solving current tasks.

How to Use Wall Panels in Interior Design?

On the market, you will find wall panels of various textures and colors: as finishing materials, glass, metal, stone, gloss, lacquer, and other materials can be used. However, designers often prefer wooden panels that help create a unique space. There are many ways to use wooden panels in interior design: they decorate kitchens, accent TV zones, bedroom walls, living room walls, or bathroom walls.

Lately, wooden panels with 3D milling have been in high demand among specialists — the texture adds a unique accent to any room. For example, UNION wall panels with volumetric 3D milling are well-suited for covering one of the bedroom, wardrobe, or living room walls. The finishing material really looks stunning and is often used for office space decoration.

Photo: Ekaterina Tretyakova's Design, Project "YOU and ME"

Naturally, natural wood becomes the highlight of any design, but some may be deterred by the cost of such finishing.

Luckily, there is a stylish and refined alternative — veneered panels from UNION (nearly two dozen types of veneer with different textures and shades). This natural material, coated with a thin layer of wood, makes the atmosphere warm and welcoming.

To protect the surface from damage, manufacturers coat panels with lacquer or enamel — such finishing is well-suited for a modern kitchen-dining room or bathroom interior.

As we noted earlier, another valuable life hack is integrating a door between rooms into the wall panel — unified style in space creates special charm.

Pay Attention

Wall panel, natural veneer, UNION

Sliding partition, aluminum and glass, UNION

Wall panel, composite material, UNION

Door «to the ceiling», natural veneer, hidden frame, UNION

Expert Opinion

Tatyana Petrova — Interior Designer. EgoDesign Design Studio

The main advantage of wall panels is that their use allows you to «hide» large items in space — for example, a door or cabinet. Isn't that real magic?

Wall panels are indispensable when designing minimalist interiors, and they can also blend organically into modern classic. In my project «Dream House», I used just such a trick. In the entry zone, I decorated a hidden-mounter door leading to the technical room with wall panels. In the kitchen zone, I covered a corner with them, and there the storage cabinet is hidden. This solution diverted attention from secondary elements and focused on what matters.

Photo: Tatyana Petrova's Design

Stepping Up to a New Quality of Life

Using wall panels in interior design is not only a beautiful and premium solution but also a step towards a new level of life.

You will be able to create a modern and practical interior with a unique touch. Aesthetic pleasure, feeling of inner peace and harmony, impressive technical characteristics, and wide application area — all these advantages make wall panels the best solution for decorating your home.

Check out the entire range of wall panels: more than 100 variants of technical execution and finishes.