The secret to an affordable room makeover in a weekend
Decorative wall panels come in all shapes and sizes and are a quick and easy way to add character to your interiors.
Vertical joinery panelling, referred to in the building trade as VJ board, is a fast and cost-efficient way to add character to your home without breaking the bank.
If it’s the Hamptons style you’re after, one of the keys to achieving this decorating style in your home is to bring in textures of timber and the classic architecture of a luxury beach house.
You may want to add character to rooms in a new build, cover a damaged wall or create a showstopping feature wall in your living room. This is exactly the kind of satisfying job you can tackle yourself in a couple of days.
VJ board creates the look of a period timber home with tongue-and-groove panelling and is readily available from your builder, hardware stores or direct from companies like VJ Plus and Easycraft. It’s simple to install and can transform the entire look of a room in a weekend.
If DIY is not your thing, this is a job that a carpenter or handyman can do in a day for you, depending on the size of the room. Installation is straightforward with adhesive and a nail gun and most suppliers offer the panels pre-primed for painting to save you loads of time in preparation - all they need once installed is a quick sand before painting with your choice of colour.
Decide whether you want to cover the entire wall from floor to ceiling, or run a dado, or chair rail around the room and clad below that. A dado height will usually take your VJ board to around 900mm from the floor and creates a lovely detail in a room – bedroom, bathroom, any and every room in the house.
An affordable bathroom makeover may be as simple as lining the walls with VJ board, replacing your vanity and tapware and giving the whole room a fresh lick of paint.
