Which acoustic panels are the best? What to look for when choosing
Acoustic panels are hot right now, and for good reason: they dampen echo and turn a dull wall into a real eye-catcher. But once you start looking around, it's easy to lose sight of the wood for the slats. One panel is thinner, another has no felt, so what's the actual difference? Don't worry, we'll lay it all out for you. That way, you'll know exactly what to look for, and you'll choose the panel that truly suits your interior.
Short answer?
The best acoustic panels for your home have a real sound-absorbing felt layer, sturdy slats with a beautiful finish, a thickness of around 2 cm, a size that lets you cover a whole wall quickly, easy installation and a colour that suits your interior. Below, we go through what to look for, point by point. đ
1. A real felt layer, not just a slatted wall
This is the key difference between an acoustic panel and an ordinary slatted wall. A slatted wall is mainly decorative: beautiful wooden slats, but sound simply bounces right off them. With an acoustic panel, the slats sit on a soft felt layer. That felt absorbs part of the sound, and that's exactly the point.
So always check whether there's a felt layer under the slats, and how thick it is. Our panels have a black acoustic layer of 9 mm PET felt. That black backing also makes the slats stand out beautifully.
2. A thickness of around 2 cm
Acoustic slat panels are usually around 2 cm thick. Thicker isn't always better: a panel that sticks out far from your wall is trickier around a door, a window or a power socket. Too thin, and there's little room left for felt.
Our panels are 21 mm thick, slats and felt combined. A nice balance between a noticeable effect and a sleek finish that sits neatly against your wall. đ
3. Sturdy slats with a beautiful finish
The slats determine what your wall looks like and how long it stays beautiful. Most panels have MDF slats, finished with real wood veneer or a wood-look foil. Veneer has a natural wood grain that varies slightly from panel to panel. A wood-look foil gives an even colour across your entire wall.
We chose MDF slats with a wood-look foil. That way, your wall looks just as good from left to right, and the colour matches our cabinet finishes perfectly.
4. A practical size
The bigger the panel, the faster you're done and the fewer seams you see. Pay attention to two things: how many mÂČ one panel covers, and whether the panel fits the height of your wall.
One of our panels measures 270 x 60.5 cm and covers around 1.63 mÂČ. Is your wall lower, or do you want a different width? Enter your own dimensions in our design tool, and we'll cut the panels to size for you.
5. Easy to install yourself
You don't need a professional to install a good panel. Check whether you can fix it with screws or mounting adhesive, depending on your wall, and whether you get clear instructions.
That's all sorted with us, just like with our custom cabinets. đ Not sure whether to glue or screw? In our blog Glue or screw acoustic wall panels? you'll read what works best for your wall.
6. A colour that suits your interior
An acoustic wall is large. So its colour helps set the mood of your entire room. Choose a shade that matches your cabinets, and you'll get a calm, harmonious look. Go for a contrast instead, and your wall becomes a real eye-catcher. Our four finishes are each matched to one of our cabinet colours:
đ€ Walnut Oak & Lorenzo Walnut
A warm walnut shade that makes your interior feel luxurious and cosy.
đ€ Ivory Oak & Atlas Oak
A light oak look that brings calm and makes your space feel bigger.
đ€ Smoked Oak & Hudson Oak
A dark brown oak look that feels warm and refined, with both light and dark materials.
đ€ Charcoal Oak & Elegant Black
A deep black finish for a sleek, bold interior with character.
Can you picture it already?
Colours on a screen never look quite the same as in real life. Order free colour samples and hold them against your wall, floor and cabinets at home. That way, you'll know for sure it's a match. đ€
7. Smart extras
A panel is more than just a panel. Also look at what you can do with it. With us, you can complete your wall with accessories that simply hang on the panels: design hooks, minimalist hooks, wall shelves in three sizes, a wall shelf with hooks and a magnetic board. Perfect for your plants, your keys or your favourite photos. đż
Per panel or made to measure?
With us, you can do both. Want to get started quickly on a standard-height wall? Then choose your colour and order per panel. Is your wall a different height or width? Then design your custom panel wall: enter the width and height, choose your colour, and we'll cut it to size and deliver it to your home.
Acoustic panels or another solution for echo?
Acoustic panels aren't the only way to tackle echo. What works best for you? Here's an honest comparison, with one spoiler up front: combining is always allowed. đ
| Solution | Effect on echo | Look | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carpet | Helps a little | Cosy | Mainly dampens sound on the floor, not between your walls |
| Curtains | Helps, especially with large windows | Soft and warm | Only works where they hang |
| Plants and full bookcases | Break up sound a little | Cosy | A nice extra, rarely enough |
| Slatted wall without felt | Little | Warm wood | Mainly decoration, not an acoustic solution |
| Acoustic foam | Strong | Technical, studio look | Ideal for a studio, less so for your living room |
| Acoustic panels (slats on felt) | Noticeably less echo | Warm wood, an eye-catcher | Combines effect and looks |
Prefer personal advice first?
Come and visit our showrooms in Sint-Martens-Latem or Antwerp. You can see and feel the wood textures in real life, and we're happy to help you think about your cabinets and your wall.
Frequently asked questions about the best acoustic panels
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Which acoustic panels are the best?
For your home, wooden slats on a sound-absorbing felt layer are the best choice. Look for a real felt layer, a thickness of around 2 cm, sturdy slats with a beautiful finish, a practical size, easy installation and a colour that suits your interior.
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What's the difference between a slatted wall and acoustic panels?
A slatted wall is mainly decorative. With acoustic panels, the slats sit on a felt layer that absorbs part of the sound. That's how they reduce echo in your room.
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How thick are acoustic panels?
Acoustic slat panels are usually around 2 cm thick. Our panels are 21 mm thick: MDF slats with a wood-look finish on a 9 mm acoustic layer of PET felt.
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How big is an acoustic panel?
A Maatkasten Online panel measures 270 x 60.5 cm and covers around 1.63 mÂČ. You can design other sizes in the design tool, after which we cut the panels to size.
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How much does an acoustic panel cost?
A 270 x 60.5 cm panel costs âŹ89. Check the product page for the current price and ongoing promotions. Delivery costs âŹ55 for 1 to 4 panels and âŹ99 for 5 panels or more.
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Which colour of acoustic panels should I choose?
Choose a shade that matches your cabinets or your floor, or go for a contrast. Our panels come in Walnut Oak, Ivory Oak, Smoked Oak and Charcoal Oak, each matched to one of our cabinet colours. With free colour samples, you can see the result in real life at home.
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Are acoustic panels suitable for a recording studio?
Acoustic slat panels are made for homes and offices: they reduce echo and look great. For a recording studio, you usually need specialised acoustic solutions, such as thicker acoustic foam.
