What are felt acoustic wall panels and how do they work?
Silence is something you don't see, but you do feel. A pleasant space does not sound hollow, is not tiring to your ears and naturally feels quieter.
Yet many people struggle with distracting reverberation or echo in their homes or offices. That's because hard surfaces - walls, floors, windows - reflect sound rather than absorb it.
The solution? Acoustic wall panels made of felt.
They are stylish, durable and improve acoustics immediately after installation.
At Maeven Art, we take this concept further: we use Dutch PET felt, develop exclusive designs and make all our panels self-adhesive. So you create a quiet, atmospheric space within minutes - without drill or glue.
In this great knowledge blog, we delve deeper:
Table of contents - What are felt acoustic wall panels and how do they work?
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1. Why good acoustics are indispensable
Sound moves in waves. When these collide with a hard wall, they bounce back - what we experience as reverberation. The more reflections, the noisier a room sounds. In modern homes with high ceilings and smooth surfaces, this effect is even stronger.
Poor acoustics affect:
- Concentration - in offices and home workplaces.
- Intelligibility - in conversations and video meetings.
- Comfort - in living rooms or bedrooms with lots of echo.
With the right sound-absorbing panels, you create quietness by capturing some of the sound.
Reverberation disappears, conversations sound clearer and the room feels warmer.
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2. What are acoustic wall panels made of felt?
An acoustic wall panel made of felt isa decorative element that absorbs sound waves.
Ek panel consists entirely of PET felt - a soft, sturdy material made from 60% recycled PET bottles.
The special thing about felt is its fiber structure: open enough to trap sound, dense enough to dampen it.
When sound waves hit the surface, they disappear between the fibers. The vibration is captured and not reflected back, increasing sound comfort.
Our panels consist of 9mm thick Dutch felt, tested in TU Delft's reverberation chamber.
Result: an absorption value (αw) of up to 0.80 (with 2.5cm denim wool) - that means: almost complete sound absorption at certain frequencies.
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3. How exactly does felt work soundproofing?
Sound consists of vibrations at different frequencies: bass, middle and treble.
The open fiber structure of felt "captures" those frequencies at different depths.
This ensures a balanced sound image, without echoes or harsh reflections.
💡 Did you know?
A wall with felt panels can reduce reverberation by up to 50% compared to a bare wall.
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4. PET felt: local, sustainable and cleverly designed
At Maeven, we use only Dutch-produced PET felt, made from recycled plastic bottles. This Dutch felt has a much higher density
Each record goes through three steps:
1. Collecting bottles.
2. Crushed into flakes.
3. Melted into fibers, pressed into felt sheets.
The result is a circular product that lasts a long time, is free of adhesives or chemical additives and remains recyclable again.
Sustainability is not an afterthought - it is the foundation.
By producing locally, we save transport miles, maintain control over quality and support Dutch manufacturing.
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5. Felt versus wood: the difference in acoustics
Wood slatted panels are popular - but they work differently.
Wood refracts sound, felt absorbs it.
Meaning:
- Wood provides diffusion (diffusion),
- Felt provides cushioning (absorption).
The combination is ideal: many customers choose a felt background with wooden slats.
This gives you the warm look of wood, but the quietness of felt.
On average, our panels cover 50% of the surface with wood, while the rest consists of sound-absorbing felt - a perfect balance between design and acoustics.
6. Unique advantages of Maeven Art panels
✅ S elf-adhesive - no tools or glue required
Remove the foil, stick the panel directly to the wall and done.
No drilling, no sealant, no damage.
✅ Measurable acoustic effect
Our panels have been tested by TU Delft and Cauberg-Huygen.
You can hear the difference even with one 4m² wall.
✅ Dutch design, not available anywhere else
Each collection - such as Loa, Maya and Sade - is designed exclusively for Maeven.
No imports, no generic patterns, but manually designed shapes.
✅ Durable & maintenance-free
The PET felt is colorfast, moisture-resistant and easy to keep clean.
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7. Applications by space
🛋 Living room
Large open space with lots of reverberation? Felt panels break up reflections and soften sound.
Combine colors for a design statement - for example, Cognac and Sand Grey for warmth.
💼 Of fice or workplace
Less distraction, less reverberation. Ideal behind the desk or in meeting rooms.
Even 2 m² panels can make a difference in intelligibility.
🛏 Bedroom
A quiet space requires soft materials.
Place panels behind the bed as a visual eye-catcher as well as an acoustic buffer.
🍽 Hospitality & public areas
Create comfort for guests. Our panels are widely used in hospitality, hotels and reception areas - they improve both acoustics and appearance.
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8. Science behind acoustics
The action of felt panels is physically measurable.
Testing was done in the TU Delft reverberation chamber:
This means: the more air behind it, the wider the frequency range absorbed.
Such a value makes our panels suitable for homes as well as professional spaces such as offices and studios.
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9. Sustainability: silence with a conscience
Each square meter of panel prevents about 45 plastic bottles from ending up in landfills.
The material is fully recyclable and meets the strictest European standards.
In addition, our products are manually processed in the Netherlands, providing less transportation and local employment.
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10. Design that brings tranquility
Acoustics is technology, but design is feeling.
That's why we design our panels as art objects: each set has balance, rhythm and depth.
You can place them horizontally, vertically or diagonally - and even combine them to create your own compositions.
"From bare wall to serene wall in 15 minutes - with no drilling, no noise, resulting in silence."
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11. Installation in 3 steps
1. Clear the wall of dust.
2. Pull the protective film off the adhesive layer.
3. Position the panel and press lightly.
Want to change the composition later? No problem.
The adhesive layer is strong, but can be removed cleanly without damage to the wall.
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12. Experience the difference
Whether you are looking for peace in the living room or quiet in an office, felt panels are the most efficient and stylish solution.
With Dutch craftsmanship, durable materials and unique design, Maeven Art is the silent force behind better-sounding interiors.
🎯 Explore the collection or request a sample kit - and hear for yourself what silence does.
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🔗 Internal link structure
- Link to product category: felt acoustic wall panels
- Link to blog: What is the difference between felt and wood panels?
- Link to FAQ: How much sound does a panel really muffle?
- Link to page: Acoustic art / paintings
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