Cork on Walls for Stylish Comfort

Cork is a desirable material for flooring and underlayment because of its comfort and ability to provide thermal and sound insulation. But you don't have to stop at your floor. Cladding your walls with decorative <a href="https://www.llflooring.com/c/wood-cork/" title>cork</a> will elevate the style of your room while also dampening sound and adding a touch of warmth. And since cork is a natural and sustainable product, you'll be incorporating an eco-friendly material into your décor.

What is cork and how is it made?

Cork comes from the bark of the cork oak tree, which can live to be 200 years old. The cork extraction process doesn’t harm the tree, and the bark renews itself over time. It’s considered a sustainable product since a single tree can produce multiple harvests over its long life. Cork oak is native to the Mediterranean region.

Individual cork planks for flooring and walls consist of a number of layers. Traditional cork contains a clear top layer that helps to protect from abrasions. This is followed by a layer of genuine cork veneer in natural, wood-look, or stone-look designs. The remainder of the plank consists of additional natural cork layers that surround a medium-density fiberboard (MDF) core. Planks in our Hydrocork collection contain a protective layer, solid vinyl layers for waterproofing and dimensional stability, and a cork composite that contains all the properties of cork. This engineered cork product features a Pressfit locking system for the ultimate in simple installation.

Benefits of Cork

The cellular structure of cork means there are millions of tiny air pockets, making it a lightweight and flexible material to work with. Cork’s low density also makes it buoyant, as evidenced by its ability to float in water. This buoyancy creates a comfortable flooring surface that absorbs shock. It also feels relatively warm underfoot due to its insulation properties. And when it comes to both flooring and walls, cork’s acoustic insulation properties will make for a quieter home.

If you’re an experienced DIYer looking for a convenient product for your flooring or wall design, you'll appreciate the streamlined installation process of cork. We offer quick-click and Pressfit options. Or, you can hire a professional installer to handle the project.

Transform Your Walls

With cork planks from LL Flooring, you can clad your walls with cozy wood looks and elegant stone designs that will dramatically transform your space. Cover all the walls of your room or create an eye-catching accent. Using the same cork design for your floor and one wall will create an accent and cohesive look at the same time. Also, a practical benefit of wall paneling is that it hides imperfections such as cracks.

Bedroom

Bedrooms are all about comfort and relaxation. With cork paneling, you can create a cozier space—whether you prefer a rustic cabin feel or a contemporary one filled with soothing pastels. Choose darker hues to make it stand out as an accent. And of course, cork on your walls can create a quieter space with its acoustic insulation properties. You’ll also enjoy thermal insulation, particularly beneficial for those walls that correspond to the exterior side of your home.

Office and Workshops

Use cork on your office walls—either at home or in a commercial setting— for a quieter workspace. You may even want to try it for your home recording studio. Cork over the drywall in your garage workshop will make for a more comfortable space and can dampen the noise from tools and machinery. Go for a simple utilitarian natural cork look or make your workshop cozier with wood and stone looks.

Living Rooms and Dining Rooms

Wall paneling—particularly wood-look styles—is a stylish reboot of twentieth-century décor trends, now refreshed for today’s tastes. It can give your living room or dining room a natural indoor-outdoor feel while also creating an interesting backdrop for other décor choices. The light brown tones of our <a href="https://www.llflooring.com/p/hydrocork-6mm-european-oak-waterproof-cork-flooring-7.67-in.-wide-x-48.22-in.-long-10051634.html" title>European oak</a> cork planks, combined with simple, streamlined furniture and pops of color, can give your space a mid-century modern vibe. Hang your planks vertically on the lower third of your wall and combine them with trim to create traditional wainscotting for your dining room or hallways.

Kitchen

Our waterproof Hydrocork planks make a stylish yet practical foundation for your kitchen. Choose bright stone-look finishes and other light gray tones to complement contemporary white kitchens or darker hues for dramatic accents or traditional and rustic décors.

Installing Cork on Your Walls

Before installing cork panels on your walls, be sure the wall’s surface is clean, stable, and dry. Application over paneling or wallpaper is not advised, nor is an application over concrete. The wall must be perfectly flat and not angled inward.

Planks are glued to the wall and fastened using brad nails through the drywall into the studs. You’ll find detailed instructions on this installation method in the Warranty, Installation, and Care Guide that comes with your cork flooring product. The guide also lists tools and materials you’ll need to ensure the project goes smoothly with professional-looking results. Except for the lightest of picture frames, you’ll need to nail items through the wall studs in order to hang them securely on your new cork walls.

Plank Sizes

At LL Flooring, we offer cork planks in widths of approximately 7 inches and 11 inches and lengths of approximately 35 and 48 inches. Items can vary in price, with the simplest natural cork products generally the most budget-friendly, while our engineered Hydrocork collection lies at the top of the range.

Whether you’re looking for acoustic and thermal insulation or just want to bring life to the walls of your home and office, you’ll discover a variety of cork plank designs to choose from at LL Flooring.