Slat acoustic walls for open-plan flats

Open-plan flats in Hong Kong and new-build apartments in the UK share one problem: hard surfaces everywhere and few soft ones. A slatted acoustic wall turns that problem into a design feature.

How the slat system works

Vertical timber slats are mounted on an acoustic felt backing. The gaps between slats let sound energy pass through to the felt, which absorbs it. From the front the wall reads as rich timber texture rather than a technical panel.

Where to place it

The wall opposite a sofa, behind a dining bench, or along a corridor that connects living and sleeping zones gives the biggest audible improvement. In a home office, the wall behind the camera position is the priority.

Timber choice

American black walnut slats at 20–30mm width give a warm, furniture-grade finish. Oak or ash work in lighter rooms. We finish with a hardwax oil so the timber ages consistently with any walnut furniture in the same room.

Combine with storage

A slat wall can be the door front of a full-height storage run. The slats hide handles, ventilate cupboards and keep the acoustic benefit across the whole wall. This is especially useful in a Hong Kong flat where every wall has to work.

Installation

The backing frame is fixed to the wall, services are routed behind it, and slats are applied in modules. In a rental or leasehold flat the system can be removed with only small fixing points left behind.