Wall Cladding Systems in Contemporary Commercial Interiors: A Design Guide
April 28, 2026
·2 min read
Wall cladding in commercial interiors does more than finish a surface — it defines acoustic character, material presence, and spatial tone. Here’s a practical guide to contemporary specification.
Wall surfaces in commercial interiors are often treated as backgrounds — neutral planes that receive lighting, furniture, and artwork. In higher-specification environments, this is a missed opportunity. Wall cladding that introduces material depth, acoustic performance, or visual texture does more than finish a surface. It defines the character of the space.
The Case for Acoustic Wall Treatment
Acoustic design in commercial environments typically focuses on the ceiling — it is the largest horizontal surface and the most practical location for acoustic treatment. But wall surfaces contribute meaningfully to acoustic quality, particularly in spaces where sound sources are distributed around the room rather than concentrated at one end.
Meeting rooms, reception areas, and dining spaces all benefit from acoustic wall treatment alongside acoustic ceilings. A space treated only at the ceiling has an acoustic character that is controlled in one dimension but not the other — it can feel damped without feeling resolved.
Asoft™ on Walls
NOWN’s Asoft™ PET felt, manufactured from 60% recycled PET content, is applicable to wall cladding as well as ceiling installation. The material’s acoustic performance — True NRC up to 0.95 in appropriate configurations — translates to wall-mounted applications, with mounting geometry affecting low-frequency absorption in particular.
The material is available in an extensive colour range, which allows wall applications to be integrated into the overall interior colour strategy rather than appearing as applied acoustic treatment.
InfiKnit™ as a Feature Wall System
For feature wall applications — reception areas, hospitality interiors, cultural spaces — NOWN’s InfiKnit™ 3D-knitted system brings genuine material depth to the wall plane. The three-dimensional textile geometry creates a surface with visual presence that reads as an architectural move rather than a finish material.
InfiKnit™ wall panels install on NOWN’s concealed CircuLUM™ aluminium frame. Panels clip or tension into the frame without visible hardware, leaving a clean face surface. The zero-waste manufacturing process means each panel arrives in its finished geometry, with no on-site cutting required.
