Walk into most new commercial buildings today and you’ll notice something. Everything looks incredible. Soaring ceilings, glass everywhere, those beautiful open floor plans architects love. 

Then someone tries to hold a meeting and realises they can’t hear themselves think.

We’ve been dealing with this problem for decades at Unidus Acoustics, and honestly? It’s getting worse. Architects design these stunning spaces with zero consideration for how sound behaves. Glass, concrete, steel—all the materials that photograph beautifully but turn every space into an echo chamber.

The thing is, wooden acoustic panels solve this perfectly. But most people don’t understand that there are actually several completely different types, each with their own strengths. After 40 years in this business, we’ve learned that picking the wrong type means you’ll either get mediocre acoustics or panels that look like an afterthought.

Let us walk you through what actually works.

Wooden Acoustic Panels: The Issues We’re Trying to Solve

Before we get into panel types, let’s be honest about what we’re dealing with. Most clients come to us saying, “It’s too loud.” But that’s not really the problem.

The real issue is speech intelligibility. Conference rooms where people can’t understand each other on video calls. Open offices where private conversations carry three desks over. Reception areas where clients have to repeat themselves twice just to check in.

In fact, we’ve seen gorgeous restaurants where couples can’t have intimate conversations because every whisper bounces around the room. Beautiful hotel lobbies where business travellers avoid taking calls because the acoustics make them sound unprofessional.

These spaces don’t need to be quieter. They need to be acoustically controlled. There’s a difference.

Wooden acoustic panels work because they give you selective absorption. Sound hits the perforated face, passes through, and gets trapped in the backing material instead of bouncing back into the room. The trick is understanding which type works for which application.

What Are the Main Types of Wooden Acoustic Panels?

Here are the recommended types of wooden acoustic panels you can consider for your projects:

1. Perforated Solid Wooden Acoustic Panels: When Budget Isn’t the Issue

If you’re working on a C-suite boardroom or a luxury hotel project, this is usually where we start. 

Perforated solid wooden acoustic panels are expensive, yes. But they deliver performance and aesthetics that nothing else matches.

The perforation pattern makes all the difference. At Unidus Acoustics, we typically use 3mm to 8mm holes—smaller for higher frequency absorption, larger for broader spectrum control. The percentage of open area determines how much sound gets through to the backing material. 

Let’s go over some other aspects: 

• Here’s what most people miss: the wood species actually affects performance. For example, Oak isn’t just about grain pattern—it’s denser, so it reflects differently than pine. Teak has natural oils that affect surface characteristics. These details matter when you’re trying to hit specific acoustic targets.
• Backing systems vary wildly, too. Mineral wool gives you a broad spectrum of absorption. Specialised foams can target specific frequency ranges. We’ve used backing layers from 25mm up to 100mm, depending on what frequencies we’re trying to control.
• The installation has to be perfect. These panels are heavy, and if the mounting isn’t right, you’ll get gaps that kill the acoustic performance. Plus, solid wood moves with humidity changes, so the mounting system needs to accommodate that.

Best applications? Executive conference rooms, luxury hotel lobbies, high-end restaurants. Anywhere the budget supports premium materials and the space demands both acoustic performance and visual impact.

2. Engineered Panels: The Workhorses

Most commercial projects end up here, and for good reason. Engineered wooden acoustic panels give you consistent performance without the cost and complexity of solid wood.

• The core material determines everything. High-density Medium-Density Fibreboard (MDF) provides stable acoustic properties and doesn’t move with humidity. Multi-layer plywood offers better screw holding for heavier installations. Both take wood veneer beautifully.
• Custom sizing is a huge advantage. Solid wood panels are limited by timber dimensions, but engineered panels can be manufactured to whatever size makes installation efficient. Less field cutting, faster installation, lower labour costs.
• Fire ratings are almost automatic with engineered cores. Most commercial projects need Class A ratings, and that’s standard with treated MDF cores. Try getting that with solid wood, and you’re into expensive treatment processes.
• The perforation precision is actually better than that of solid wood. Computer Numerical Control (CNC) equipment creates perfectly consistent hole patterns that would be impossible to achieve in natural timber. This translates to predictable acoustic performance across large installations.

We use these in open offices, educational facilities, and healthcare environments. Anywhere you need reliable performance across large areas without premium material costs.

3. 3D Textured Panels: When Acoustics Meet Architecture

This is where things get interesting. 3D textured wooden acoustic panels don’t just absorb sound—they also provide diffusion through the surface geometry.

• The acoustic benefits come from breaking up specular reflections. Flat surfaces create flutter echoes in rectangular rooms. Textured surfaces scatter those reflections, providing much better acoustic control in challenging spaces.
• Our computational design capabilities let us create patterns that would be impossible to achieve any other way. Wave patterns, geometric arrays, and parametric designs that incorporate branding elements. The CNC machining precision means we can execute complex geometries while maintaining structural integrity.
• Lighting integration becomes dramatic with textured surfaces. Grazing light creates constantly changing shadow patterns. We’ve done installations where concealed LEDs turn the acoustic treatment into the primary architectural lighting feature.

Manufacturing is more complex and expensive, obviously. But when the project demands visual impact along with acoustic performance, these panels deliver results that flat treatments simply can’t match.

4. Slat Systems: The Contemporary Solution

Linear slat-style wooden acoustic panels have become incredibly popular, mainly because they don’t look like acoustic treatment at all. They look like intentional architectural millwork.

• The acoustic principle of the slat system is simple: gaps between slats allow sound to reach absorptive backing materials. The ratio of slat width to gap width determines absorption characteristics. Wider gaps give better low-frequency performance.
• Installation efficiency is excellent. Modular components install quickly with minimal site cutting. Track mounting systems allow future reconfiguration. For projects with tight schedules, this matters.
• Lighting integration is natural with slat systems. LED strips concealed between slats provide indirect illumination that highlights wood grain. Emergency lighting can be incorporated seamlessly.

We use these constantly in reception areas, corridors, and restaurants. Anywhere you need acoustic improvement without visual intrusion.

Wooden Acoustic Panels: Getting the Selection Right

Here’s the reality: most projects start with the wrong question. Clients ask, “What acoustic panels should we use?” The right question is “What acoustic performance do we need?”

Remember: 

• Every successful installation starts with an acoustic assessment. At Unidus Acoustics, our acoustic consultation experts measure existing reverberation times, identify problematic reflection points, and calculate required absorption coefficients. Only then do we select appropriate panel types and coverage areas.
• Design integration comes next. Wood species selection, perforation patterns, mounting details—everything has to work with the architectural vision. 
• The custom design process typically involves acoustic modelling, visual renderings, and material samples. For large projects, mockup installations confirm both acoustic and visual results before full implementation.
• Manufacturing lead times run 4-6 weeks for custom wooden acoustic panels. Installation scheduling has to coordinate with other trades to minimise disruption. 
• Professional installation ensures both acoustic performance and visual quality meet specifications.

Takeaway

After four decades of acoustic installations, here’s what we’ve learned: wooden acoustic panels work best when they’re designed as integral architectural elements, not add-on treatments.

The panel type matters less than understanding the acoustic problem and selecting the right solution. Perforated solid wood for premium applications. Engineered panels for consistent large-area performance. 3D textures for visual impact with acoustic benefits. Slats for contemporary aesthetics with practical installation.

The key is custom design that addresses specific acoustic challenges while enhancing the architectural vision. 

At Unidus Acoustics, we specialise in exactly this balance—custom acoustic solutions that turn noise into harmony without compromising design intent. We also come with local manufacturing with strict quality control, so that you can get your desired aesthetic integration with on-time delivery.

Need to solve acoustic problems in your commercial space? 

Talk to us now.