There is perhaps nothing more “ho-hum” in home décor and interior design than four walls painted in the same boring shade. If you are looking for a way to add some excitement to a room, consider adding an eye-catching accent wall. An accent wall is simply a wall with a different look than the rest of the walls. It can include a wide range of elements: color, texture, materials, and finish, to name a few.
Wood is an especially versatile material to use to create an accent wall. Reclaimed lumber such as barn siding, old hardwood flooring, recycled door panels, even deconstructed pallets are all prime candidates for accent wall use.
One particularly versatile and flexible trick is to use moulding to create dimension and patterns to an otherwise plain wall. It doesn’t require a special skill set or exotic tools, just a willingness to use your imagination and put in a little effort. Here are the tools and materials you’ll need to create a moulding accent wall:
- Various strips of moulding (depending on your design and wall size)
- Miter saw
- Nail gun and finish nails
- Paint color(s) of choice
- Paint brush
- Measuring tape
- Long level
Steps to create a wood accent wall:
- Get inspired There are lots of online resources such as Pinterest and DIY websites to find great design ideas and examples of finished projects. Feeling especially creative? Take several ideas you really like and combine them in a new and inventive way.
- Install baseboards first No matter what kind of finished accent wall you end up with, you’ll generally want baseboards, so install those first as reference for the placement of other elements.
- Establish a focal point This is a spot on your wall that will draw attention first. It can be a framed element, a window, or an initial pattern established by your moulding strips.
- Find the center Your focal point may not always be in the center of the wall, so once you establish it measure your wall to determine the true center and mark it to guide placement of any additional elements. If you’re dividing your wall into quadrants and making squares with your moulding, use the miter saw to make nice, clean square joints.
- Finish your design If you’re using your moulding to create patterns or frames to contain other elements, finish them off with a coat of paint, perhaps caulking first to fill in the seams and create a really clean look.
In our example, using moulding to create a pattern on your wall can be beautiful enough that it can stand alone as a statement wall, or can be used as actual frames for artwork or photography.
Not sure if this type of wall is your style? No problem – there are lots of other wood accent walls you can create that are simpler to construct, such as wood paneling using an interesting product like reclaimed barnwood that has some unique coloring and texture.
Whatever kind of accent wall you’re considering, you can always ask the wood and design experts here at Bingham Lumber for advice. We’re happy to help!
