DIY Accent Wall: Simple Craftsman Vertical Lines

Check out our DIY Accent Wall and Accent Walls 101 posts to learn more about accent walls and preparation before you embark on creating your dream wall. There you will find advice about choosing the best wall, color, style, and see previews of designs dropping in the next few weeks. Share pictures of your process, design, and finished products with us, and don’t forget to tag us @wearewoodgrain. We would love to see your accent walls!

Without further adieu Woodgrain presents its first DIY accent wall design.

Simple Vertical Craftsman 12 x 8 foot wall

Materials:

Boards & Profiles: 10 total boards and 2: 1 x 6 baseboard
Caulking 1 tube
Caulking gun
Measuring tape
Level
Spackle, joint compound, or wood filler (for filling nail holes)
Paint: 1 gallon
Nail gun and finishing nails 2” nails
Paper and tape to cover up areas for paint
Saw to cut mouldings
Paint gun or brush and roller
Paint tray and stirring stick
Sandpaper/Sander 220 Grit

Profiles:
No 1 X 1: 3/4” X 3/4” X 16’ Primed Fingerjoint Pine
No 1 X 6: 3/4” X 5 1/2” X 16’ Primed Fingerjoint Pine
Linear Board ft.: 187’

Step by Step

1. Identify the space/wall you intend to accent and the style of moulding to best fit the space and desired look. For help choosing a wall and color refer to our Accent Wall 101 post.

2. Measure the wall height and width to determine the needed materials. The size of the wall and moulding used will affect the placement of the moulding. You can scale our Green Print to fit your needs or draw one of your own. Make sure you take into consideration outlets, windows, and light switches. This will also help get a better feel for the board footage needed and where to cut your moulding. We recommend adding 10-15% board feet for wastage and board cuts.

3. Determine desired spacing between each board and divide wall width to find correct spacing to make sure you don’t get any awkward gaps on either end, we based our spacing on the outlets so we didn’t have to cut our moulding around the outlets to keep it simple.

4. Mark the wall where moulding will be placed to get a visual of how the moulding will layout and determine whether you like the look. Don’t be afraid to draw on your wall, you will paint over it so feel free to draw an outline for moulding placement. Using a laser level can help you project lines onto your wall. We decided on 12 inches between each moulding which gave us 10 total pieces needed.

5. Cut needed materials for the wall, I try to cut outside to save clean up time.

6. Apply moulding to the wall by using a nail gun with finishing nails. I recommend 2” nails to secure the moulding profile for long term wear and tear. (keep in mind you’re going to have to finish the moulding with caulking and putty so the fewer nails the better for less work on the finishing process). Start by applying your baseboard. This will help you keep your lines straight. Next, apply the (#)profiles on the designated lines. Use a level to ensure these are installed at 90-degree angles to the baseboard.

7. After all the moulding is applied, use caulking across all seams to fill in any gaps and to ensure a completed look. Pro tip, cut caulking tip at a 45-degree angle for easier application. Run a finger over caulk bead for a consistent edge.

8. Apply putty to all of the nail holes.

9. Sand any needed areas if applicable.

10. Mask areas where paint is unwanted (outlets, lights, furniture, window ledges) and put a ground cloth on the floor as well to ensure the paint does not get on the floor.

11. Apply paint: if spraying paint keep a 1.5-2” space between you and the wall for consistent application, be sure to apply paint in the corners and the underside of moulding profiles. If painting by hand pay extra attention to the bottom sides of mouldings and corners where mouldings meet.

Watch a detailed how to video @WeAreWoodgrain.

Helpful tips in creating your own Accent wall

Try to find a wall that makes an impact or wow factor.
Choose a balanced, unobstructed wall that stands out.
Choose rooms or spaces where you want to make an impact. Bedrooms, living rooms, and entryways are great spaces to create a custom look. Select walls where guests will see it or where you spend a good amount of your time in your home.
“Using moulding vs plain wood gives a more sophisticated look”
Bold colors really make a statement, darks, green, grey black and blue are currently in.
White accent walls are a way to make a statement without being too bold.
Try to pick a style of accent wall that complements the look of your room, just because you like a modern style wall doesn’t mean it’s a great pick for a colonial-style home with matching furnishing.
Create a template piece and draw out your design to help with consistency and keeping things straight.
Go in with a plan, you rarely get the results you have in mind if you don’t plan, measure, draw out, and talk through the objectives.
Choose 2-3 moulding profiles you think would achieve the look, take each sample, and put one stick of it on the wall to see what you like the best.
Measure twice– cut once.
Create a jig if you have to repeat a cut to get consistency and save time.
Rent a nail gun, use your own, or use an adhesive (hot glue).
Hot glue, then nail so you can adjust if needed
Once everything is in place, apply more nails to ensure it is long-lasting.
Use putty for the nail holes rather than caulking for a better finish.
If painting by spray, try to keep a 1.5-2” space for even application.
Take your time in the finishing stage– the little details when you finish will make the wall look polished and something you can be proud of.
Our estimates predict creating an accent on a 12′ x 8′ wall can cost around $200. This includes paint, moulding, tool rentals, and other materials. You can save money by using tools from home or borrowing a friends.

For more tips and home inspiration, follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest! @Wearewoodgrain