I am obsessed with older homes because they have so much character and charm. Many of these homes have unique wall treatments, and I have tried to replicate those wall treatments in our home. I rounded up all my favorite DIY wall treatments (and tutorials) for you.
Before we move on to the projects, please realize I am not a professional. However, I love the character the wall treatments add to our home’s blank walls, and I enjoy the DIY process – even if they’re not perfect.
Also, when painting these wall art pieces, I would suggest painting the entire wall the same color – include the bottom baseboard. To easily paint baseboards on carpet, see this tutorial.
SQUARE PANELED WALL TREATMENT
This square paneled wall was one of the first wall treatments we added to our home, and it’s one of my favorites.
As with any DIY project, it is a good idea to measure the space and sketch out a plan. You can also use painter’s tape to better visualize it on your wall.
I ended up drawing out the plan on the wall too, which was a great idea since I did tweak the sizes of the squares.
SUPPLIES FOR SQUARE PANELED WALL:
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- Primed MDF board
- Sandpaper
- Caulk
- Wood filler
- Nail gun (although we did this with a hammer and nails)
- Chop saw
- Level
- Paint
- Pencil
- Wood Putty (to hide those nail holes)
- caulk
We used .688 x 3 in x 8 ft primed MDF molding for most of the wall decor (I added a wider piece to the top and later tweaked that some) and butted the bottom piece right up to the baseboard.
We used a hammer and nails instead of a nail gun. After this project, we bought a nail gun, and it makes the process SO much easier. They are worth the investment.
We caulked and painted the entire wall, and lived with it for several years.
I later added cove molding to the interior of the squares, and it was worth the extra effort.
I also added a thin piece along the top to add a little more dimension and painted the wall in Benjamin Moore’s Storm Cloud Gray.
You can see more on the square wall treatment HERE, and I talk about the updates (inside trim work and green paint color) HERE.
Classic Board and Batten
Classic board and batten is timeless and a fairly easy wall treatment to create. I created this accent wall solo in an afternoon, and is there perfect addition to a kid’s room. If you’re looking for an easy DIY wall decor idea, this is it!
SUPPLIES FOR THIS BOARD AND BATTEN:
- (9) 5 1/2″ x 8″ primed MDF board
- (6) 2 1/2″ x 8″ primed MDF board
- (2) 3 1/2″ x 8″ primed MDF board
- Sandpaper
- Caulk
- Wood filler
- Nail gun
- Chop saw
- Level
- Paint
For this project, I began and the bottom and moved my way up. I added 3 1/2″ x 8″ primed MDF board to the base (right on top of the baseboard).
Once the bottom piece is up, layout the 5 1/2″ x 8″ boards and figure out how far to space the pieces.
The top piece is a 2 1/2″ x 8″ board. Once that is in place (use a level to be sure everything is straight), add the larger (5 1/2″ x 8″) boards. Begin in the center and then center a piece between the center of the wall and the corner on the right side. Do the same with the left side.
Add another 2 1/2″ piece was added to the top (or you can use a thicker board instead of the two smaller boards – I was working with what I had on hand). To finish off the wall, add a piece of the 2 1/2″ x 8″ board. I flipped it to create a finished edge (or ledge).
To see a more detailed board and batten tutorial, you can see the original post HERE.
ELEGANT WALL TREATMENT
This elegant wall treatment is a little more ambitious than the other wall treatments I share, but I was able to create it solo – which means it’s doable!
Supplies for Elegant Wall Treatment
- (4) 4.5″ corner blocks
- (20) 1 3/8″ x 8 ft primed base cap molding
- (15) 4.4″ x 8 ft primed corner-blocked square edge
- (8) tubes of caulk plus some wood filler
- (1) gallon of Valspar Reserve Paint in Night View.
You’ll also need a basic miter saw, nail gun, and compressor.
If you want to recreate this look, I would suggest going to my full tutorial HERE. However, here’s a quick rundown:
Begin at the top of the wall and work your way down. Cut a piece of the corner block square edge to size and make sure the top piece is level while attempting to have it as close to the ceiling as possible.
Cut pieces of the corner caps and create a frame around the corner blocks. Next cut pieces of the corner block square edge to fit around the framed corner blocks.
Add a piece of the corner block square edge to the bottom of the wall above the existing trim and then cut more corner block square edge to frame in the lower portion of the wall.
Finally, frame in the rest of the lower portion with the block square edge and frame the inside that with the trim cap.
DECORATIVE WALL MOLDING
This decorative wall molding is a more delicate wall treatment and added a lot of character to our upstairs landing.
SUPPLIES FOR THIS BOARD AND BATTEN:
- 1.25″ trim
- Caulk
- Wood filler
- Nail gun
- Chop saw
- Level
- Paint (I used Clark+Kensington’s Shimmering Sapphire)
To see the full, detailed tutorial and instructions you can go HERE.
To begin, measure the wall and make a plan for the decorative molding. I used grid paper which was really helpful for measurements. Once I had a plan and measurements, I transferred the plan to the wall and drew out all my frames.
Using 1.25″ trim, I mitered and framed various sized decorative molding. Use a chop saw to cut the trim (45-degree angle) and a nail gun is very helpful when adhering the frames to the wall (you basically create picture frames). Finish with caulk and paint! It’s amazing how different colors transform these wall panels.
Which is your favorite DIY wall decor idea? Hopefully, you found inspiration here that helps encourage your creativity so you can create a DIY wall art project!
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Once the wood filler is dry, use a sand block to sand the frame smooth. 
