Simple DIY Accent Wall To Elevate Your Home

Just purchased your first home? Looking to elevate your space, but don’t consider yourself handy?

This is the home project for you–

All you need is one free weekend! (or possibly a day, working from sun up to sun down if you’re motivated to finish it in a day)

Let’s get started!

Materials needed:

• Brad nailer
• Measuring tape
• Level
• Step ladder/stool
• Spackle
• Paint color of choice (eggshell or satin is the sheen I highly recommend)
• Paint brush
• Paint roller frame, 9″
• Paint roller cover, 9″
• Metal paint tray
• Paint tray liner (for easy clean up)
• Painters tape
• Caulk (interior/white)
• 220 grit sanding sponge
• 11/16 in. x 1-3/8 in. primed finger-jointed base cap molding (only needed if the “vertical strip” trim pieces over hang your already there trim)
• 1x3x16 primed pine finger-paint board (this is for the slats, we have 9′ ceilings so we needed the 16′ boards, if you have 8′ ceilings you use use this board and it’s a little cheaper)
• 14 in. back saw with wood handle
• Miter box
• Wipes or damp towel on hand for any paint clean up along the way

My step by step process:

1. I started by taping the edges of the wall to ensure I had a clean line on each side along with the bottom piece trim already on the wall since I was using a different shade of white for the accent wall.
2. I painted 2 coats of white on the wall.
3. Once paint was dry to the touch, I cut down the base cap moulding piece to nail it above the trim we already had in place.
4. Then, I started to space out each slat. I started by adding a slat on each end of each wall so it was nicely capped in. Then, took measurements for the other slats to be evenly spaced between those. Our entire wall is about 13′ long. Our spacing is about 23″ apart.
5. I used painters tape to mark each spot I was intending to add a slat, I adjusted the spacing until I was happy with how it looked (envisioning the tape as if it was the slats). You can also lean up the trim pieces to each tape piece to get a feel for the spacing before nailing. This also was a guide to ensure I was hanging them perfectly up and down and not tilted. Use level as needed.
6. I then began to trim each slat down as needed with the use of the back saw miter saw (ensure to measure from the top the trim to the top of the cieling, NOT from the floor to the ceiling). I just used the over hang of my dining table to saw each piece. It does get a little dusty; so if you want to do it outside or put a garbage bag flat onto the floor first. I just did it then vacuumed afterwards.
7. Once you have your slats cut down, you’re ready to nail them in will the brad nail gun. Ensure to use the level as you nail, I started with nailing the slat from the top so I could then free my hands to use the level and ensure I was nailing the rest of it in perfectly up and down.
8. Once you have all of your slats nailed in. You’re going to want to caulk in both sides and all edges of any trim you’ve nailed in.
9. Then, fill in the nail holds with spackle. You can just use your finger to smooth it into each hole.
10. Once the spackle is dry, take your 220 grit sand block and rub it over each spackled nail hole until smooth. It should be quick movements and not overly done. It doesn’t take a lot of pressure.
11. Once the caulk is fully dry, you’re ready to paint.
12. Take your paintbrush and start by painting all the edges of each slat and up by the ceiling.
13. Then, you can start to paint with the paint roller and finish painting and smoothing the brush strokes. Do as many coats as needed, I started with the 2 coats prior to adding slats to make this part easier and hopefully not necessary to have to entirely paint the wall again with added slats.

Woohoo! You’re finished! Enjoy your beautiful accent wall.

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