How to Create DIY Accent Wall Molding Without Cutting Wood

Accent wall molding is a simple and easy way to add character and dimension to any room in your house. It can be used as a decorative element or to highlight architectural features such as large empty walls, doors, or fireplace mantels.

While you could hire a professional to install it for you, doing it yourself can save you a TON of money and give you a sense of accomplishment. However, installing traditional wood molding can be a daunting task for many DIY enthusiasts, especially if you don’t have extensive carpentry experience or access to expensive tools (like us).

But fear not, with a little creativity and some readily available materials, you can easily achieve the look of accent wall moldings without having to cut your own wood! With the help of birdeco‘s Etsy shop, I was able to do this whole project on my own.

In this guide, I’ll show you how my husband and I created this gorgeous basement accent wall and molding using alternative materials and services that are easy to work with and budget-friendly.

Materials You Will Need

• Molding strips from Etsy (available in different styles and sizes)
• Measuring tape
• Pencil
• Painter’s tape
• Nails or wood adhesive
• Wood filler and/or caulk
• Putty knife
• Sandpaper
• Paint or stain
• Paintbrush or roller

Budget

This whole project cost me under $450 including materials, paint, tools, and more.

Step 1: Decide on Your Design

In our basement, we had a huge blank wall with a tv mounted on it that I knew needed something to liven it up. I got to thinking about if I wanted to do wallpaper, an accent color, or molding.

I decided that I wanted to add molding in a dark color for an elevated look. However, I knew the steps involved would be a little more than I could sink my teeth into, so I went to the internet to explore my options.

I stumbled upon Birdeco which makes it super simple to do a wall like this yourself. They have a ton of molding options and designs to choose from.

Below is the exact design that I used. Once I decided on the design, I messaged him to get it custom cut for my wall. Click on the image to see the listing.

How it works: You decide on your design, measure your whole wall (you have to be precise about this), send him your measurements, and then they cut and send you all the pieces!

Take a look at some of these other awesome designs:

Step 2: Measure and Plan

Before you begin, it’s important to measure the wall where you want to install the accent molding. This will help you determine how much material they’ll send and where exactly to cut it.

You can also use this time to plan out your design. Will you be creating a simple frame or a more intricate design? Will you be painting or staining the molding? These are all things to consider before moving on to the next step.

Step 3: Send Over Measurements

Birdeco makes it so easy to order. Simply send them a message with what design you’re interested in and they get back to you quickly.

They’ll give you a guide on how to measure the wall and all the materials you will need for the project.

Step 4: Gather Materials

Once you have your plan in place, it’s time to gather all of your materials. You’ll receive your kit in the mail with the molding pieces only.

Although the pieces on the wall may look super long, they send the pieces cut in manageable sizes to ship and work with. They’ll all fit together on the space perfectly, trust me!

In addition, you’ll want to grab painter’s tape, Liquid Nails, wood filler, sandpaper or a sand block, paint, and paint brushes/rollers.

Step 5: Attach the Molding with Painters Tape

Using painters tape, begin attaching the molding strips to the wall according to your design plan. Make sure to use a level to ensure that the strips are straight and evenly spaced.

It shouldn’t be difficult to figure out how the pieces are situated because they should fit perfectly into one another.

Step 6: Secure with Nails or Liquid Nails (Glue)

Once the molding is in place, you can secure it by nailing it into the wall. Be sure to use carefully use small nails with a nail gun to avoid damaging the molding.

I chose Liquid Nails because like I said, I don’t have many tools and didn’t want to buy a nail gun just for this project. Liquid Nails is a super adhesive glue specifically made for molding on walls.

This stuff is SUPER strong and sticky so be careful with it and wear gloves. Once you glue down the pieces and they’ve been sitting for a couple hours to set, you can remove the painters tape.

This molding isn’t going anywhere with this strong adhesive.

Step 7: Fill in any Gaps and Nail Holes

There may be some gaps in the molding where the measurements were off by a few centimeters. That’s where wood filler or caulk comes in. It’s similar to a glue or putty and can fill in all those gaps.

Step 8: Sand any areas that need it

Once the filler is dry, sand down any rough edges.

Step 8: Paint

Now you’re ready to paint! Use a roller to paint evenly in between and around the molding.

This step may take some time, so be patient and allow for proper drying time before moving on to the next step.

Step 9: Finishing Touches

Take a step back and admire your newly installed molding. You can also add any additional touches, such as caulk around the edges for a seamless finish.

And don’t forget to clean up any sawdust or debris before calling it a day.

Congratulations, you have successfully installed molding in your home! Remember to take your time and plan carefully to achieve the desired look for your space. With these steps and some patience, you can add beautiful trim work to any room in your house. Happy decorating!

You can also experiment with different types of molding, such as crown molding or chair rail molding, to create unique looks in different rooms of your home.