In this article, you’ll learn about 12 different DIY wall treatments that you can add to your home! These wall treatments include budget-friendly options and can be as modern, traditional, or rustic as you’d like! If you’re looking to add character and style to your home then this article is for you!
DIY wall treatments for your home
Wall treatments are a great way to add character and style to your home. They can be as bold or subtle as you want them to be, depending on what look you’re going for.
Personally, I believe any wall treatment can be carefully designed in a way that fits all styles! Shiplap doesn’t have to be farmhouse-only, it can be applied in a way that’s modern too!
Some of my favorite types of wall treatments include shiplap, board and batten, removable wallpaper, and brick. Here’s a look at 12 different types of wall treatments and how you can include them in your home!
Shiplap in your home
There are a few different styles I enjoy when it comes to shiplap, and I think each has a completely different vibe to it! Shiplap can be installed:
- Vertically on a whole wall
- Horizontally on a whole wall
- Vertically or horizontally on a partial wall
Personally, I feel like horizontal shiplap has more of a traditional, farmhouse vibe to it. Vertical shiplap holds a little more of a modern design, especially when painted a bolder color.
When it comes to shiplap, I like to use the real thing but I’ve also seen people create faux-shiplap in order to be more budget-friendly. Ways I’ve seen faux-shiplap created:
- Purchasing large sheets of MDF or plywood and ripping them down then using a spacer to create the gap when installing on the wall
- Purchasing peel-and-stick shiplap
- Purchasing wallpaper that resembles shiplap
- Using a colored pencil or fine-tip sharpie to draw lines
- Using black string to create lines
There are so many ways to include shiplap in your home! It can be done on an accent wall, included in an entire room, or even as the backsplash in your kitchen!
Board and Batten
Board and batten is another way to add a ton of character to any room in your home and can be done in a very budget-friendly way!
This wall treatment can also be as modern or as traditional as you want just by changing up the design! Some people like to create an abstract design with their batten strips.
Personally, I like the simplicity of straight lines and grids.
Grids can also be done in several different designs. You can keep the grids all equal, or you can create a pattern of smaller and larger grids. Get creative as you’d like!
By the way, if you home has smooth walls, you can skip the “board” part of board and batten and simply install your batten strips directly to your wall.
I like to get one large piece of wood or MDF and rip it down with my table saw but you can have your local hardware store cut the pieces for you OR you can purchase individual strips of trim (which is a more expensive way to go). If you’re looking to do trim and want to keep it budget-friendly, consider purchasing PVC lattice molding like this.
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Removable Wallpaper
Wallpaper is a great way to add color and personality to your walls. But it can also be very expensive, time consuming, and can be a pain to remove later on if your style changes.
Because of this, I tend to look for peel-and-stick removable wallpaper. Easy to change out, ZERO mess, and super simple to install!
You can purchase removable wallpaper from companies online like Interior Blossoms (coupon code: DIYOURHOME will get you 15% off your order), you can find it on Amazon, or you can purchase from your local Home Improvement Store.
There are several different designs and styles of removable wallpaper available, depending on your home’s style. You can find simple options that come in solid colors or patterns; or you can choose something more bold with designs and imagery.
Wallpaper Murals
Similar to removable wallpaper, some companies sell complete wall murals or allow you to create a custom mural. Here’s an example of what that might look like in a space:
Tasha from Kaleidoscope Living used a wallpaper mural in her daughters bedroom design. It gives so much color and life to the space!
Some places you can find wallpaper murals include:
You can get as bold as you want with this depending on the space and your style.
Brick Accents
Whether it be real brick or faux brick, brick is one of my favorite ways to add texture to a space!
There are several budget-friendly ways to add faux brick features including:
- Brick panelling! I used brick panelling in my office and my “hack” for that (because you can almost always see the seams) was that I smeared the brick, and the seams, with a decent amount of spackle. Not only did it hide the seams but it created an intentional added texture look to the brick and when it was all painted, it looked amazing!
- Tape and spackle. I’ve seen people use tape to create the grout lines of brick. Then, spackle is applied and tape is removed. The spackle gives a lifted/textured appearance that looks like brick.
- Peel-and-stick wallpaper that looks like brick (if you go this route, I recommend a textured wallpaper like this one)
Roman Clay.
Roman clay is a plaster finish that can be applied to walls. Depending on the color you choose, it can look like concrete, stucco, or even marble.
Bre used roman clay in her kids and guest bathroom -- it turned out absolutely stunning and is holding up great! She shares all the details in her post, click below to check it out!
I absolutely love mixing textures within a space and roman clay is such a versatile way to get the look of so many different finishes! Not only does it look amazing on walls but it also looks amazing on fireplaces and backsplashes too!
Tile
Tile can be a fantastic way to add texture and color to your home!
It’s also fairly easy to install yourself as long as you have the right tools. Tile accents can be as bold or as subtle as you want them so there is no need for concern when it comes to matching your style.
Not only can you add tile to entire walls (commonly seen in bathrooms) but it’s another great choice that can be used on backsplashes and fireplaces as well.
Cara from Never Skip Brunch did a tile accent in her bathroom! Her post shows you how to DIY tile, check it out!
To keep tile projects budget friendly, you can shop places like the Habitat Restore for tile or grab tile on sale when Home Improvement stores discount them. When it comes to cutting tile, for most wall projects, a simple tile scorer is all you need.
Another option, which I’ve done in my kitchen, is simply to use peel-and-stick tile. It’s super easy and you can get it at most home improvement stores. I used this one from Home Depot!
Concrete
I love how different concrete elements can look in different spaces! It works well in a modern home and can also work well in a rustic home.
There are many ways to achieve a concrete look on your walls including:
- Using Cement spray paint like this rustoleum one
- Purchasing a concrete patterned wallpaper
- Skim coating actual concrete on your wall. I recommend Feather Finish which is what I applied to my kitchen counters. If you have trouble getting the concrete to adhere to a vertical surface, you can try installing cement board first.
Note: ALWAYS use protection when cutting or sanding cement (including cement board) or concrete. I recommend a respirator mask!
Picture Frame Molding
Picture frame molding is such a beautiful and traditional way to add charm to a space! This option can even be completely renter-friendly if you paint the trim to match your wall color and apply the trim using removable adhesive strips!
Beadboard
Beadboard is commonly seen in a lot of older homes and can look a bit outdated. However, since shiplap started trending, beadboard has made quite the comeback! Bringing outdated beadboard into current trends is pretty simple with the use of some paint and can be combined with other wall treatments like wallpaper!
Personally, I love beadboard in a little girls room. It’s absolutely adorable! Whether your covering your ceiling with it, using it as a wall treatment, or even using it as a backing to a cabinet or hutch — the beadboard potential is endless!
Slats
Slat walls are becoming more and more popular. I feel they are a bit more modern but adding wood tones and texture to any space is always a great way to add warmth and texture!
Slat walls can be left a stained wood tone or can be painted. You can even add them to things like kitchen islands or furniture! Slats can also be very budget friendly if you purchase a large piece of wood and rip down the individual slats (or have your home improvement store rip them down for you)
Paint-only
Of course, you can always just use paint to create a unique space! Some of my favorite techniques for creating spaces similar to wall treatments include:
- Scallops
- Color Blocking
- Accent Walls
My personal favorite is scallops especially in my kids rooms and playroom! I even used this technique for their “secret” under-the-stairs playhouse.
Mix and match treatments
As I mentioned earlier in this post, I absolutely love mixing and matching different wall treatments together! Some examples to get your wheels spinning include:
- Board-and-batten on bottom 3/4 of wall with brick above
- Vertical shiplap on bottom 3/4 of wall with wallpaper above
- Roman clay on bathroom wall behind vanity with tile around the tub
- Bead-board on part of the wall with wallpaper above
The possibilities are truly endless! It’s all about how bold you want to be with your space! Remember, a lot of these things can be neutral and rustic or super modern just depending on the colors used and how it’s styled.
DIY Wall Treatments are an Easy and Budget-Friendly To Add Design To Your Space!
We all know that there’s no such thing as the perfect room-a little bit of style goes a long way! The options for DIY wall treatments are endless, and they’re budget friendly to boot. Whether you want something traditional or modern, bold or subtle, we’ve got you covered with these helpful tips on how to spruce up your home in an easy way.