A good accent wall can elevate a room and make it look polished and finished. Creating one with faux brick panels is easy, inexpensive and looks authentic when done the right way!
In our last house I finally got my dream workshop/studio space when Dad and I made over our garage, complete with pink cabinets! But we moved to our new house shortly after and I haven’t had a proper studio to make my project videos since! So I’m remedying that situation by installing a brick accent wall in the studio at our office.
Materials
- brick wall panels*
- construction adhesive
- nail gun*
- trim puller*
- paint cup*
- quart of paint*
Obviously, depending on how large of a space you’re covering will dictate how many panels you need. I used 4! Fortunately I found them very manageable to pickup and move around by myself.
Prep Wall and Surface
The first step is to carefully remove any existing baseboards or crown molding from the wall you’re accenting. I say carefully because you will be reusing the same trim pieces later on!
I love using the Trim Puller because it is designed specifically for the purpose of reusing moldings after removing and it protects the wall behind it! I was first introduce to it when I partnered with them on another accent wall project. But this video is not sponsored!
Once the moldings are removed, you’ll want to wipe down your wall and remove any random nails or screws. You’ll also want to measure the width of your wall. Since mine is just a set, I was able to make the wall fit the size of the brick panels. In a real home, that’s not always possible! Ha!
If you have a circular saw or table saw, you can easily cut the panels to the width you need! I’d suggest planning out which panels you have to cut so that the panels are centered on your wall and you don’t have a 3 foot piece on one side and a 1 foot piece on the other.
Tips for cutting sheet goods (plywood, paneling, etc) with a circular saw can be found in my bathroom vanity video here and bathroom wall panel video here!
Glue and Nail in Place
I laid my panels out on the ground in front of the wall they would be hung.Then I ran a bead of adhesive around the perimeter and approximately every 12 inches vertically. Without touching the adhesive🤪, I was able to raise the panel up without much effort and stick it to the wall.
Pat it down and rub all over to help the adhesive get good tack on your wall. Then follow that with a few select nails to hold it tight while the adhesive sets up.
The hardest part is done!
Whitewash Paint Treatment
Before reinstalling your base and crown, now is the time to paint! Of course you can leave it brick red, but I needed a more neutral background.
I diluted white paint with water (3 parts paint to 1 part water) to create a see-through whitewash style paint. It’s obviously more watery than regular paint, so use a drop cloth even if you don’t normally! But otherwise you apply it just like you would with a paint brush. I love the industrial, downtown loft vibe it gives!
Not seen in the video, but after I painted I realized I needed to caulk the seams between 2 panels. It makes them blend more seamlessly and look more authentic.💯
The last step is to nail your baseboard and crown molding back in place. Since the panels are so thin, you probably won’t have to even trim your molding. But if you do, it’s just a sliver!
In less than a day, you can totally transform the way your living room, bedroom, dining room, etc looks and feels! These are my favorite kinds of projects to share with you! Home improving doesn’t have to be overwhelming!
If you don’t love a brick accent wall, check out some of my other accent wall project videos:
Thanks for Checking In! ~Chelsea
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