DIY Large Grid Accent Wall
This Easy DIY Large Grid Accent Wall can be a game changer in any room design. Whether you are looking for a design element that will make a huge impact. A budget friendly option that won’t break the bank. Or, a quick weekend project that will transform your space quickly.
This wall treatment is definitely a great option. Have you ever struggled with trying to find a way to make a big impact with the design of your space? You have absolutely come to the right place!
Choosing a fun DIY grid accent wall in any space can immediately elevate and make your room feel completely different. To say I am a fan of accent walls is a huge understatement. Paint isn’t the only way to make a huge impact on a budget.
I am here to help you make your accent wall dreams a reality!
The scale element of this large grid accent wall alone will change any space dramatically. Going with a design larger in scale vs. smaller will give you a cleaner, simpler look. The scale of these large squares are perfect and help elevate the space and cozy it up without making it too busy.
Let’s get to planning and helping you execute this large wall of your accent wall dreams like a PRO!!!
Tools Needed for DIY Large Grid Accent Wall
You will need only a couple tools to make this project a reality. Some people think you need a professional workshop and tools to do projects like this. NOT TRUE!
Hopefully you already have these tools on hand! If not, I suggest borrowing from a friend or family member if this is going to be a one time kinda project for you.
If you think you have other projects in mind for the future…it might be best to invest in these tools to get your DIY tool stash going!
Miter Saw
A Miter Saw will be the fist tool you will need to complete this project. You can also use a Miter Box which is much cheaper but you won’t get the cleanest cuts from it. I would just stick with the miter saw to make sure you get that professional finish look with clean cuts.
You will use your Miter saw to cut all the lengths of your boards. This tutorial does not have any miter cuts. Those are a bit trickier to tackle. The trim pieces are what finish off the edges and give you that professional look.
Nail Gun
Any nail gun will work for this project. I prefer a battery operated brad nailer for a couple reasons. No cords or wires to deal with, no noisy compressor needed and more affordable.
You can find Battery Operated Brad Nailers on sale all the time. We got ours on sale a while back for $100.
Supplies Needed for DIY Large Grid Accent Wall
Measuring & Leveling Tools
You will need a tape measure or laser tape measure to get accurate cuts of your boards to fit your project needs.
Don’t forget a large level that is a 4 ft level or a laser level. Both of these tools you will use a lot for many years to come and you want quality ones that won’t break on you easily.
Primed Pine Boards
The width of the boards will vary depending what look you are going for. For this project we went with a width of 1”x6” boards. It honestly is the perfect size for a large grid accent wall of this size.
Brad Nails
We used 1.5” brad nails for this project. We only needed to go through the primed pine boards which are roughly ¾” thick and ¾” drywall.
Make sure you are choosing the proper length nail so you aren’t going through the drywall/cabinets and into pipes or wiring. Most walls in your home will have wiring or pipes in them…so be very mindful of where those may be.
Construction Adhesive
We like to use Liquid Nails for the majority of our construction projects at home!
This one is gonna be a pain point for some people. Some will argue and say never use it because it’s a pain to get off if you change your mind one day.
I say commit to what you are doing for a long time and love it. Also, make sure it is going to be secure for many years to come. If you want to change it down the road, worry about that then.
Wood Filler, Sanding Pad & Tack Cloth
Wood filler will make sure you cover all those nail holes and finish with a professional look. You will also need to wood fill all the flat seams between your trim pieces.
Get the foam sanding pads 220/300 grit or higher. These are inexpensive and leave a great finished look for painting.
Caulking
Caulking is every DIYers best friend. It can make or break getting that professional finished look.
You will use caulk in any corner edges that are not flat to fill gaps to look seamless. Get a caulk gun to make your life easier.
Primer & Paint
Your pine boards should already be primed. Which means you can skip the priming part. That is why I choose to use those boards for 99% of our home DIY projects. You’ll spend more on them but save time not sanding and priming. You also save on not having to buy a separate tub of primer.
DO NOT SKIMP ON THIS PART!
Most people want to buy the cheapest paint. Spend a little extra and get a better quality paint that won’t chip on you and scuff easily overtime. Better paint is typically wipeable also which will make it last longer as well if imperfections do happen overtime.
Daily Step-by Step Day Instructions for DIY Large Grid Accent Wall
These are the steps that will make this project move fast and seamless for you in one weekend.
Before…
Day 1 – Friday Night
I like to consider Friday nights the demo and prep day for weekend projects. You can use Friday night to demo any trim or things that need to be moved before starting. It is also a great time to go grab your supplies from the home improvement store. It will not be busy at all and everyone is out doing other fun things.
Before you go grab your supplies for your batten wall. Make sure you have figured out the number of squares you are doing based on your personal preference and entire wall size. We were able to do 8 squares on this wall.
Depending on your wall length you can do anywhere from 6-10 squares. This was a 9′ ceiling and we did two squares tall but can vary anywhere from 2-3 squares high depending on ceiling height. You will now know the number of boards you need to buy from the hardware store.
For reference this grid was not made of 8 perfect square, but you can’t really tell. We made them slightly wider than they are tall to keep with the 8 square look we wanted. Then we decided to leave the existing baseboard to help keep it as close to square size as possible.
Keep in mind you do not have to remove the baseboard. Make that decision based on the dimensions of your overall wall and design. If you do leave the trim. You will want to add a bottom vertical board just above the baseboard to achieve that final result of the fully boxed grid look we did here.
This makes sure that Saturday morning you are ready to hit the ground running with no interruptions. Because let’s be real…there is nothing more frustrating than not finishing that project and having to wait until the following weekend to finish it.
Day 2 – Saturday
During…
Start early and give yourself enough time to cut all of your pieces for your diy grid wall and install them all. Then wood fill and caulk so those can dry overnight.
- Get out your level or laser level and let it be known that will be your first step for every board you install.
- Remove your existing baseboard. Your bottom board will become your new baseboard for your batten grid wall.
- Cut your top and bottom Border Pieces/Horizontal Boards to match the width of the wall.
- Install your top and bottom Border Horizontal boards using construction adhesive and nail gun.
- Cut your left and right side Border Pieces/ Vertical Boards the height of the wall to meet the inside of your horizontal boards you already installed.
- Install your left and right Border Boards using construction adhesive and nail gun.
- Cut your middle vertical pieces and install in place with construction adhesive and nail gun.
- Cut your small pieces that run horizontal in between the vertical boards to size and install them using construction adhesive and nail gun.
- Wood fill all nail holes on trim pieces and flat trim seems
- Caulk all inside corner edges that are visible to fill gaps
- Let dry overnight
Day 3 – Sunday is Finish Work Day
First you will want to focus on sanding all of your wood filled areas of your DIY accent wall. Make sure to wipe all fine dust off before painting. Start painting and enjoy your new accent wall before the weekend is over!
- Sand your wood fill areas flush once dry
- Wipe all fine dust off before painting with a tack cloth
- Paint 2-3 coats of paint of your choice
After…
Before you go…
Congrats, you just learned everything you need to know on how to tackle this beautiful accent wall project and finish it with confidence!
With our easy-to-follow tutorial, transforming your wall/space as a new focal point has never been simpler. Embrace the opportunity to revamp your space with a little hard work and enjoy the satisfaction of a job well done while also adding so much character.
Get ready to impress friends and family with your newfound home projects, DIY skills and the stunning results of your DIY Large Grid Accent Wall.
As you can see in this before and after. This DIY Large Grid Accent Wall made a huge difference in this space with very little time in just one weekend. Not only did the Large Grid elevate the space but also brought a simple but elegant look. The light blue color was the perfect way to calm and cozy up this space while leaving you with an elegant clean look.
PSA: The simpler design you choose for your accent wall. The more budget friendly it will be. For ex: a more intricate busy design will require more boards, increasing your cost. A simpler design will require less boards, minimizing the cost. That is why this DIY large grid accent wall is a great budget friendly option for a space
I love the dimension an accent wall can bring to any design. Be bold in your choice when it comes to color selection! Take chances, it’s just paint!
PRO TIP #1: If you don’t feel you can do this in one weekend. Take your time and work at your pace. You want quality work over how fast you can finish it!!! The more time you take to do it right the better the end result will be!
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Love it! That grid really makes the back wall taller I think I’m going to have to ask it if we can do it in our room.
It really does make the wall appear to be taller!!! Glad you love it, thanks for the feedback!