Check out these 10 easy wall moulding ideas that YOU can do to elevate your space. These 10 decorative wall molding examples will transform a space from bland to grand!
Moulding is an often overlooked detail when it comes to interior design, but it can make a huge impact on the look and feel of a room. Whether you’re looking to add a touch of elegance to a room or you just want to make a statement, wall molding is a good idea. Here are 10 different types of wall moulding and trim ideas that will transform your space. When it comes to molding, it truly is all in the details… trim details that is.
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Table of Contents
10 wall moulding ideas to elevate your space
1. Board and Batten wall moulding
Board and batten moulding is a great way to add a lot character to a space and highlight a wall(s). Even though it’s not the cheapest wall moulding option or easiest wall treatment, it sure adds a lot of punch to the space. Traditionally it features wide boards and narrow wooden trim pieces (these are called battens) in an alternating pattern.
You can see my favorite wall of DIY board and batten in our living room below. This is an awesome way to add a beautiful feature wall to any space. This wall molding idea requires a few tools like a brad nailer or other nail gun along with liquid nails to attach the boards, tape measure to get a precise measurement, miter saw (or miter box) to get a perfect degree angle cut and a few finishing touches to fill nail holes and caulk wooden strips (make sure to use paintable caulk). The final step is adding paint. It sure adds a beautiful focal point to this room.
I also added a little board and batten to our previous home and made it functional with hooks! This is a simple way to take a blank wall and add a little dimension to your own home. In this simple tutorial I added one horizontal board with a handful of vertical boards below it to create an easy DIY project for any home. With just a few wall trim boards, you can create a lovely new, functional space!
2. Chair Rail Moulding
Chair rail is normally defined as molding on an interior wall that runs horizontally around the perimeter of a room. Most people associate chair rail (also known as picture rail) as a type of trim that prevents chairs from rubbing against the walls. Chair rail molding is a great way to add a touch of sophistication to your bedroom. It’s also a great way to separate the walls and ceiling, while also adding a decorative element. This type of molding typically spans the entire room or an entire wall.
Chair rail moulding is probably the least expensive way to add a touch of moulding to a room. Since chair rail molding is any type of molding installed horizontally around the perimeter, you can choose a molding product that fits any budget.
3. Picture Frame Moulding
Picture frame molding is a great way to add a unique touch to a space. It’s a great way to frame artwork, photos, or other items that you want to display. Picture frame moulding normally consists of moulding installed in a box (box molding). It’s a combination of squares, rectangles etc that combine to add texture and charm to the walls of any room of your home.
You can also choose to purchase already assembled picture frame molding products where all you have to do is install them to the wall.
A few years ago I transformed our mater bedroom wall with peel and stick picture frame moulding! This stuff was so easy to apply and looked great! It’s an inexpensive wall decor option. Fair warning, I couldn’t get it 100% straight lines (after all it’s just foam) so I ended up taking it down. That being said, it’s a great renter friendly option if you don’t own but still want to add a little character.
4. Wainscoting
Wainscoting normally consists of panels on the lower one-half or one-third of a room, often in bead board style. It’s a great way to add texture and interest to a room. It also provides a protective layer against wear and tear.
Our “converted garage living room” currently has bead board wainscoting installed around the entire space. The previous owners added a heavy trim piece to the top which makes it pop. I love the way it looks.
You can see more of this space in my blog post about how we opened that wall up that leads to the dining room.
I also used beadboard as a backsplash in our previous home for our budget kitchen renovation. Beadboard is a great affordable option as a backsplash.
5. Large Baseboard Moulding
It’s rare to find a space without baseboard molding right? As far as this type of molding goes, the bigger the better (within reason of course). It’s a great way to frame the walls and floor of your bedroom, giving it a finished look.
Large chunky baseboard molding is the go to choice for molding these days. As a matter of fact, simple 5 inch molding is becoming more and more popular. Let me show you how I added this type of baseboard to our new Malibu Wide Plank Engineered Hardwood floor.
I love how the wide plank baseboards modernize this space!
6. Wall Panel Moulding
Wall panel molding is a panel board that goes over pre existing walls. It is usually decorative to accentuate regular sheetrock walls. It’s a great way to add texture and interest to a room while protecting the wall from normal wear and tear.
We all know the old wall paneling products from the 1970’s and 1980’s. That being said, we are seeing new paneling products on the market today that are starting to become popular.
I recently added Shiplap wall paneling to our master bedroom wall. It was fairly easy to install and creates that “cozy cottage feel” I’m going for. This paneling product is a cheaper option than the regular shiplap tongue and groove boards.
7. Ceiling Medallion
Ceiling medallions are a decorative molding that accentuates the center of a ceiling and normally highlights a light fixture. They are a great way to add a touch of elegance to a room. They frame the ceiling giving it a finished look.
We normally don’t think of the ceiling as a regular wall, right? That being said, the ceiling is the 5th wall and it’s becoming more and more popular to decorate, paint and add moulding to!
P.S. You can also use medallions on a wall! You can see where my mom used a ceiling medallion as a piece of art for the wall behind her bed after we created a faux headboard from peel and stick moulding.
8. Window Trim
Window trim is a piece of wood or composite that covers the seam where a window meets a wall. It’s a completely decorative moulding like baseboards or crown molding. It’s a great way to frame the windows of your bedroom, giving it a finished look. Adding window trim is a great way to elevate a boring builder grade home to make it look more like a custom home.
You can see below where our kitchen window is trimmed in a rustic board around all sides. See more of our updated kitchen space here.
9. Shiplap or Tongue and Groove Moulding
Since the early 2000’s, Shiplap has become a household word. As a matter of fact, Shiplap (or tongue and groove boards) are probably the most widely seen and used boards for an accent wall. Shiplap, or tongue and groove boards, is a wall covering that consists of longboards interlocking on top of one another. These boards can be installed horizontally or vertically.
I’m no stranger to adding a little Shiplap accent wall myself. You can see here I’ve added a wall of faux Shiplap with peel and stick floor planks.
Shiplap makes a great accent wall in a bedroom because it creates visual interest without being too noisy and busy looking.
You can see below where the Shiplap boards add just enough character to make this space visually interesting. See more of this space with our hanging indoor swing chair here.
10. Wallpaper Border or wallpaper accent wall moulding
While wallpaper isn’t a traditional wood moulding product, due to its popularity it needs to be mentioned on this list. Wallpaper borders or wallpaper accent walls are a great way to add a touch of sophistication to a room. As a matter of fact, you can even purchase faux wood moulding wallpaper products!
There are a handful of different wallpaper products on the market today from regular glue wallpaper to peel and stick wallpaper. When choosing a wallpaper product, make sure to keep in mind that the glue used to apply wallpaper will likely damage drywall while some peel and stick products won’t do as much damage.
I’m no stranger to adding wallpaper to a few rooms over the years. You can see where I added a wallpaper accent wall to my daughters room below. This room wouldn’t have looked the same without it!
There you have it; 10 great wall moulding ideas to elevate your room!
Molding is a great way to add a touch of sophistication to a space. Whether you’re looking for a classic look or something more modern, there are plenty of options to choose from. With these 10 DIY wall molding ideas, you’ll be able to transform your space and give it a finished look.
Lindsey**
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