Easy Wall Wainscoting Wall Decor Project-Update Any Room to Elegant

Easy Wall Wainscoting Wall Decor Project. I wanted to do wainscoting wall décor in my dining room, but I was afraid to tackle the job. I had a fear of making miter corners, that would be lopsided and look totally amateur. I was searching the internet for wall décor and it came to me that I could achieve the look I wanted the easy way. I searched E-bay and found 20" x 20" ceiling panels to use for my wall decor. These lightweight panel were constructed of Styrofoam weight less than an ounce or two. The ones I purchased were white and I didn't want an adhesive that would show through the thin panel. I decided to try tacky glue (craft glue) and to my surprise it stuck tight with no movement while drying. The next morning I check my work and made a cardboard template measuring from the floor moulding to the panel, I determined the distance between panels for my wall décor and made a small mark on the wall to make sure each one was spaced properly.

The panel before painting

Notice that the panels are very thin and can be cut with scissor if needed. In the previous photo you can see that one of the panel needed to be over an electric plug. I used a new sharp razor knife after the panel was glued to the wall. I could easily see the raised area from the front of the panel. I first pressed around the plug socket to make an impression onto the soft Styrofoam. Then I make a small square cut into the center of the impression. I could then see exactly where the panel needed to be cut. I purchased a new cover for the outlet, which I kept close to make sure I wasn't cutting to much.

This picture shows you how lightweight the panel is and the difference in color before painting, I might also mention that the panel come in a variety of colors. The range from about $1.00 and up depending upon how fancy and intricate the design. There are so many beautiful designs to choose to complement your design.

This is a close up of one of the panels after gluing and painting it. I used latex satin paint the coverage was great it covered completely in a single coat. I did put two coats on them to give them extra durability in case they ever need to be cleaned.

I brushed on the paint with a 2 inch brush and smoothed it our with a 2 inch roller. The roller gave it a fine texture and hid all of the brush marks. I also purchased chair rail moulding and ceiling moulding that was made of a plastic material with a foam core. It was easy to cut with a hand miter saw and the gaps and nail holes were filled with caulking.

Here are some of the products that I used for this project. I have found that the better the quality tools provide me high quality results. I used to use whatever I could find in my husband's tool chest. Now I have my own tools for my personal use. I highly recommend Stanley Tools

Very little skill is needed to do this project. You will have a professional looking room when you complete this project and save a lot of money. Who knows you may even learn some skills you can use for another design challenge.