Here are 9 easy and budget friendly ways to add character to a plain wall with DIY wall panels!
One of my favorite ways to add character to a plain, standard wall is with a DIY panel wall treatment. It looks amazing, transforms the wall and room, and it’s almost always a very easy and budget friendly project to do!
Keep in mind the cost will vary by the size of your wall, the smaller the cheaper and the larger it is the more expensive. Sometimes it’s more affordable (and easier) to just do one accent wall instead of the entire room.
Below I am sharing all of the details on types of DIY wall panels, including the materials and tools needed, as well as links to the step by step tutorials (many with how to videos too) for each wall panel idea.
DIY wood panel walls looks great in any living space, they create a beautiful focal point. But, they are especially impactful in a bedroom, living room, dining room, and front room or entryway.
As I said before, you can just do one accent wall or statement wall to keep the project easier and more affordable. Or you can go all out and do the entire room.
I have links to step by step tutorials for each of the 10 DIY wall panel ideas below which include the exact materials and tools needed for each project.
However, here is an overview of the most common materials and tools used for all of these wall panel projects. All of these materials can be found at your local home improvement store like Home Depot or Lowe’s.
Also, for step by step details on how to paint a walls panel and all of the painting materials needed, see our DIY painted accent wall tutorial!
Note, this post contains some affiliate links. For more info see my disclosures here.
First, you need your actual wall panel material, which is typically some type of wood board, wood strips, or MDF boards. Although plywood, PVC, and special moldings are other common materials for DIY wall paneling.
See all of the specific wall panel ideas below for the type of wall panel material used. Here are the other common materials and right tools to use:
Here are the wall panel ideas!
Square or rectangle panel moulding, which can also be called DIY board and batten that goes from floor to ceiling, is a very classic wood paneling style.
I installed this style wall panel with rectangles for our living room makeover and love how it elevated the feel of the room.
I used 1×4 and 1×6 pre-primed wood boards to create the wood panels. Get the full tutorial details for this rectangle DIY wall panel here.
One of my very first projects with DIY wall panelling was a DIY horizontal shiplap accent wall in our rustic modern living room makeover.
To save money, I used 1/4″ plywood instead of real shiplap boards. I also used this same method for a small accent wall in our DIY entryway makeover.
But horizontal paneling can be done in many different ways and with different materials for the horizontal pieces besides shiplap. Plywood, tongue and groove, v-groove, and boards of all sizes and types can be used for a plank panel look!
Learn about the difference between shiplap vs tongue and groove boards here.
For example, this coastal style plank panel look by Marty’s Musing’s was created with chalk paint on unfinished fence slats.
One of the most traditional DIY wall panel styles is DIY board and batten wainscoting, where the board and batten just goes partially up the wall.
I love board and batten and installed it for the first time in our primary bathroom makeover.
Get the tutorial details for this DIY board and batten bathroom here where we used extra molding to make it a little fancier for a DIY wood panel wall!
For our son’s nursery I created this easy DIY board and batten wall for a feature wall of his room. It’s one of my favorite DIY wall panel wall creations ever using just 1×4 and 1×2 pre-primed boards!
I also used a different color other than white, you can use any color you want!
Again, for step by step details on how to paint a DIY board and batten wall panel, see our DIY painted accent wall tutorial!
Just like with horizontal paneling or shiplap, you can apply the same concept vertically with vertical pieces or boards!
We recently installed a vertical shiplap wall from floor to ceiling in our hallway using real shiplap boards. Again you could use tongue and groove for a similar look to shiplap.
Vertical shiplap wainscoting or a vertical shiplap half wall is another fun way to do vertical shiplap instead of doing it on the entire wall.
I used plywood to create our DIY vertical shiplap wainscoting on all of the walls of our guest bathroom makeover for a very low cost. I love the final look!
A DIY modern accent wall panel can be created in many ways.
What makes a modern wall panel style different than more classic or traditional DIY wall treatments is that it’s done in a fresh, new way with unique angles or shapes.
It’s typically some sort of angled wall board with different shapes, but it can also be fluted wall panels or slat boards too.
Here is one fun example of a modern, wood slat accent wall panel by Pine + Poplar using 1x2s and plywood.
And this geometric style accent wall by Lovely Etc. is another fun and creative modern panel wall.
A DIY beadboard wall is one of the easiest DIY wall panels and it comes in many different options for applying, like planks and panels in wood or MDF.
It has a bit of a cottage feel to it but can be made more modern with a fun paint color like on our new DIY wall here where we used MDF panels for the vertical panels.
Beadboard can also be applied as wainscoting on a wall where it just goes part way up the wall and is trimmed out with chair rail or another board.
We used this DIY beadboard bathroom wall panel in our small DIY bathroom makeover.
DIY picture frame molding is another very traditional, panelled walls DIY that is more of an elegant style wall treatment.
When we moved into our new house last year, our front entryway and dining room had this style wall panel on the lower part of the wall. It could use a fresh coat of paint in these photos!
It’s typically created using chair rail molding as shown in the above photos. But it can also be created with other materials like 1x2s which Designing Vibes used for her modern DIY picture frame wall:
In our last home, we used chair rail molding mixed with 1x6s to create a unique style of picture frame molding in our small master bathroom makeover.
I absolutely love adding DIY wall panels to our spaces to add warmth, character, and style. DIY wall paneling really does transform a room and I’m always looking for creative ways to add a fresh look.
Don’t forget to check out our DIY painted accent wall tutorial for details on how to paint wall panels as part of an accent wall as well as shiplap vs tongue and groove to learn about more panel board options!
Which DIY panel wall style is your favorite?!
Save this post for the future if you ever need ideas for sprucing up a room with a DIY project on a budget!
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Who said that office spaces had to be boring? The thing about offices is that they are not typically equated with words like “fun” and “exciting.” It is a space that is more synonymous with words like “boring” and “stuffy.”
Luckily, the world of design has found a way to bring life to any office space! Introducing decorative wall paneling. This wall art is a unique, innovative way to ditch the paint and bring excitement to the home or workplace.
Like with the ceiling, we don’t typically think of panels when we think of wall decor. Why? Because the 1970s ruined even the thought of paneling for a lot of people! Wood paneling was a hot trend during the ’70s. However, decorative wall paneling has come so far since those wood-loving (or loathing) years.
In fact, wall panels are now made from a variety of materials, in more colors than you can count, and in shapes and sizes that you never imagined.
These options leave the world of wall design open to many different interpretations. It is good to have options, especially options that are aesthetically pleasing.
Faux leather, bamboo, and PVC/faux tin are three of the most popular materials decorative wall panels are made of. The nice thing about these materials is that they are relatively easy on the wallet. You get the same look as the real material with faux materials but for much less money. This is great for walls that need large surface areas covered!
If you have decided that decorative wall paneling is the interior design option you want to use, then here are a few ways they can improve any space in your home or office.
If you don't have the time or money to completely resurface your home or office walls but want a viable way to hide imperfections, you can use decorative wall panels. You can install a decorative wall panel directly to the existing walls without making any repairs ahead of the installation.
The wall panels made today are durable, long-lasting, wear-resistant, and require very minimal upkeep. Once in place, they also offer great protection for your walls against any additional wear and tear.
Wall panels can be installed in any room of the home but can be particularly advantageous when you are looking for affordable ways to convert a room into a more livable space. An unfinished basement, for example, is the perfect canvas for decorative wall paneling.
Some wall panel options offer insulating properties and can withstand the damp conditions in a basement. Looking to create a home theater? Use dark-colored wall paneling or panels with texture to create an inviting and premium home theater space.
When you make a list of all the home improvement projects you want to get to, the maintenance and repair costs can really add up. DIY wall paneling ideas can save money in the long run. Choosing more cost-effective materials over expensive ones and doing the installation yourself can save a good chunk of money that can be used for other things.
No one said that decorating an office was easy, but it can be fun. Decorative wall panels have a way of bringing life and character to an otherwise lifeless area. They can make a wall or walls focal points. These conversation starters can impress clients, shoppers, or even potential investors. They will pay for themselves in no time. Here are some wall paneling design for office spaces you are sure to love.
How many times have you walked into a lobby or reception area of an office building and felt immediately drab? That’s because most offices opt for the easy (and least expensive) option of painting their walls a neutral color that they can accentuate with furniture or wall hangings.
However, adding decorative wall panels to the lobby/reception area could change the entire space (and feeling) almost immediately. Impress your visitors/clients/potential investors as soon as they walk in the door.
Take a look at an office in Chile that used decorative wall panels to transform their waiting area.
Sometimes, conference rooms bring out the worst (but hopefully more often the best) in people. But that doesn’t mean the look of them should, too. An office space in Mexico City decided to take their conference room to a whole other level with decorative wall paneling.
They transformed the space by giving it character as well as an open feel. They are more like dividers rather than walls that shut others out. This looks like an inviting, creative, and collaborative space to house any meeting.
When you’re working a majority of your day in an office, you want it to feel like home—a place you can enjoy being in for extended periods of time. Decorative wall panels are great for that very purpose! Although the decorative wall panels below don’t take up the entire wall, they do give an element of surprise and excitement to an otherwise boring area.
Maybe your office is looking for a hip place to eat lunch together, and your old lounge isn’t cutting it. That’s not a problem with decorative wall panels. In fact, if you are in a noisy office building that has noise coming at you from all different angles, you might like the idea of acoustic panels that diffuse sound (not necessarily absorb it completely). Whatever is happening outside of the lounge walls will sound a lot less loud inside with these decorative wall panels.
Your office may not be large enough to have an entire area decorated with decorative wall panels. However, you might be able to afford to make one wall the focal point of the entire office.
Picking something unique, colorful, durable, and practical are all important factors to keep in mind. However, having an accent wall could make the space feel more inviting for those visiting the space for the first, third, or twentieth time.
Most of your day might be spent at your office, but that doesn’t mean you have to keep the decorating all at the office. Decorative wall panels are great for the home, too. They can take your painted walls to a whole other level.
Escaping to your bedroom after a long day at the office is what you dream about all day long. Why not make the bedroom a place where you are also equally stimulated aesthetically? You could go with something larger and more obvious if your space is large enough for it.
These could be done in a few larger pieces rather than many smaller pieces, potentially saving you money. The material could also be determined on the space—smaller spaces wouldn’t get heavier materials like faux brick or faux leather. Small spacers might benefit from lighter materials like bamboo and PVC.
You could also opt to use the decorative wall panels as your headboard in either your master bedroom or guest rooms. Unique materials make for great headboards because they are the focal point of the room. Your bed is often the center of the room, which makes having the decorative wall panels as your headboard a perfect design option!
Elegance is not lost on the living room. It may be a place where you spend the most time with your family, which might make it seem like a less-than-worthy area to focus your design efforts on. However, that’s not the case! You can transform your family room from a place that feels uninviting to a chic living area for everyone. It is possible to have style and functionality in one room.
Want to make your dining room walls stand out while giving the space a cozy and homey feel? You can mix ornate and textured wall panels in the dining room to do just that. Choosing the right colors can also give a minimalist dining room more character and dress up neutral colors to add warmth.
Chic paneling in a neutral color combined with natural materials like rattan chairs and ceramic home decor items can create a sleek and almost Scandinavian-styled dining room.
Mix neutral shaded wall panels with wooden and brass elements for more elegance. Metal and wood always blend beautifully in a room, and the muted wall panels in the background bring everything together.
Taking a bathroom wall to the next level is often easier said than done. However, if you have the right wall paneling in your arsenal, you can create a modern bathroom or cozy bathroom space, perfect for a long soak in the tub and some much-needed relaxation.
Faux wood paneling is a great alternative to tile. It allows you to make a statement in the bathroom without the high cost that often comes with traditional bathroom tile options. If you have unsightly pipework or plumbing in an older bathroom that you want to disguise, our decorative wall paneling is a moisture-resistant and suitable material to use.
If you love the natural look of wood and want to use a wood panel wall to transform a space, then we welcome you back to this classic design option for the home. However, leaps and bounds have been made since wood paneling was used years ago, and when done right, it is a stylish and timeless interior design choice.
Decorative wood paneling pairs nicely with warm accents. It also complements a rich color like burgundy and natural tones like tan and beige. Wood panel combinations like this create a warm and inviting space.
If you want to highlight the wood grain of your decorative panels and give them more texture, consider whitewashing them. Water down your paint, brush it on and then wipe it off the panels immediately. You can repeat these steps for each wooden panel until you reach the color you want.
Real solid wood panels can be pricey. For this reason, we recommend faux wood planks for a home interior. You can choose different color options, including some that appear more rustic and weathered. You can also find reclaimed and vintage options or choose a custom finish.
Faux wood planks can be cut with scissors, making installation quick and easy. They are affordable, lightweight, long-lasting, durable, and will not rust.
Wall panels are not strictly for wall decoration. You can also use them as a decorative backdrop for a bookcase in your living room or office space. You can then add your books and other home décor items to bring the look together.
Horizontal wall paneling can be used on white walls to help balance out brighter colors you have in the space, like oranges, pinks, and blues. It is a farmhouse-inspired look with a twist.
A more minimalist style is sometimes the best way to go if you want a change but don't want to be too extreme by covering an entire wall. Keep the wall decoration in your space simplistic, and instead, use your decorative paneling to dress up a fireplace and make it the focal point of the space.
A 3D wall panel can upgrade the most overlooked areas of the home. For example, hallways are often neglected, but with the right 3D wall panel installation, you can quickly turn a drab hallway into a decorated passageway taking you from room to room. It also makes a great first impression for visitors.
Installing 3D wall panels in your dining room is sure to increase your appetite while setting the mood for a cozy dinner. The right 3D wall panel can add charm and texture without being too overbearing.
3D wall panels can also be used to spruce up a plain ceiling or bring more positive attention to an otherwise empty and boring stairwell.
If you’re ready to take your office space or home to a different level, check out our decorative wall panels here to get ideas and start your renovations → https://www.decorativeceilingtiles.net/wall-panels/
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