How To Add Trim To Existing Baseboards For A Seamless DIY Accent Wall

Whether bold and beautiful or elegant and understated, accent walls are all the rage in home decor right now. There are so many ways to turn a boring old wall into a gorgeous focal point in your space, and the hardest part is often choosing the right accent wall to fit your style. Board and batten walls are a timeless option and can be endlessly customized to give your room a touch of sophistication. The great thing about these accent walls is they are easy to DIY but look like a luxe remodel. It's as simple as nailing wooden battens (or MDF as a frugal alternative) straight to the wall in whatever pattern you choose and finishing with a fresh coat of paint.

While board and batten walls are easy to install, there is a slight problem: The vertical boards need something to rest against at the bottom so that they don't abruptly butt against the wall's baseboards. But never fear — there is one simple hack that will prevent the need to remove the baseboards while also taking your accent wall from DIY shabby-chic to professional-level craftsmanship. The solution? Attach cove molding right on top of the baseboards so that your vertical boards sit flush against it. This subtle detail will make all the difference in your stately accent wall, and it's super cost-effective, too, at just around $1 per foot. Plus, you can get both your batten pieces and the cove molding cut to size at the hardware store, allowing you to create a statement wall without having to make a single cut yourself.

Cove molding is perfect for connecting the battens on your statement wall to the baseboards thanks to its concave design. It's often used to soften transitions on walls, especially in the corners where they meet the ceiling, but cove molding also makes a decorative statement on its own. There is a trick to using it for your board and batten wall, though: You need to turn the cove molding on its side so that flat edge faces up to provide a resting place for the boards.

One quick note is to make sure that you account for the length of the cove molding on its side so that your batten measurements match. Most small cove molding is the same height on either side, but it's better to double-check. Other than that, it's really that easy — just nail the trim to the drywall on its side, and voila! Your baseboards will now seamlessly flow into your statement wall.

This would work for crown molding as well, and you can use cove molding to transition your wainscoting wall to its end cap. You can also add cove molding throughout your accent wall, either to the interior of your board and batten squares or along each batten if they simply line the wall. This adds a bit of depth to the wall while also creating a cohesive look to match the bottom. Whether you keep it simple or add extra details, these wainscoting accent walls are a tried-and-true design element that the pros use to add texture to a boring room.

The goal of a statement wall is to draw the eye, so it presents the perfect opportunity for creativity and unique ideas. Consider wood alternatives for your board and batten walls, such as vinyl panels or even wood vinyl floor pieces. This is a great way to use up leftover flooring or offcuts from another project. After they're painted, you won't be able to tell they're a budget-friendly dupe. Once you have your materials, don't be afraid to think outside the board and batten box. Reinvent the whole idea by nailing a few boards to the wall in an artful geometric design and paint the wall a sumptuous statement color for a clever DIY that makes wooden statement walls as easy as they can get.

Another approach to board and batten accent walls that will flow seamlessly to the baseboards is to use wainscoting wallpaper. Peel-and-stick faux-wainscoting products like the NextWall Faux Board and Batten Peel and Stick Wallpaper come in a variety of styles and are perfect for renters wanting to achieve the look without damaging the walls. While these wallpapers are smooth to the touch, they give the appearance of depth and dimension that will ensure your feature wall makes a statement.