Timeless Picture Frame DIY Wall Molding

Easy DIY wall molding to make your home look like it was professionally designed.

DIY wood wall treatments are some of the best options for creating an accent wall or room in your own home. Of course there are molding variations like adding wainscoting, shiplap or crown molding. But picture frame molding is ideal for ease and classic style.

Picture frame molding, also called box frame molding is one of my favorite ways to spice up a wall. It isn't big and bold like other molding treatments. But it adds a beautiful touch of elegance to any room it is in. It is also one of the easier wall treatments to install as a first timer.

Why You'll Love This DIY Wall Molding

• Requires no additional decorations
• Frames your bed, table or wherever you want to put it
• Adds embellishment to a boring wall
• Only needs paint
• Creates the appearance of expensive finishes without the cost

Measurements for Your Trim Pieces

Above are the measurements I ended up with. You can use these if desired. However, I recommend measuring your space and then creating your own measurements so it is centered on your wall.

For now, this is only on one entire wall behind the bed. Down the road I would like to add it to the rest of the walls so our entire room is embellished with wall moldings. Finishing touches like these are what make a good interior design space.

Supplies

• Level
• Hardwood ornamental molding (larger) - 5/16 in x 11/16 in x 96 in
• Hardwood ornamental molding (smaller) - ¼ in x 13/32 in x 96 in
• Nail gun
• Tape measure
• Miter saw
• Miter shears - Making cutting so much easier
• Caulk
• Paint primer
• 150 grit sandpaper
• Paint
• Painter's tape if needed
• Paint brush or sprayer

Shop all of my favorite tools here

How to Create Picture Frame DIY Wall Molding

This DIY wall molding is so beautiful and can be used in places like your dining room or living room, not just a bedroom. It's a great way to create a focal point wall that doesn't require a lot of decorations. Follow along for this simple DIY tutorial.

Quick Steps at a Glance

• Measure your wall space
• Cut your molding to size desired
• Create your outside boxes (larger molding)
• Form your inside rectangle with (smaller) molding
• Create boxes on top using same instructions
• Caulk and fill holes
• Prime, sand and paint

Step 1 - Measure Your Wall Space

Measure the width of your wall to figure out the center point of your wall and placement for your "boxes". Try to make precise measurements. This will assist in determining where to place your larger molding pieces to form your exterior lines.

Drawing this out on your wall is helpful. I measured 2 inches up from the top of the baseboards to start on the bottom boxes first.

Step 2 - Cut Your Molding

Measure and cut your molding pieces with your miter shears (seriously the greatest invention ever). No need to use a miter saw for these cuts.

Your trim end should be cut at a 45 degree angle and fit together with the molding piece next to it (to form a rectangular corner).

Step 3 - Create Your Outside Boxes

Use a pin nailer to hang up your (larger) molding. Also use a level so your boxes are nice and square.

If you find that your corners aren't exactly at a 45 degree angle and you have a corner gaps, don't panic! These can be filled in later. Above all, make sure your wood pieces are level and straight edge.

Step 4 - Form Your Inside Rectangle with Smaller Molding

Use your smaller decorative trim pieces to form molding boxes inside the first rectangle. Secure these with your nailer.

If you find that it is too hard or meticulous to make the indented corners, another option might be to only do a rectangle without the indents. Adjust as needed for your decorative wall panels.

Step 5 - Create Boxes on Top

After the bottom trim work is done, move to the exterior boxes on top. Repeat the same steps you used with the lower boxes as with the higher, but using different measurements.

Place them high enough that you can see them over the headboard of your bed. A beautiful feature wall isn't much of a feature unless you can see it.

Don't forget to keep using your level! Crooked boxes do not look good.

Step 6 - Caulk and Fill Holes

When all of your decorative molding is up it is time to caulk and fill in nail holes. Caulking will help to fill in any seams or cracks. I love caulk because it can hide slight imperfections and make your final product look more polished. Be sure to use paintable caulk.

Because my pin nailer gun makes the nail holes very small, I also use caulk to fill those in. If you use a brad nailer I highly recommend using putty to fill in nail holes. This will help you achieve a nice and smooth finish.

Step 7 - Prime, Sand and Paint DIY Wall Molding

With decorative wall molding, it is always a good idea to prime your wood. When the primer is dry, use 150 grit sandpaper for a light sanding to smooth everything out and create a nice finish. Make sure to remove all of the dust particles with a rag or a vacuum.

Paint your wall molding to match with your wall color if desired. The finish will be personal preference. I like the look of satin finishes on the wall, but using a semi-gloss finish on your molding will make it stand out slightly against the satin. Test a small area with a paint sample in the finish if you are unsure.

DIY wall molding is the perfect decorative element to add to any room in your house. It can easily be done as a weekend project with a couple pairs of helping hands.

This master suite turned out so beautiful. The visual interest from the accent wall makes all the difference. You can see how I continued this lovely theme into the master bathroom.

Happy Decorating!