Nothing says city style like a cool, exposed brick wall… but bringing in real brick for this nursery makeover just wasn’t an option! We decided adding faux bring paneling was the best option! This is a great project if you want to add some character and style to your home without spending a lot of money.
How to Create a Faux Brick Wall
Lowe’s and Home Depot both sell faux brick panels for about $15-$25. I’ll be honest, they’re crazy ugly when you get them- they need some paint STAT! But, they’re affordable and look awesome when they’re finished.
1. Measure your wall space to determine how many panels you’ll need. Each brick panel comes in a 4×8 sheet. They’re usually in the lumber section near paneling.
2. Paint the brick to your desired color. These panels often get overlooked because they have a super-outdated red, brick finish, but they can easily be changed with regular, old wall paint! We chose to roll our panels with a base coat of white, and then add a fun pop of color with aqua spraypaint over top. If you want a rustic look, go for uneven coverage, letting some of the white show through. If you’re going for sleek and modern, go for full coverage with your spray paint.
3. Create a template that includes any special cuts (like outlets, light switches or pitched ceiling lines) you’ll need to make before installing the panels. We just used leftover cardboard that we placed on the wall, traced the line of the ceiling with a marker, and cut using a straight-edge razor. Using your template as a guide, make cuts on the panels as needed with a jigsaw.
4. Place painted panels on the wall and nail into place using a nail gun, or a hammer and nails. Caulk any seams or spaces along the wall and ceiling for a finished look. Easy peasy!
There you have it- you just added instant character and interest to your room without ever having to lift a brick! 😉
To watch the full episode of this nursery makeover, click Here!
There were so many fun projects in this room!
If you’re looking for another creative wall treatment idea, check out this project:
Planked Walls with Exposed Studs
Planked Walls with Exposed Studs
Your show is soooo good and just as good as any HGTV show, seriously! The ideas were fun, doable and the show had a fast paced, energetic feel. Y’all are adorbs, K
The power of paint = magical transformation of … ahemm, ‘bricks’.
I’ve had this project on my to-do list for my son’s room but haven’t gotten to it yet. So glad to know it looks as great as I imagined!!
Nevr would have thought to do this but I LOVE it! Seriously the two of you have a gift.
Nevr would have thought to do this but I LOVE it! Seriously the two of you have a gift.
I love this look! I built a faux fireplace several years ago for a room at our church, and built a “firebox” using this brick paneling (really cheesy stuff, right?). I painted the panels soot-color, and the fireplace structure a nice, creamy white, and mounted the whole thing on a tiled plywood base. It still looks great! I’ve always wanted to do this for my own living room, which pretty much lacks any architectural interest, and has a big, blank wall that is one of the first things you see when you enter our house. It would be a great focal point to decorate at Christmas time. Thanks for the reminder of something I’ve been meaning to do!