One of the best things about owning your home is that it is a creative canvas for your design ideas and your home improvement dreams. As soon as you move into your new home, you begin to visualize how you might make it better and how you could add a few touches that would make the house feel even more special. If you look online, you’ll find great ideas for turning your home into your haven. Perhaps you’ll choose a new paint color to refresh the rooms, or maybe you will upgrade the lighting to improve the space’s ambiance. You may also want to consider some fun projects for the outside of your home.
Another great DIY project that can really improve a room’s look is installing a beadboard. This wood paneling has half-round raised vertical beads that are milled between flat boards. It makes a space feel cozy and adds a beautiful design element to a room. As a decorative finish, it was common in the 1890s. It was also used for porch ceilings and wainscoting. Beadboard is having a resurgence now, as homeowners look for interesting designer surfaces and cozy traditional elements to bring into their homes. If you plan on doing more extensive renovations, you can get tips for keeping those projects on track here.
Tools and Materials Needed for the Project
Fortunately, you will not need too many tools for this DIY project. You’ll want to have a tape measure, a pencil for marking the walls, and a level. A miter or table saw can be used to cut the beadboard, although it’s possible that a local lumber store could cut the paneling for you.
If you are going to paint or stain the beadboard, you will need those items. You will also need the quality adhesive you will use for the project. Depending on how quickly the adhesive works, you may need finish nails to hold the panels in place while they set.
Preparing a Room for Beadboard Installation
Although beadboards can be installed in any space, they are usually added to bathrooms, kitchens, and dining rooms. You can use them as wainscoting, on walls and ceilings, and even as bed headboards. The first step in preparing for installation is to measure where you plan on installing the paneling.
You’ll want to consider electrical outlets, baseboards, and door frames as you measure. If you are using the beadboard as a chair rail, mark the walls for the proper heights. Before you start the installation, place the parts together to make sure they fit correctly. If you plan on staining or painting the beadboard, you’ll want to do this before you install the paneling.
Installing the Beadboard Over Drywall
Once you have completed your preparation, it’s time to move on to the installation phase. When you are installing beadboard over drywall, the first thing you will want to do is clean and dry the back of the paneling and the walls so there can be good adhesion. You can then apply your adhesive to the back of the beadboard and move it into place.
When applying the adhesive, a zigzag pattern gives excellent results. The right adhesive ensures a job well done and can provide an almost instant grab, so you may not need to nail or clamp the panels. Place the beadboard on the wall following your guidelines or marks, and continue until all the paneling boards are in place. If you are also installing a baseboard, install this last.
Additional Considerations
If you are going to be installing the beadboard in a bathroom, kitchen, or other space where dampness might be a possibility, you will want to use a water-resistant adhesive. When you use a water-based adhesive, it will be easy to clean up and will not have a strong odor.
It is important to take the age of your house into consideration as you are pre-fitting your beadboard paneling. With an older home, the walls and floors often settle over the years. This can cause gaps and uneven surfaces that you’ll have to keep in mind during the installation process.
If you are looking for a great DIY project that will add a beautiful designer touch to the rooms in your home, consider installing a beadboard. This paneling can add warmth and coziness to a room, instantly transforming an ordinary space.
Published By: Aize Perez
