Tips for installing applied wall mouldings at home

Traditional wall mouldings have been around for centuries but this trend is taking the decor world by storm. While the look gives an upscale feel to a space, it’s actually simple enough to do yourself at home. DIY expert Leigh-Ann Allaire Perrault shares her tips for installing applied wall mouldings at home.

Leigh-Ann’s tips for applying wall mouldings at home

Before you begin, it’s important to decide the look you want to achieve with the mouldings and plan your installation carefully with special consideration to the spacing.
The best way to test drive your layout and confirm spacing is to begin by measuring and marking your walls with chalk. Once you’ve completed that step, you can then layout the design with painters tape.
Strive to create an equal distance between your mouldings and baseboards, mouldings and ceiling, and between each individual applied moulding box.
Once you are happy with the taped “trial run” layout, use a laser level to ensure all vertical and horizontal measurements are straight and then create fresh chalked lines around the outside perimeter of where the mouldings will be applied.
Using a measuring tape, take accurate outside measurements to determine how long your moulding lengths will need to be.
TIP: take count of how many widths and lengths need to be cut the same size, and cut them all at once.
Using a good quality mitre saw, set the cut angle to 45 degrees and mitre the trim according to the appropriate lengths.
When applying the trim to the wall, first add a small bead of caulking to the back, and then using an 18G or 23G nail gun, place the trim on the wall and fire in several nails on an angle to properly secure it in place.
TIP: use a stud finder to mark the stud locations on the wall, and attempt to secure all horizontal nail into studs whenever possible (*Most studs are located 16″ apart from centers).
Once all trim is installed, use a caulking gun to apply a thin bead of paintable caulking to the inside and outside perimeter of the box mouldings and back wipe with a damp cloth to smooth the seal.
Using a caulking filler compound, apply a small amount with your finger to each nail hole and back wipe also with a damp cloth.
Once the caulking is dry, lightly sand (if needed), prime raw wood trim and them apply a Louisa latex paint finish in the same colour as the wall to complete the look.