Inspiration for Our Hallway Makeover
Like many of our projects, this one started with a Pinterest scroll. I was originally searching for board and batten ideas for our bedroom wall when I came across a design with large, adjoining squares. The example I saw was used in a spacious office, and while I loved the look, I wasn’t sure it would work in a bedroom. But I couldn’t shake the idea—I knew I wanted it somewhere. The only space that made sense? Our small, boring hallway. It was the perfect blank canvas to transform with this bold but simple feature wall.
The Problem With Our Old Hallway
The original hallway had its fair share of issues. It was small, the walls were full of imperfections, and a noticeable crack ran down one side. The light switches and thermostat were positioned too far in from the corner, making it tricky to hang artwork in a way that looked balanced. To top it off, one side had been painted dark gray. While the gray trend wasn’t completely dead at the time, I was ready to move on. Overall, the space felt dull and lacked any real character—it was definitely in need of a makeover.
Challenges & Considerations
The biggest challenge with this project was all the prep work the walls needed before we could even start adding trim. The large crack had to be repaired, the textured areas had to be smoothed out, and, to make things even more complicated, the walls weren’t entirely flat. In some spots, my husband had to apply layers of mud to build them out so the trim would sit properly against the surface.
One design challenge we had to figure out was how to handle the small spaces around the pantry door. Should we treat the door as a break and continue the pattern seamlessly, or start fresh on the other side? In the end, we decided to keep the pattern continuous, making it feel more intentional and cohesive.
Materials For The Hallway Wainscotting
- Measuring Tape
- Level
- Putty for filling nail holes
- Nail gun and nails
- 3 1/2 inch wide primed square edge mdf trim (rona sells them in 10 packs for $50)
- 2 1/2 inch wide mdf trim. We used these for the connector pieces not the squares so you likely only need 1 strip
- Miter Saw
- Caulk & Caulk Gun
- Paint
The Process
Step.1 Measure your wall and plan out the pattern. We had to sit down, sketch it roughly, and measure to decide the size of the squares. Our goal was to fit three squares along the longest part of the wall. While the squares aren’t perfect due to the height I wanted for the overall pattern, they still turned out great.
Step.2 Now that you have your measurements it's time to gather your tools and materials.
Step.3 Measure and Cut your mdf trim pieces. We started with the top pieces that go all the way across.
Step.4 Put the top pieces on the wall using your nail gun, make sure they are level before attaching them to the wall.
Step.5 Next we cut the smaller pieces that connect the squares to the border peices and attached them.
Step.6 The pieces for the squares were cut and attached next.
Step.7 Once all the pieces were on the wall, it was time to caulk around the edges where the trim meets the wall, as well as the joints between the trim pieces.
Step.8 The final step was painting it all white!
The Final Reveal...
I love how the hallway turned out—it definitely gets its fair share of compliments! Hallways aren’t usually a space where people expect much design interest, so it’s always a pleasant surprise. If it weren’t for all the prep work, this would have been a quick, easy, and budget-friendly project. Our home is small, and I wouldn’t want to miss an opportunity to make any space more beautiful—even if it’s just a hallway.
Design Tips, Lessons Learned & What It Cost
This project was very budget-friendly. We were able to borrow a saw from our neighbor and a nail gun from a relative, which helped us keep costs under $300.
The most time-consuming and annoying part of the job was leveling and repairing the walls before we began. Without that, this would have been a quick weekend makeover!
Design tips Spend the time measuring and planning the pattern out before you start cutting.
I absolutely love how this looks in our hallway, but I think it would also be perfect for an office or basement TV room. For some reason, it just doesn't feel right for a living room or bedroom. My original inspiration image had a darker color on the lower part of the wall with the trim, but that felt like too much to me. I think it looks better with the entire wall painted the same color.
Lessons Learned
There’s nothing I would’ve done differently, but I would caution you that if you're not a fan of cleaning or prefer to minimize extra upkeep, this might not be the best choice. The top edges of the trim need regular dusting or vacuuming, and since the hallway is a high-traffic area, you may need to wipe down scuff marks more often than in other parts of your home.
I really dislike that closet door at the end of the hallway and would love to replace it with a bookshelf secret door. However, that closet with the round knob is the only one we can use to keep our three-year-old son out of, so unfortunately, that door stays... for now.
I hope our DIY feature hall inspires you to create something beautiful in your own home. The effort is absolutely worth it!
