How We Turned an Ugly Wall Into a Design Feature! tells the story of the transformation of a long, yucky expanse of a lumpy wall in our master bedroom. One of the easiest DIY home improvement projects we have ever attempted in our many years of renovating was this Stikwood White Hamptons peel and stick reclaimed wood accent wall at our fixer upper!

How We Turned an Ugly Wall Into a Design Feature!
DIY Stikwood White Hamptons Project
New to the blog? A little background is in order. My husband I downsized by half in 2015, trading in our “picture perfect” French country home we designed and built on acreage for a forlorn French Nordic style cottage on a woodsy lot with awful, terribly neglected interiors.

BUY IT HERE: Stikwood Hamptons.
We gutted most of the rooms out of necessity, and the master bedroom was upgraded with new hardwood floors and a rustic wood accent wall with coastal style.
This post contains affiliate links which I hope you will use since they won’t cost you a penny extra yet may earn this blog a small commission.

Peel and Stick Reclaimed Wood
Here’s the reclaimed plank peel and stick wood that made this project quick and easy: Stikwood White Hamptons. It is not the least expensive peel and stick wood out there, but Hamptons was PERFECT for achieving a more subtle yet rustic look for this cottage-y, French Nordic style space.

From Ugly Wall to Accent Wall!
What do you mean an ugly wall?
This home’s previous owners (and there were several since it was a rental) lived in wacky and maybe violent ways. When we got to work, we had to remove enormous woofers and tweeters from the ceiling, and on this wall where the bed is placed, huge marred areas remained from failed wall repairs. When your walls are textured like ours and you attempt to repair or smooth over holes and damage, GOOD LUCK, SIR.
There were moon-like craters on the walls everywhere, and those divots are just lovely on the moon.
But here on earth, I’d like my walls to look less lunar.


Before and After Photos of Bedroom With Stikwood Hamptons
Seeing is believing. Take a peek.




Hello Lovely Studio: How We Turned an Ugly Wall Into a Design Feature…lovely indeed. DIY Accent Wall in Bedroom with rustic as well as coastal Stikwood Hamptons. Before & After Bedroom Makeover and also French Nordic Cottage Inspiration.BUY IT HERE: Stikwood Hamptons.


Photos of the Wood Accent Wall Transformation

Hello Lovely Studio: How We Turned an Ugly Wall Into a Design Feature…lovely indeed. DIY Accent Wall in Bedroom with rustic as well as coastal Stikwood Hamptons. Before & After Bedroom Makeover and also French Nordic Cottage Inspiration.


What is Stikwood?
It is Reclaimed Wood
Stikwood is peel and stick reclaimed wood planks from responsibly managed forests. These planks are made right here in the USA, are thin and lightweight, and are nearly waste-free! Lucky for us, they are also SUPER EASY TO INSTALL! Yep. Put down that hammer and nails. And NO, it’s not vinyl. It’s natural wood.
You’ll have fun choosing from Stikwood’s lovely options for wood finishes too. Here are samples I received after requesting a few favorites:
Cost for Materials
The cost is currently approximately $14 per square foot, and in addition to fabulous quality, you’ll benefit from Stikwood’s peel and stick innovation and installation ease (just say NO to labor intensive!). Let’s face it. Time is money, and this wood accent wall only took 3 hours on a weeknight!
Here’s How We Installed the Peel and Stick Wood Accent Wall
Tools Needed for the DIY Project
You won’t require many tools beyond a ladder, tape measure, level, Stikwood roller, and a saw.
Once we established a rhythm of working together…


…the planks went up beautifully and quickly!

How Long Did the DIY Stikwood Shiplap Like Project Take?
One evening. Our master bedroom wall is 16 feet wide, and the accent wall’s entire installation took just three hours, with the two of us working.

Yep. Our Stikwood huge accent wall came together in 3 hours, with my husband doing the cutting, and me removing the backing off thin planks, choosing plank placement, and assisting.

Stikwood Hamptons.
Watch How Stikwood Is Installed!
Stikwood Covers A Variety of Sins
Stikwood is a lifesaver if you have inherited walls with textured finishes which have seen a lot of damage. It’s also helpful to have such a pain-free quick fix that doesn’t involve plaster and hiring pros to cover a variety of sins.
To the right of our master bathroom door (above) were a number of light switches FOR THE BATHROOM LIGHTS! Yep. Wacky. To turn on the lights for the bathroom, you did it before entering the room above the nightstand!

Qualities I Love About This White Painted Stikwood Called Hamptons
Hamptons makes a very coastal, slightly softer side of rustic, subtle statement. While some of the other Stikwood options feel rugged and bold, Hamptons imparts a cashmere-y white sand, and understated as well as whispery mood.

A natural brown wood finish may have been lovely too; however, with all of the rustic alder doors in this room (4 of them!) and skipping an area rug, there is plenty of warm wood glowing.

Why Choose Wood Planks Over Wallpaper For an Accent Wall?
Don’t Do it Because It Is or Isn’t Trendy
First things first. I just saw an article in a major publication proclaiming statement and accent walls OUT in 2019. I disagree.

Maybe if you’re a marketer trying to drum up interest in decor change and to sell more paint, you commission such stories to be written.
But I can’t see the sense in over-generalizing by saying statement walls are totally out any more than saying rustic decor is out. Of course there are these seasons where a particular color or design feature (like 1970s macrame or whatever) is having a moment, but THERE ARE NO RULES, friends.

It Adds Texture, Interest, and Camouflage
Secondly, whereas rustic decor may be OUT for admirers of formal and fussier style, rustic decor is IN for folks who want to live with casual, textural, unfussy, wabi-sabi style in any calendar year!

Thirdly, if you love a shiplap look, don’t worry yourself with how many design pros say it’s over. THERE ARE NO RULES OR DESIGN POLICE POISED TO ARREST YOU.

It’s quick and easy
Finally, statement walls are a smart solution when you want to draw the eye to the wall, cover a multitude of sins, add texture, add architectural interest, and to warm up a space. They are also make sense when you’re left with a great big textured wall of craters like ours.

The bed wall in our master bedroom feels so much “cleaner” with the accent wall. If you have an ugly wall and are able to measure and use a saw, this quick DIY peel and stick project may make sense for you too.

Summary of our DIY Stikwood Wood Accent Wall Before & After
SUCCESS!!!
From moon craters and orange peely walls, to peel-and-stick lovely, I’m still pleased and so happy we decided to go for it.
To shop my home, go here.
More Stikwood Wood Plank Possibilities!
Take a peek at more inspiring accent walls made possible with Stikwood peel and stick wood and a day of DIY.



Are you imagining the possibilities?
Save this image to pin this post for future reference!

Thanks for reading about this easy before and after DIY that made such a huge difference!

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Peace to you right where you are.
-michele
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I like the look but would be concerned about wall damage if one wanted to remove it. Stikwood’s reply to that concern is: “Stikwood is considered a permanent design solution so with removal of the planks, there will be some damage to the wall such as peeling of the paint and drywall. This is due to the pressure sensitive adhesive which is designed to get stronger with time to ensure your Stikwood stays properly adhered.” Just so ya know. 😉
What I honestly LOVE about this is the lack of labor prep involved. 🙂 These blogs and websites that give a cost per square foot never factor in at least some cost for their own labor. Sure we don’t pay ourselves any labor for DIY projects but most of us have to take some time away from work to do those projects. So while it does seem a wee bit pricey at $12/sq ft. it might actually be saving, especially if one doesn’t have any tools or the know-how to do a project such as this from ‘raw materials’ (eg. cutting lightweight wood into strips, having a nail gun to install, etc.)
The whole room is lovely! Thanks for showing us a beautiful design option. And who cares about those contrary decorating police? Not me. I’m doing what I love in my own home. 🙂
Author
Truly a lot of good points and important issues you are addressing. Addressing them would make a great follow up post, and I have to remember my readers are not necessarily the exact flavor of DIYers that we are. Drywall damage isn’t THAT big of a deal for us – my husband can re-do a drywalled wall in a jiffy. This project didn’t even require any time away from work – it was 3 hours on a weeknight – so the only thing sacrificed was time reading after dinner! 🙂
We’re big DIYers too and we’ve been fortunate to enlist the help of a family member who knows plumbing, electrical, heating, drywall, etc….well he used to built houses so…….. 🙂
Excellent idea to do a follow up post! 🙂 Maybe some ideas for less-than-permanent options and/or even some more “DIY labor intensive” ones too. So many wonderful ways out there to “get the look”. 😉
Author
I think you’re right about ideas for less permanent accent walls – I just saw an inspiring idea in Milieu that I am probably going to act on. More soon!
It’s lovely! And, a great way to cover up the stucco wall.
I believe decorators make these predictions/statements so they can keep inventing the wheel. If you like a certain color, material or style, then you should live with what suits your aesthetic, what makes you smile, relax…
Author
Yes – and creative types like me often feel the itch to freshen and change things up because stagnation feels uncomfortable. That said, it’s often the case that if you buy once, cry once – buy better and less – and get your timeless look nailed the first time, you won’t be itching all the time! Hahahaha. 🙂
I followed the link to Amazon and there are 3 very negative responses there. You might want to add your own positive one, and a picture, maybe a link to this post, to show people that it can be done well, and beautifully, as you show here.
Author
Great idea! I will read those reviews – it does seem the negative ones get shared while the happy customers are quietly content! Thank you so much.
Michele,
I love how your wall turned out. I would not believe that they were peel and stick. It looks like real wood and I was so impressed.
Have a great St. Paddy’s week.
Hugs,
Bev
Author
Thanks, Bev. To be clear, they are real wood – Stikwood is reclaimed wood! 🙂
This is a fabulous makeover Michele! I have often wondered about stikwood. I am definitely pinning this post for future reference. Thank you so much for sharing at TFT. I am featuring you at today’s party!
https://followtheyellowbrickhome.com/anticipating-spring-at-thursday-favorite-things/
Have a most lovely day!
Author
Thank you, Amber! I’m slow getting to my blog reading rounds today – but I sure do appreciate it and can’t wait to visit and soak up inspiration. xox
Michele,
I am so anxious to make those smores cupcakes. They are calling my name. I agree, life seemed to be easier back in the day when we just eat what was there. Now, everyone has restrictions. I love what you did with your bedroom wall. I am looking to do something with mine. I need to check that out.
Have a great weekend.
Hugs,
Bev
Author
The Stikwood worked so well for us, Bev. It solved all our issues and makes a more subtle statement than a lot of the dark stained wood choices. Happy Sunday to you, friend.
Beautiful wall. Thanks for posting the pictures. I’m thinking the Stickwood Hamptons variety would add an interesting accent wall with an American coastal feel. Did you check out any competition brands?
Author
Hi there. Since we did the project a couple of years ago, I didn’t have any competition to check out – we were one of the first to use Hamptons, and once I ordered the sample and saw the color was exactly what I wanted, it was a no brainer. Let me know if you find something comparable you like. 🙂