DIY Paintable Decorative Wall Paneling on a Budget

Remove the existing baseboard along the wall you intend to panel by prying it loose using the curved end of a hammer or a pry bar. If the medium density fiberboard trim you have selected looks similar to the existing baseboard, you can skip this step. Ideally, the trim should be about 4 inches wide.

Use a stud finder to locate the studs in the wall and mark their positions with a pencil. You will be installing the medium density fiberboard trim directly over the studs so you will eventually cover up the pencil marks.

Cut one piece of the trim to the length of the wall using a jig saw or table saw, and install it along the top of the wall, flush with the ceiling. To attach the trim, apply a bead of paneling adhesive to the back and press it gently into the wall to create a seal. Tack the trim in place by driving nails from a nail gun through the trim into the studs.

Cut three to five pieces of trim to the height of the wall measured from the edge of the baseboard to the edge of the trim along the ceiling. Install these pieces vertically over the studs following the same procedure as before. The number of pieces you need will depend on the length of the wall and the number of studs. If your studs are positioned close together, you may install the trim on every other stud to divide the wall into larger sections.

Measure the distance between the vertical pieces of trim and cut one piece to that length for each section of the wall.

Install the pieces of trim horizontally between the vertical panels at head height following the same procedure as before, applying a bead of adhesive to the back of the trim and then tacking it in place with nails from the nail gun. Use a level to be sure the pieces of horizontal trim are level as you install them.

Fill the nail holes with wood filler, spreading it with a putty knife, and allow it to dry according to the manufacturer's instructions. Once the filler has dried, go over it with fine-grain sandpaper to create a smooth surface.

Paint your decorative paneling as you desire using interior-grade latex paint. In order to achieve the best results, it is wise to lay down a coat of primer before painting to ensure that the color is even on both the wall and the trim paneling.