The Project: Playroom with Wainscoting and Grasscloth Wallpaper

Our kids playroom needed an update, it was an unorganized mess with fingerprint stained grey walls and desperately needed a renovation. My wife had the idea of adding a stylish, traditional look with wainscoting accented with grasscloth wallpaper. I know what you’re thinking, “wallpaper, really?” Fear not, it’s not as hard to install as it used to be and there are plenty of trendy designs. Here’s your DIY guide for how to install wainscoting beadboard and wallpaper for a beautiful room makeover!

What is Grasscloth Wallpaper?

A type of wallpaper traditionally woven with natural fibers that creates more warmth and texture than other wallpaper. The wallpaper I used was Magnolia Home Wallpaper by Joanna Gaines, specifically Grasscloth Wallpaper in Dark Blue.

What is Wainscoting vs Beadboard?

1. Wainscoting is wall paneling that covers the lower part of the wall, half or less.
2. Beadboard is paneling with groves often used to create a wainscot look. I used Beadboard Panels from Home Depot.
3. Board and Batten generally covers the entire wall with various patterns.
   
   If you need more details and help choosing a style, checkout TheSpruce.com for a summary of Wainscoting vs. Beadboard and Other Paneling. Now let’s get into how to make a board and batten wall.

How to Install Wainscoting and Wallpaper

How to Install Wainscoting & Wallpaper

How to guide for updating your room with wainscoting and wallpaper.

Print Instructions Pin Instructions

Equipment

• Nail Gun (or Hammer)
• Nail Setter if not using nail gun
• Table saw for cutting beadboard wainscoting
• Miter saw for cutting cap moulding
• Jigsaw for cutting outlet and vent holes
• Tape measure
• Screw driver – Flat + Philips for removing outlets and vents
• Paint Roller with Adhesive Applicator Fabric Roller for Wallpaper Adhesive
• Laser level – for setting first piece
• Trim Guard for cutting wallpaper
• Utility Knife
• Laser level – for setting first piece

Materials

Wainscot

• 2-7* sheets 8'x4' Beadboard. *Count depends on size of space. I used 7, 8’x4’ sheets cut in half to get 14, 4'h x 4'w sheets. My Space: The wall length I covered was 39' (486"). I bought an extra sheet in case I made a cutting error. I only ended up needing 12, 4' sheets.

  Prefab kits work well too, check instruction dimensions to plan the count needed if using a kit. white primed

• 1 pack 1¼" Finish Nails
• 1-4* pieces 8' Panel Cap Moulding with ¼" groove to sit on top of ¼" beadboard.

  *Count depends on size of space. I used 4, 8' strips. I didn't need as many strips as the beadboard sheets because I had windows

• 1 tube Finishing Caulk white

Wallpaper

• 4 rolls Grasscloth Wallpaper

  My Space: Used 4 rolls to cover 195 sq. ft. Technically 3 rolls would work but I mis-cut around one of the tricky windows and needed more.

  TIP – Make sure to allow enough for a few inches overhang above and below your papered area to allow space for cutting to size.

• 1 gal Wallpaper Glue Adhesive.

  Tip – Buy more than you think you need, the paper is more workable and sticks better without bubbles when you lay the glue on THICK.

Instructions

• Measure room and calculate number of beadboard panels & wallpaper needed.

  Plan enough wallpaper to allow for overhanging, in other words buy longer than you’ll need to cover the space. I needed 2x more than I thought (4 rolls when I bought 2).

  Buy an extra panel of beadboard in case you mis-cut a corner piece. Getting tight corners are the tricky part.
  
• Buy Materials & Tools. Use measurements to buy enough wallpaper and wainscot panels.
• Plan layout for the wall/room.

  Wallpaper – Ask yourself, where do you want to start? You will see lines of the paper edges if using grasscloth, natural fiber paper.

  Wainscot Beadboard can start at a corner and work your way around the room. You will need to trim the panel to get flush with the corner as corners are never perfect 90degrees.

Install Wallpaper

• Glue paper – Put glue on paper and "bookend" the paper by gently folding it onto itself, let stand for 3 minutes before placing on wall.

  Glue Wall – While paper is soaking in glue, lay glue on thick to the place you're going to start. Do one sheet at a time. Repeat until done.

  Where to start: Don’t start at a corner because you won’t get it to line up perfectly. I started in middle of rooms to get a centered line. See the resources section at the bottom of the blog for how to hang wallpaper.

  Tip – Use ALOT of glue. The paper is easier to work with and sticks better without bubbles when laying glue on THICK.
  

Install Wainscoting Beadboard

• Cut Beadboard panels to size. I cut the 8’x4’ panels in half to get 4'h x 4'w sheets. Skip step if using pre-fab kit.

  Tip – Use painters tape along your cut line to prevent chipping for a clean cut.
  
• Attach Wainscoting Beadboard to wall.

  Find & mark studs – Use stud finder to find studs.

  Nail to wall – Use finish nails to attached the wainscoting to the wall, hitting studs as much as possible. You can glue first if you like but I didn't because the glue rips the drywall off if you ever want to remove the wainscoting in the future.

  Note, I installed directly on the existing baseboards as a shortcut. If you are using a kit or bought new baseboards, you’ll need to rip out old baseboards before installing.
  
• Install Cap Moulding

  Nail cap moulding on top of beadboard panels, nailing to studs where possible. Measure and cut to size as needed.

  Tip – Cutting corners for cap moulding can be tricky, check YouTube for tips on how to do this effectively. I cut a notch for the paneling on one corner, then traces the outline on to the other corner peice and cut it out with a jigsaw.
  
• Caulk Nail Holes & Imperfections

  Use a white acrylic latex caulk to cover nail holes, corners, connection joints between panels and along trim.
  

Keyword accent wall, bathroom ideas, beadboard, bedroom ideas, decor ideas, DIY, grasscloth wallpaper, panel wall, playroom ideas, wainscot, wainscot room, wainscoting, wallpaper, white wainscoting

The finished room…

Wallpaper and Wainscot Tips

1. Keep it Simple – Don’t overextend yourself with wallpaper if you don’t have the patience and persistence to apply. Wainscot alone adds a beautiful room update, you can paint walls if you don’t want to use wallpaper.
2. Wallpaper GLUE – More is better, can’t emphasize this enough to use ALOT of glue on the paper and wall when apply, makes it easier to apply on the wall and reduces bubbling.
3. Caulk Imperfections – Don’t stress out about getting every cut perfect, imperfections can be covered with caulk.
4. Measure Twice – Wallpaper requires enough length to allow for overhang to be cut once hung. So make sure you buy enough, I underbought and had to re-order. Knowing your measurements also helps reduce Home Depot trips when buying the wainscoting so you don’t have to go back if you under-buy.
5. Get Prefab Kit – I used white MDF panels and cut to size. Using a kit that includes top and base boards is an easy way to make sure your cap and base moulding fits flush with the wainscoting.

How to Hang Wallpaper | Helpful Resources

1. How To Hang Wallpaper! It Is So Easy You Will Love It! Great resource for how to hang regular wallpaper. (Home RenoVision DIY YouTube Channel).
2. How to hang natural wallpaper. How to work around inside and outside corners. (Arte Wallcoverings YouTube).
3. Hanging Natural Wallpaper (Grasscloth Wallpaper Install) This video has good tips and examples when hanging grasscloth wallpaper (Refresh Home Improvements YouTube).

Is it Hard to Hang Wallpaper and Install Wainscoting?

Moderately difficult: It’s as hard as you want to make it.

• Hanging wallpaper is moderately difficult because it takes time, patience and persistence. In my experience, the first piece was hard because I did not use enough glue. After learning just how much glue is needed it went much faster.
• Installing beadboard wainscoting was pretty easy, the main challenge was working around corners, vents light switches etc.

Easy DIY Accent Wall Project Ideas…

• For an easier accent wall project, see How to Make a Board and Batten Wall.
• For more DIY tips, subscribe to the Full Dad Mode YouTube Channel, featuring my most popular guide, How to Install Double Barn Doors.

I hope this inspired you to dive into your next DIY project and try something new. Drop me a line if you have questions.
Thanks for reading,
Britt

About Post Author

Britt

Hey I’m Britt. I run Full Dad Mode to help people like you make the most of life.
I share helpful DIY how to’s and recipes designed to make busy lives easier.
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