Picture Frame Moulding: A Simple DIY Upgrade
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Some projects start with a clear vision, carefully planned from start to finish. Others—like this one—start with a single decision and spiral into something much bigger. What began as a simple paint job to match my new built-ins quickly turned into a full-blown picture frame moulding installation down my hallway. And honestly? I have zero regrets. This small upgrade added so much character, made my high-traffic walls more durable, and tied my spaces together seamlessly. If you’ve been thinking about adding some extra detail to your walls, this is one project worth considering.
I recently built DIY living room built-ins with a desk, and they share a wall with our front entryway. The cabinets were painted in Twig Basket by Sherwin-Williams, a gorgeous greenish-gold shade, which meant I needed to paint the entire shared wall in the same color for a cohesive look.
But then I had a thought… if I’m already painting this wall, why not wrap the color around into the hallway? That space has been on my to-do list forever, and I was constantly scrubbing the white walls because it’s such a high-traffic area. A darker shade on the bottom half of the hallway would help hide scuffs and create a more polished look.
Since my fireplace room (which connects to the hallway) already had picture frame moulding, it only made sense to carry the wall detailing molding into the hallway as well. And just like that, a simple paint job turned into a full-blown easy DIY molding project. And guess what? It was totally worth it. If you’ve been considering easy wall molding ideas to elevate a plain space, you’re in the right place.
It’s always fun to remember where we started with this house. These pictures were taken the day we took possession of the home.
And these images are what I will call the “before” for this tutorial…
Step 1: Prepping the Baseboards, Trim & Chair Rail
Before even touching the picture frame moulding, I had to get the base layer right. First, I taped off the baseboards, door trim, and crown molding because I needed to paint them in a satin sheen for durability, and because that’s what I used on the baseboards that started this whole thing. Since this area sees a lot of dirt and wear, the satin sheen does make sense for easy cleaning. Once the trim was painted and dry, I could move on to planning the wall trim moulding layout.
Step 2: Plan Your Picture Frame Moulding Layout
Before you start cutting anything, you need a game plan. I always like to draw a sketch of it on some paper and do the math to get all of your boxes spaced evenly on your walls. Then, grab painter’s tape and outline where you want your box moulding. Hallways, family room molding ideas, and fireplace rooms are great spots for wall trim moulding because they add depth and character without overwhelming a space.
Step 3: Installing the Chair Rail
The chair rail is what separates the upper and lower halves of the wall, grounding the pencil moulding wall design.
How to Install Wall Molding for a Chair Rail
Cut your molding – I used a handsaw and miter box. The chair rail that I used is more like a foam material than it is wood so the miter saw was just melting it. The handsaw is super easy to use, however! Dry-fit pieces before securing them. Nail them in using a brad nailer.
If your chair rail ends on an open wall, you don’t want an ugly blunt cut. Instead, you need to do a return cut to create a finished edge. This means cutting a small angled piece and attaching it so the molding looks like it curves back into the wall. (Google “how to finish a chair rail edge” because I can’t seem to make it make sense in my own words, lol.)
For those tiny finishing pieces, I used super glue and painter’s tape to hold them in place until they dried, then secured them with brad nails.
Step 4: Cut and Install the Picture Frame Moulding
Now it’s start to get more fun—easy DIY molding that gives the whole wall a custom look.
When I did the picture frame moulding in our fireplace room, I used a handsaw to cut alllll of the trim pieces because the miter saw was too aggressive for the little trim. You can definitely do it this way but holy cow, I found something that makes this step SO ridiculously easy and fast! Miter sheers!!! They are basically giant scissors for trim and they are ahhhmazing. It took me maybe 20 minutes to cut all my pieces (over 60 cuts!), and they were perfectly smooth!
Dry-fit the pieces onto the wall using painter’s tape to check spacing. Secure them with a brad nailer once everything looks right.
Step 5: Filling, Caulking & Prepping for Paint
Here’s where the magic happens—and by magic, I mean the pain in the ass, tedious part that is actually so crucial and makes the final product look polished.
Wood filler: Filled all brad nail holes and any small gaps in the corners. Sanded smooth once dry. Caulked every edge: I ran a thin bead of caulk along both the inner and outer edges of every piece of wall detailing molding to make everything look seamless.
Step 6: Taping & Painting the Green Accent Wall
Since I was going to stop the green paint right above the chair rail, it was very important to get a crisp line. Tape off the top edge of the chair rail with painter’s tape. Apply a thin bead of caulk along the tape line and smoothed it out. (Let it dry before painting!) Painted the molding and lower wall with Twig Basket (Flat sheen)—I did two to three coats for full coverage. I used a roller for the large sections and a brush for the trim. Peel the tape off once dry, revealing perfectly clean lines!
The Final Result: A Hallway That Feels Custom & Intentional
I started this project thinking it would just be an easy DIY molding job, but picture frame moulding completely transformed my hallway. Now, instead of a plain, scuffed-up space, I have wall detailing molding that makes the whole area feel elevated, intentional, and super easy to clean.
FAQ: Everything You Need to Know About DIY Wall Moulding
1. Is installing picture frame moulding hard?
Nope! It’s beginner-friendly if you have patience and the right tools. If you can handle a brad nailer, you can handle DIY wall moulding.
2. What’s the best type of molding for hallways?
For hallway designs, wall trim moulding like pencil moulding walls or double picture frame molding works well. They add visual interest without making the space feel cluttered.
3. Should I use real wood or foam molding?
Foam molding (like I used) is lightweight, easy to cut, and still looks amazing once painted. Wood is more durable, but it’s heavier and harder to work with.
4. Can I install wall trim moulding without a nail gun?
Technically, yes—you can use liquid nails and finish nails—but a brad nailer makes the job way faster and cleaner and wont destroy your walls.
Would You Try This?
If you’re eyeing your hallway, family room, or even a fireplace wall, this is one of the best easy wall molding ideas to elevate your space.
And if you want help visualizing your design before committing, grab my FREE Mood Board Template below!
Materials Needed
- Painter’s Tape
- Paint Brush
- Roller Brush
- Caulk
- Caulk Gun
- Brad Nailer
- Brad Nails
- Chair Rail
- Trim
- Miter Sheers
- Hand Saw
- Miter Box
- Wood Filler
- Sand Paper
- Paint
