DIY Faux Brick Wall

Not too long ago, I did a quick and easy $12 Living Room Refresh using three paint samples. I liked the change of pace and the addition of color, but the wall never fully felt “me”. So I jumped at the chance when we spotted some brick panels at the store. I’m a sucker for lofts with spiral staircases, exposed brick walls, and large windows with city views. I wanted to create this feature wall to bring in more of that urban modern aesthetic, and I’m finally falling in love with our living room.

Materials

Brick Panel
Utility knife (alternatively: table saw or circular saw)
Drywall T-Square
Liquid Nails (or preferred adhesive)
Brad nailer + nails (optional)
Spackle
Paintable caulk
Paint

1. Cut the panels

We cut the panels by scoring it on both sides and snapping it. We found that the utility knife worked much better than a handsaw. Having said that, this step would have been easier and faster if we used a power tool. Do whatever you’re comfortable with!

Keep in mind that the cuts don’t have to be perfect as long as the panels fit. It would only be an issue if you want to keep the red brick as is. I spackled and painted the panels, so any imperfections were covered up easily. I will note that the toughest area to cut was the arch (shown below).

2. Put up the panels

The instructions suggested using an adhesive. We used 1 bottle of Liquid Nails per panel. Since they were being attached to textured walls, we also used a brad nailer to secure the panels.

3. Apply spackle and caulk

I used spackle to create a German schmear look. The goal wasn’t to cover every brick, but to create the irregularities and additional texture before the white paint. Make sure to cover the gap between two panels.

Caulk was applied to the edges of the walls.

4. Paint it white

I used Simply White by Benjamin Moore to match the rest of the walls, leaving some of the gray grout lines to create additional depth between the bricks. This is what it looked like after the first coat of paint and touch up with spackle: