DIY A Fake Stone Accent Wall With A Few Affordable Supplies

Stone walls in the home offer a cozy, rustic aesthetic to your space. However, not everyone is blessed with a cottage-like interior made of real stone. Though, if you're looking for ideas on how to decorate your home like an English cottage or you crave an organic and natural look on a budget, then you'll want to know about this faux stone accent wall DIY project. Using affordable supplies, like plastic stone wall panels and some spackle, you could make a stunning accent wall that looks and feels almost as real as true masonry or stonework.

The benefits of this DIY project are not only the cottagecore results, but also that this method is budget-friendly, produces little to no dust or mess, and holds up well over the years. The drawbacks are that this project is not renter-friendly since the spackle and adhesion methods could damage your drywall. However, if you don't mind a more or less permanent faux stone accent wall, this project could look stunning around an electric fireplace, as a kitchen backsplash, or anywhere in the home that needs a rustic touch. So, here's how to make one inexpensive change that instantly makes your space look more cottagecore.

How to DIY a fake stone accent wall in your home

To create this faux stone accent wall, you'll want to purchase some plastic stone panels like this Faux Stone Wall Panel from Dundee Deco. The panels are made to be placed together like giant puzzle pieces. To attach the panels to the wall, you can use construction adhesive. Just keep in mind that this is a more or less permanent solution, so it could damage your walls if you choose to remove the panels later on. For extra security, you could also use a nail or staple gun to secure the edges. As you work, use a carpet knife to cut the edges to create a seamless look in corners or around window and door trim.

While the panels alone look relatively realistic, you can enhance this DIY project by adding spackling between the stones for a more three-dimensional look. Add the spackle to a piping bag to trace along the faux grout lines between the stones. Then, use a putty knife to smooth the edges. Overlaying some spackle on the stones provides a more organic look. Next, grab a wet sponge or rag and dab at the stones to soften the over-spackled material so it appears more natural. The results speak for themselves. 

Alternative faux stone wall ideas to try

Since this project is not the most renter-friendly, you may wish to tweak the concept to create a less permanent solution. Some renters use contact paper to protect their walls prior to adding the plastic stone panels with the construction adhesive. The adhesive will stick to the contact paper, so once it's time to remove your project, you can peel it up seamlessly with little to no damage.

Another simple solution to make a renter-friendly faux stone wall is to use peel-and-stick fake stone panels rather than the ones mentioned above. Peel-and-stick panels like the Commony 3D Wall Panels or NuWallpaper Wallpaper don't require additional adhesives to attach to the wall. Further, peeling them off when your lease is up is simple and won't cause much damage, if any. The only downside is that the peel-and-stick panels may not have the same three-dimensional texture as the DIY panels with the spackle. Additionally, these panels are often thinner and could create air bubbles as you attach them to the wall. Still, since stone is the natural home décor trend that's coming back around, don't fret about being unable to hop on this bandwagon due to a low reno budget. Try these DIY ideas instead.

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