DIY Faux Brick Wall Accent Wall

2 Materials
$100
1 Day
Easy

I knew I wanted an accent wall in our basement.


By far the biggest thing that people notice about our finished basement is our brick wall going down the stairs.


It is also one of the easiest and least expensive projects. The majority of it was done in 1 day which just a few finishing touches the next day.

Here is what it looks like, I love the way it looks next to the barn doors.

Red Brick Paneling

Step 2 – Prepare The Wall


  • If you have any outlets on the wall, make sure to remove the covers as part of the prep.
  • Mark the studs.
  • Tape Off Corners & Ceiling

Step 3 – Measure For Brick Panels


Measure your wall to determine how much paneling you will need.


Also, note that not all walls are exactly the same height, so measure each panel as you go – you could be off a quarter of an inch here and there.


Step 4 – Cut Brick Paneling

When we did this project, we opted to hang the panels just as they were straight up and down.


We used a jigsaw to make all of our cuts. Then we dry-fitted them to make sure we didn’t need to make any adjustments (which of course we did!). Finally, we ran a quick sandpaper block down the edge to clean it up.


Step 5 – Hang Faux Brick Wall Panel

We installed our brick panels with a combination of liquid nails and a brad nailer. In my opinion, it really is best to use both to reinforce the wall. This will ensure you don’t risk any of the wall being saggy or uneven.


Start with the first panel.


Lay in upside down on the ground, and use a chalk gun with the liquid nails.


Pay attention to the edges as those seemed to be where it needed it most. (Just make sure not to put it too close to the edge as it will leak out when you hang).


Once you have applied the liquid nails, it is time to hang your first piece. Start with the corner of the wall. Since not all walls are straight, make sure you have a level handy to check that it is straight.


No need to worry if there is a slight gap in a corner or by the ceiling, you can fix that later. Use your hands to press all over the panel to ensure the liquid nails have adhered. After you have pressed it in place, it’s time to use the brad nailer.


We choose to nail in between the grout lines. Since I knew they would be covered anyway when we did the German schmear, I figured it would be the safest way to go since I did not want any nail heads showing.


Hanging the faux brick paneling was a pretty easy, straightforward process. My husband and I had the brick panels hung within a few hours.

Step 6- German Schmear Technique

This is where the magic happens! Fake brick paneling looks just like that – fake! By using the German schmear technique over the paneling you will be left with a more realistic look. I’ve had a number of people think this was a real brick wall and were surprised to learn it wasn’t!


German schmear adds texture, so the faux brick looks a lot more realistic. This technique also helps you to hide the seams between the sheets of brick paneling.

German Schmear Technique After

How To German Schmear?

The first thing you will need is some joint compound. Since we had just drywalled our entire basement, I had plenty leftover. If you are going to buy some it’s probably easier to buy the pre-mixed version. (You may have to water it down a bit).


For the application, all you need is a simple putty knife. I found that the plastic one was way easier to work with then the metal one.


Start with the seams and then move on to the grout lines. If you put a little pressure on the putty knife it will help it to fill in the grout lines so that it is not even with the brick. This will help the texture of the fake brick to stand out.


After I had all the grout lines filled, I moved on to the brick itself. Don’t be afraid of messing this up! The nice thing about the German Schmear technique is that it’s not supposed to be perfect. I worked in about 3 feet sections and would take a step back, look at it and then make any adjustments that I wanted. I also found it easier to apply in a criss-cross motion.


How thick you put it on is a personal preference. I personally wanted a little bit of the red to show through so after I had all the joint compound on and it had dried slightly, my daughter and I went back and sanded some areas to allow more of the red brick to show through.

Step 7 – Seal Faux Brick Wall

The final step is to seal your wall. I would highly suggest you don’t skip this step. Just make sure that you use a polycrylic so that it won’t turn yellow afterward. I used Minwax Polycrylic Protective finish. Make sure you get it in matte if you don’t want your faux brick wall to be shiny.


This was a super easy process. I used a small roller and just rolled it over the whole wall. A little goes a long way and we had plenty left over when we were done. There was absolutely no yellowing afterward which I was happy about!


Step 8 – Caulk Edges

The final step was to caulk the edges in the corner and at the ceiling. Just run a small bead and smooth out with your fingers. This step gives clean lines and really makes the wall look finished.

Finish The Edges With Caulk

Finished Basement Stairs

We completed the look by painting our basement stairs black. This was a little tedious but in the end I’m so glad we went this route.


That's it! A Pretty easy project that I'm glad we did.


Make sure to check out our entire finished basement to see how it all ended up.

Suggested materials:
  • Kingston Brick Panel   (Home Depot)
  • Joint Compound   (Home Depot)
Brooke Grasley @ Restore Decor And More
Want more details about this and other DIY projects? Check out my blog post!
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