This room is finally complete and I could not be more happy with the way everything turned out. As I start to actually finish rooms, I love comparing how far we have come while working on our home this last year and a half.

These photos are from the listing, but oh my goodness what a difference. I painted as soon as we moved in, including the ceiling which was yellow. So many of the ceilings were yellow. We had it this gray and white combo for about a year, and I liked it a lot. But I decided I wanted something with a little more depth to it, and also wanted to dress up the walls more.

First thing I did was to tear the trim off the walls. I wanted it to be taller, and more dramatic. I patched everything after I removed it with spackle and made sure to sand it smooth.

I started by installing my top board to make sure everything stayed level.

One because walls are never straight.

Two because I was trying really hard to avoid any special cuts between my light switch and thermostat.

I added the bottom board right up against the base boards. I could have ripped that out too, but honestly It doesn’t bother me to have it doubled up on the bottom and it saved me a lot of trouble.

Next came the vertical pieces. I measured these as I went because they were each slightly different. Between the variation in the boards and the walls not being truly straight, this left me with the least amount of gaps possible.

The next two steps steps are honestly the most annoying, but also the most important. I filled in all the nailgun holes, and the used a sealant to go over all the seams on where the wood meets the wall. It makes it look so much more professional and well done.

I hadn’t done this step when I did Parker’s room, and I went back and sealed everything when I did this project because of what a difference it made. Just make sure you get a paintable kind. They have all sorts of tools you can use, but I just used my finger and a paper towel. I felt like this gave me the most control even though it was very messy.

I primed everything first with KILZ since I had the two different colors on the bottom half of the wall and I wanted to make sure I didn’t use up my paint. Can’t be going to the hardware store during quarantine! LOL

This view really let’s you see the whole setup of the room. I actually finished painting before the floors were installed (didn’t have to use any painters tape or drop cloths, whoot, whoot!)

My boards are approximately 16-17 inches apart, in hopes of hitting a stud. I had to make some adjustments for the shorter walls, however. I just solved the no stud issue by putting the nails from the nail gun in at alternating angles so that it secured it well. Another reason the sealant is helpful as well.