Are you looking for a modern elegant accent wall that is inexpensive, unique, and fun to install? These easy-to-follow step-by-step directions will help you create a beautiful roman clay accent wall. This project brought out the nerves but I want to ease yours and give you the courage to do it yourself. It is an inexpensive, easy DIY project with an impact.
What to know before you start. Mix up enough roman clay for the entire project, you won’t be able to get an exact match if you need to mix more. Be sure to add the drywall compound to the paint, not the other way around. Why you might wonder, I don’t know but everyone said mix the drywall compound to the paint. When figuring out how much to mix it takes 2 – 3 coats and about the same amount if you were painting. Plan how much a paint you need then add the drywall compound. Unsure if the mixture would go as far as paint but it did.
Supplies Needed
- Paint (any color)
- Drywall Compound
- Large Bucket
- Stirring Stick
- Mixing paddle
- Drywall knife and mud pan
- Painter’s tape
- Drop Cloth
Step 1 Mix the Roman Clay
Roman clay is a perfect accent for a primary bathroom, bedroom, hallway, or entry. It requires two ingredients, paint and drywall compound. When mixing plan on 2/3 drywall compound and 1/3 paint. There are a lot of directions some say more paint than drywall mud. Others say about 50 / 50. Because pre-mixed drywall compound was used it mixed easily. If you are using powder you might need to use a mixing paddle that attaches to a drill to mix the paint and drywall. The premixed drywall compound mixed easily and well. There were some techniques for the application if the roman clay is too thin it is hard to apply, but you don’t want it too thick.
If you have some apprehension about the project find a board and practice. Not only is it a great wall accent but it also makes a great decor piece. Because of my apprehension, I had an old farmhouse sign so I opted to mix up a small batch and try it on a small project. This gave me the confidence to create the wall plus a guide about thickness. I was surprised by how much drywall compound I needed to get to a manageable consistency.
Pour the paint into a large bucket, about 1/3 a gallon for an accent wall then add the drywall compound. Using premixed drywall mud makes the mixing much easier. Use a long stir stick or a drill paddle to mix the roman clay compound.
Be sure to mix it well so there aren’t any streaks in the mixture. The premixed drywall compound made for easy mixing. Stirring took some time but was relaxing and rewarding in a weird way.
Step 2 Taping off the Wall
Because you are applying a thin compound to the wall with a drywall knife there will be some mess. You can’t get a crisp line like you could if it was a paintbrush so use painter’s tape along the edge of the wall, along the baseboards, and around doors. The ceiling worked without painter’s tape but if you’re nervous tape off the ceiling too. Even if you have a steady hand taping off helps keep it off the adjacent walls and trim.
There will be a lot of dropped roman clay until you get the hang of it, and still some after. There is a learning curve but you’ll get the hang of it quickly.
Step 3 Apply the Roman Clay
Scrape some compound into the mud pan. Start at the top and work your way down the wall. There was a lot of dropped compound at the start but before long you’ll get the hang of it and there will be less mess. Still some mess but it does get better. It is still messier than painting so be sure to use painter’s tape and a drop cloth.
Don’t work in straight lines, add some texture and curves in the application process. Overlapping as you go. The color of the paint will dictate how many coats you need to do.
The accent wall took about an hour to install. It looked so good, so it was applied to the wall in the toilet room. The roman clay dried in a couple of hours. After the first coat was dry it was time to add the second coat. Thankfully this wall color only required two coats. When you start you’re going to think it will take all day but it went a lot faster than the initial feeling.
One of the base colors in my home is a beautiful grey/green. The installation was going well but the color was stressful. It was looking very grey without any of the pretty green. But the second coat looked more like I hoped, with a pretty color and a simple amount of texture. Modern, pretty, and a little unique.
Before and After Modern Accent Wall
There are a variety of ways to show your creativity. Being creative fills your soul, trying something new is exciting and uplifting. You will feel empowered with the confidence to try something new. Sharing your gifts and adding beauty to the world. This project made me nervous, painting and accent walls are my jam. I’ve even done some mudding so why this was nerve-wracking I don’t know. Once I practiced and got going on the wall I felt silly for letting it worry me so much.
If you’re looking for a modern, easy-to-install accent wall you will want to create a roman clay accent wall. It is modern, elegant and a great addition to your home.
Because I didn’t want any shine to the wall I chose not to add a sealant. I wouldn’t do a roman clay accent wall in a child’s bathroom without sealing the accent wall. Water would wreck the look of the wall. It’s not something that can take a lot of water splashes.
