How to Cover a Herringbone Accent Wall Without Removing It: 5 Easy DIY Solutions

How to Cover a Herringbone Accent Wall Without Removing It: 5 Easy DIY Solutions

Herringbone accent walls are beautiful—until they’re not. Whether your design preferences have shifted or the pattern just doesn’t match your new décor, living with a herringbone wall you’ve grown tired of is frustrating. The good news? You don’t need to rip it out and start over. There are several practical, wallet-friendly ways to cover or transform your herringbone accent wall without the demolition headache.

1. Paint Over It (Yes, Really)

The simplest solution is often the best one. Painting over your herringbone wall is surprisingly effective and costs far less than removal or replacement.

How to do it:

1. Clean the wall thoroughly with a damp cloth to remove dust and debris
2. Fill any gaps or grout lines with spackling compound if the texture is too pronounced
3. Sand lightly (120-150 grit) to help paint adhere better
4. Prime with a high-quality primer—this is crucial for even coverage
5. Apply 2-3 coats of quality paint, allowing drying time between coats

The key here is primer. Don’t skip it. A good primer fills in the pattern’s texture and ensures your topcoat looks uniform. Semi-gloss or satin finishes tend to hide pattern imperfections better than flat finishes.

2. Wallpaper or Peel-and-Stick Wall Covering

Wallpaper is experiencing a major comeback, and for good reason. It’s a fast way to completely transform a wall without any structural changes.

Traditional wallpaper: Works best if your herringbone wall is reasonably smooth. You’ll need to prepare the wall like you would for painting, then apply wallpaper paste and hang. The textured pattern underneath might show through slightly, but most wallpapers have enough pattern or color variation to camouflage this.

Peel-and-stick options: These removable wall coverings are ideal if you’re renting or want maximum flexibility. Brands like Removable Wallpaper or Spoonflower offer trendy designs that stick directly to existing walls. They’re forgiving about imperfect surfaces and are genuinely removable without damage.

For either option, measure your wall carefully and order 10-15% extra to account for pattern matching and mistakes. Professional installation isn’t necessary for peel-and-stick products, though it helps for traditional wallpaper if your wall has significant texture.

3. Fabric Wall Covering

Fabric adds warmth and elegance while completely disguising what’s underneath. This method involves stretching fabric across your wall and securing it with a frame or trim.

How to install:

• Measure your wall and purchase fabric accordingly (add 12 inches to height and width for wrapping)
• Use 1×2 wooden frames around the perimeter of the wall as mounting points
• Stretch fabric taut and secure with a staple gun, starting from the center and working outward
• Cover staples with decorative trim or molding

Choose a substantial fabric like linen, cotton canvas, or even a textured upholstery fabric. Lighter fabrics may show the pattern underneath. This approach also provides subtle acoustic benefits and adds a tailored, designed look to your space.

4. Shiplap or Peel-and-Stick Wooden Paneling

If you want to completely change the wall’s character, covering it with shiplap or faux wood paneling is an excellent option. Modern peel-and-stick wood panels make this a genuine DIY project—no nailing or complex installation required.

Installation steps:

1. Clean and dry the wall completely
2. Prime any stained areas to prevent bleed-through
3. Start from one corner and work across, peeling the backing and pressing panels firmly in place
4. Offset panels in a brick-like pattern for a professional appearance
5. Trim edges with molding to hide seams

Peel-and-stick paneling gives you the farmhouse or modern aesthetic of real shiplap without permanent installation. If you ever want to change it again, removal is simple.

5. Fabric Art or Large Wall Hangings

If you want to keep costs minimal and maintain flexibility, strategically placed large artwork or tapestries can effectively hide a herringbone wall.

What works best:

• Oversized canvas prints or gallery walls that span 60-80% of the wall
• Large woven tapestries or macramé hangings
• Floating shelving units with décor that draw the eye away from the pattern
• A gallery wall with mixed frame sizes and artwork

This approach works particularly well if your herringbone wall is an accent wall in a smaller room. The visual weight of large artwork naturally becomes the focal point, making the pattern behind it fade into the background.

Which Solution Is Right for You?

Budget-conscious: Paint or artwork

Renting or want reversible: Peel-and-stick wallpaper or paneling

Want significant transformation: Shiplap paneling or fabric wall covering

Need a quick fix: Large wall hangings or tapestries

The beauty of these solutions is that most are reversible or can be adjusted without expensive demolition. Start with the option that fits your budget, timeline, and design vision—and remember, you don’t need to live with a wall design you dislike just because it’s already installed.

Frequently Asked Questions