There is something charming about living in a small space. I love my cozy, two-bedroom home, but because space is limited, it has to be very functional for me. Therefore, I have designed my guest bedroom to serve a dual-purpose as both a bedroom and an office. Fortunately, the room is shaped in way that allows clear separation between the sleeping area and the working area. The office is perfectly situated just below where the roof slopes, creating the most-charming, tucked-away nook, ideal for escaping distractions. The room has been begging for some interior design attention for far too long, so I finally decided to show it some love by adding decorative wall molding to my office nook.
Inspired by classic British interiors, I planned a wall molding design that included a small ledge across the top and a bold Farrow & Ball paint color. Prior to this project, my only molding experience was the box trim molding along my staircase, which was a very different type of molding than what I wanted for the office nook. So, in many ways, my office DIY project was a first for me. Before getting started I searched Pinterest for images of the molding style I was envisioning to help plan the height, scale, and other details.
The Process
After much consideration of how the office nook would be used, I had the realization that there are many elements to an office that are often more practical than beautiful. Mastering the delicate balance between form and function is key When playing with interiors. In my attempt to do just that, I determined a built-in cabinet would be the most visually appealing way to hide practical items like my unsightly metal filing unit.
The addition of a cabinet box added a step to this project that required more advanced equipment than I had in my garage and some materials that I was not confident I could manage on my own, due to their size and weight. Thankfully, my dad helped me with this part during a weekend when I was visiting my parents. We bought some plywood from the hardware store for the cabinet box and used some pieces of poplar from our family farm to build the face frame. After few hours at his workshop and light sanding, we were able to load it into the back of my small SUV so I could take it home.
For the molding on the wall, I used various sizes of pre-primed wood as well as base cap molding to go inside of each section. It took me a few rounds of drawings and measuring before I was confident I had calculated the correct amount of materials I would need to complete the project. When planning the space, made sure that my current desk would fit perfectly into the opening between the wall on one side of the nook and the cabinet box on the other. Then, it was time to get started.
First I removed the existing baseboard in the office nook area. Next, I used some spare 2x4s to construct a base to go underneath the cabinet box; then, I sat the cabinet on top of the base and secured it into place with screws. I then I attached pre-primed boards around to base of the office nook and cabinet box to act as baseboards, replacing the original one I removed. Once the cabinet box was securely built into the nook, I used a laster level and a nail gun to attached the molding to the wall in an even and level pattern. Finally, I used the base cap molding inside of each section and attached a 1×2 across the top to create a small ledge. To complete the project with a polished look, I caulked the seams, primed the area, and painted two coats of Sherwin-Williams’ trim enamel in a semi-gloss finish. I still need to hang the cabinet door; more photos to come once that is done!
A Few of the Supplies I Used for This Project
- Nail Gun
- Caulk
- Laser Level
- Miter Saw
- Oscillating Tool
- Utility Knife
- Crowbar
- 1×2 Pre-Primed Board
- 1×3 Pre-Primed Board
- 1X4 Pre-Primed Board
- Base Cap Molding
- Plywood
- Sherwin-Williams Urethane Trim Enamel in Semi-Gloss
Lessons Learned
In my opinion, the wow factor of the finished product is well-worth the time, effort, and money spent on the front end. It feels like an instant upgrade to the room, and it’s a great way to make a builder-grade space feel custom and full of character. The biggest lesson I learned from this project is to always use a miter saw for the best quality finish and tightest corners. For a few of the cuts, I attempted to use miter shears I saw advertised online, and I regret doing that. When looking closely, I can tell which corners were made with the miter saw and which ones were made with the miter shears. I did my best to fill gaps with caulk and hide the rest with paint, and overall, it turned out great. I am really happy with the result!
Adding decorative wall molding to my office nook was such a great, high-impact DIY project and perfect for anyone who loves classic interiors and British style.
