A green plant in a black pot sits on a wooden stand against a white brick wall, offering inspiration for basement wall ideas beyond drywall.
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DIY Basement Wall Alternative to Drywall

ByLisa
2 Comments

It’s week 4 of the One Room Challenge and you might have noticed I was MIA last week. Let’s just say that building a room from scratch might have been a tall order, haha! The good news is the wine cellar construction process is coming along and I officially have interior walls now! If you missed week one or week two check those out first to see what’s in store. Now let me walk you through my DIY basement wall alternative to drywall.

A small alcove showcases a DIY faux brick wall painted white with artistic smudges, perfect for those seeking basement wall ideas not drywall. A black planter with grass-like plants sits at the base. The text reads "DIY Faux Brick Walls" with a website link below.This post contains affiliate links. For more information, please see my policies.

DIY Basement Wall Ideas Not Drywall

If you recall back to week one, this space started off with concrete walls on one side, concrete floor, and wall studs on the other. In week two I framed out the wine cellar. Now the only thing left to do was add the wall coverings. 

The wooden framework of a small under-staircase storage room is under construction, showcasing an open doorway and stairs without steps. The space illustrates how to frame basement walls, with visible wood beams and concrete walls surrounding the area.

I have been pondering the design for the entire basement renovation and I really wanted to add an accent wall of some kind. Not only is drywall very intimidating, it is also a lot of work and takes a long time to get a professional finish. Drywall is usually the cheapest way, but I wanted to test out different drywall alternatives. Naturally brick wall panels came to mind.

A large table with a surface resembling a brick pattern is set in a garage with a white garage door in the background, offering unique basement wall ideas not drywall. The table's legs are black, complementing the bricks' various shades of red and brown.

I love the unique look of weathered brick and thought it would be a good option for a wine cellar. This room is a very small space with minimal square footage so my design choices needed to have high impact. I picked these brick panels up from my local home improvement store. While they aren’t bad as is, I really wanted a more modern look. So I started off by painting the panels black. I used left over paint from my bedroom makeover.

A glossy finish on the wet brick wall in the garage offers a unique alternative to standard basement wall ideas not drywall. Natural light filters through small door windows, enhancing the shiny texture of the bricks, while supplies and tools are partially visible around the area.

Because these panels do not come in different sizes, I had to cut them down individually. I used the mini Dremel circular saw and the jigsaw. The back foundation walls were not perfectly square, so I taped a line down the center of my panel and measured outward at three points on each side of the tape. This was ultimately a trapezoid shape so I freehand cut it with the jigsaw.

An orange power jigsaw rests on a table with a faux brick panel, ideal for basement wall ideas not drywall. A measuring tape and clamps are visible in the background, completing the workshop or construction area scene.

The brick panel for the ceiling slant was more straight so the Dremel worked just fine. I clamped a scrap 2×4 to the brick panel to act as a guide. 

A woodworking setup in the basement features a circular saw on a table with a white and black pattern. A wooden plank is clamped to the table, surrounded by an array of tools on the wall. A red banner displaying different years adds character, showcasing unique basement wall ideas, not drywall.

Next, I applied a special treatment, similar to my fottery process. I mixed drywall compound with a very small amount of water and white paint. I then used a chip paint brush to apply a stippling texture to the brick wall surface. I kept this as random as I could and left some of the black peeking through to give an aged industrial look.

The image presents a pattern of gray brick pavers with a textured surface, arranged in a herringbone style. This design, inspired by basement wall ideas not using drywall, features a whitewashed look with varied tones creating a weathered appearance.

I wasn’t 100% happy with the overall look so once it was dry I came back with some white paint and filled in all the mortar lines and blended it a bit with a dryer brush. This gave it that finished look of real stone walls, a really easy way to add a finished wall.

A large panel painted to resemble a whitewashed brick wall leans against a partially constructed wooden frame and an unfinished wall in a room with a concrete floor, offering creative basement wall ideas that go beyond traditional drywall solutions.

Note, on the first panel I did the fottery treatment first and came back and filled in the mortar lines. On the second panel I painted the mortar lines first and came back to apply the joint compound mixture and then added more white paint to blend it. I think the first method was the most efficient.

A small, unfinished basement nook features a black and white brick pattern wall, offering unique basement wall ideas not drywall. A blue cushion rests on the floor beneath a standing lamp, with a partially painted brick panel leaning against the left wall.

I attached the brick paneling to the stud wall with construction adhesive and a few small nails. I have seen some people glue the panels directly to their masonry walls or cinder blocks but I do not recommend that.

The image showcases a basement wall with exposed wooden studs and visible electrical wiring, offering alternative ideas to traditional drywall finishes. The floor and ceiling remain unfinished, highlighting the ongoing construction project.

I also used traditional drywall on the other two walls and the ceiling. I figured I needed the practice for the rest of the unfinished basement as finishing an entire wall or more with wood planks (my second choice) is just too expensive. While I wouldn’t say I enjoy drywall finishing, it isn’t as bad as I thought it would be. Having the appropriate drywall materials definitely helps. I don’t think I could have finished the drywall without a hawk. And with all DIY projects, pack your patience.

A partially finished interior wall showcases alternative basement wall ideas, with white patches over seams and screws. The concrete floor is visible, and a partially painted brick wall is on the left. Wooden beams are exposed on the ceiling, suggesting a move beyond traditional drywall.

In addition to faux brick paneling, you could also use wood paneling in basement areas. I actually looked into this option, but had a difficult time finding traditional wood panels. You could also finish the brick paneling in a variety of ways to create different looks. Leaving it red and applying the veneer plaster would be a great way to create a more rustic look.

An aged brick wall with a textured surface, featuring a mix of faded red and white bricks, offers rustic basement wall ideas that go beyond drywall for a charmingly rugged appearance.

Week 3 & 4 summary

  • installed electrical wiring
  • installed drywall
  • finished faux brick walls
  • mudded drywall and primed drywall
  • painted ceiling

Next week I hope to tackle the basement flooring and the one piece of furniture that will reside in here. If you want to see all the behind the scenes and video content, make sure you follow me on Instagram!

A tall plant in a black pot stands on a wooden stand against a whitewashed brick wall, showcasing basement wall ideas beyond drywall. The light beige tile floor complements the minimalist decor in the corner of a plain gray wall.

A small room with white brick-patterned walls showcases a potted green plant on the right. An inset photo displays creative basement wall ideas, highlighting the unfinished wooden frame of the space labeled "Before.

A small nook showcases basement wall ideas with a whitewashed brick wall and a gray ceiling. A black planter filled with green grass nestles on a wooden stool in the corner. The floor is bare concrete, and an unlit circular light fixture is embedded overhead, avoiding traditional drywall designs.

Join me again next week to see how the rest of the basement wine cellar is coming along! Fingers crossed I can make up some time, because I am definitely behind. 

A person with long curly hair, wearing a gray top, black pants, and red sneakers, stands smiling against a white brick wall in a narrow, unfinished space showcasing basement wall ideas not drywall with wooden framing and an exposed concrete floor.

If you enjoyed this post, DIY Basement Wall Alternative to Drywall, please share it on Facebook or hover over an image and save to Pinterest! And if you don’t already follow me on Instagram, Pinterest, or Facebook, I would love for us to be friends! Also, make sure you don’t miss any of the progress and sign up here to get notifications delivered straight to your inbox.  It’s going to be a wild ride!  

 

Don’t forget to stop by the One Room Challenge to check out all the other participants! There are so many talented designers with incredible ideas.  You’re welcome 😉  

Garrison Street Design Studio - DIY Basement Wall Alternative to Drywall

A wall with a DIY faux brick design in white and gray adds charm to basement wall ideas. A small potted plant with long green leaves sits on a wooden stool next to the wall. Text on the image reads "DIY Faux Brick Walls" with a website link below. No drywall needed!.

This post, DIY Basement Wall Alternative to Drywall appeared first on Garrison Street Design Studio.

2 Comments

    1. Hi Rett, I am not sure what happened there. I have updated the link. Thank you for letting me know it wasn’t working!

      Reply

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