Modern box moulding is an easy, beginner-friendly DIY that adds timeless style and value to any room—no power tools required. With minimal cost and effort, you can create a high-end look that completely transforms your space.
If you’ve been looking for an easy, beginner-friendly way to elevate your home, modern box moulding might just be the perfect weekend project.
This simple DIY adds instant charm and timeless style to any room—whether it’s your dining room, living room, bedroom, home office or hallway.
Best of all, it’s easy on the budget, requires minimal tools (no power tools needed!), and makes a surprisingly big impact.
With just a little time and effort, you can create a high-end, custom look that not only makes your home feel more elegant and put-together, but can also increase its value.
Let’s dive into how you can transform your space with this affordable and stunning box moulding trim!
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Why Choose Box Moulding?
Box moulding—also known as picture frame moulding or shadow box moulding—is a classic wall trim detail made by creating framed shapes (usually rectangles) directly on the wall.
It’s an easy and affordable way to add architectural interest and depth to otherwise flat, blank walls.
In fact, we only spent $400 on all the supplies to update the walls in this dining room!
For our client’s dining room, she already had traditional crown moulding and a chair rail in place, but the room felt small and outdated due to a three-toned paint treatment that visually chopped up the space.
Make sure to scroll to the end of the post to see our clients reaction to her updated dining room!
By adding flat, modern box moulding above and below the chair rail, we will elevate the entire look.
The clean lines of the flat box trim perfectly balance the traditional moulding elements, giving the room a more cohesive, modern feel that feels both timeless and fresh.
This kind of wall treatment looks custom—but it’s totally DIY-friendly and can be achieved on a budget.
What You’ll Need
One of the best parts about this box moulding project is how simple and doable it is—even for first-time DIYers.
You don’t need any power tools to get started, just a few basic supplies.
To recreate this look, you’ll need moulding or trim.
We chose a flat 1½” craftsman moulding for a modern touch.
If you’re not using a miter saw you’ll need a pair of miter shears for making angled cuts, painters tape and construction adhesive to attach the trim to your walls.
Be sure to have a level, pencil, and measuring tape on hand to mark out your design and keep everything straight and consistent.
We also used a laser level, but that’s totally optional.
And for a professional finish, caulk and a caulking gun are necessary for filling the seams.
Finally, you’ll need paint and primer.
For our room we chose to color drench the room in Behr Half Sea Fog.
It’s a beautiful gray blue that adds coziness and sophistication.
Our moulding is a PVC product, so it did require priming before paint.
That’s it—no power tools or fancy equipment required!
Plan Your Box Moulding Design
Before you start cutting any trim, it’s important to plan out your box moulding design.
Begin by taking a good look at your wall size, layout, and any existing architectural features like windows, outlets, or furniture placement.
If you have a chair rail, like we did in this dining room, you’ll want to factor that into your measurements so the boxes align beautifully.
Decide how many boxes you want per wall and the spacing between them—typically 3 to 6 inches from the edges and between boxes creates a balanced, professional look.
To help visualize your layout, try sketching it on graph paper or using painter’s tape to outline the boxes directly on the wall.
For our main wall we wanted the center box moulding to frame out a large piece of art and the buffet below.
The box moulding on the window wall has symmetrical boxes on each side of the window, as well as one above and below.
The remaining walls each have one box above and below the chair rail, keeping the 6″ spacing around each box.
This step can make all the difference, helping you spot any awkward spacing or scale issues before you commit.
Pro tip: Consistency is key—keeping all the box sizes and spacing uniform gives your finished wall that crisp, high-end feel.
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Mark Your Walls
Once your layout is finalized, it’s time to start marking your walls.
This step lays the foundation for a professional finish, so take your time here.
We found it super helpful to cut a scrap piece of wood to exactly 6 inches, which made it easy to consistently mark the distance from the baseboard, chair rail, and adjacent walls.
However, it’s still important to double-check your placement marks with a level—we discovered that the corners of the wall had extra drywall mud buildup, making the spacing slightly less than 6 inches in those areas.
Using this guide, we quickly marked the outer edges of each box, ensuring even spacing throughout the room.
Another tool we found helpful was our laser lever to ensure that the lower box is aligned with the upper box.
Then, we used a pencil and level to draw out the full shape of each trim box—straight, level lines are key to making your moulding look custom and high-end.
Be sure to mark all your boxes before cutting any trim. If you’re more of a visual person, outlining the boxes with painter’s tape can be a game changer.
Click here to see how we made a visual mock-up with painters tape in our home office when installing picture frame moulding.
It gives you a real sense of how the finished project will look and lets you adjust spacing or proportions before committing.
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Cut the Moulding (Without Power Tools!)
You certainly can use a miter saw for this project, but we wanted to show you that it’s totally doable with a simple pair of miter shears—no power tools required.
Miter shears are beginner-friendly, safe, and perfect for making precise 45-degree cuts on lightweight trim.
They worked beautifully on the PVC moulding we used, but they’ll also handle MDF moulding and even softer woods like pine.
You simply align the trim against the 45° fence, hold in position and give it a squeeze.
However our moulding was 1½” wide, and when cutting at a 45° angle with the shears, it came up just shy—about ⅛” short.
On some cuts, it occasionally left a jagged edge.
Thankfully, a quick pass with medium-grit sandpaper smoothed out any ridges with ease.
Before you cut, double-check each measurement and mark your angles carefully.
We recommend dry-fitting each piece on the wall before applying adhesive to ensure everything lines up just right.
Miter shears are a great option that make this project doable, even if it’s your very first DIY box moulding job.
Attach the Box Moulding
Once all your moulding pieces are cut for one section and dry-fitted, then it’s time to attach them to the wall.
We used construction adhesive to secure each piece—just apply a thin, even bead along the back of the moulding, press it firmly into place, and hold for a few seconds to ensure good adhesion.
Pro tip: We have found that Loctite Power Grab has less slip and holds better than Liquid Nails.
For extra support while the adhesive dries, apply painter’s tape which will keep the trim from shifting.
Let the adhesive completely cure before removing painters tape.
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Caulk, Prime and Paint
Once your moulding is securely in place, it’s time to bring everything together with paint and finishing touches.
Start by caulking seams for that clean, professional look.
This is any place where the trim touches the wall as well as the mitered corners.
Completing this step makes the trim feel truly custom and finished.
Click here for our best caulking tips.
Our moulding is PVC and does require priming.
Once the caulk is dry, brush primer on to the moulding.
If the moulding you chose is primed you can skip this step.
Then for a classic style, we recommend painting the wall and moulding the same color.
This monochromatic approach creates a cohesive, high-end feel that really lets the architectural detail shine.
Grab a partner when painting to speed up the process, I did the brush work and Steph did the rolling.
In our clients home we chose to color drench the room by painting the moulding, walls, ceiling and trim all in the same shade.
This technique will not only make the space feel cozy, but also larger because there is no visual break in the color.
Whether you go for moody hues like deep green and navy, or stick with soft neutrals for a timeless look, color drenching adds instant elegance.
Be sure to use a high-quality paint (and primer, if needed) for a smooth, durable finish.
The Final Reveal
The final reveal is where all the planning and effort truly pays off.
Comparing the before and after photos, the transformation is amazing!—the once plain, cramped space is now a polished, elegant room with timeless character.
The box moulding adds architectural interest, while the color-drenched walls create a seamless, modern feel that elevates the entire space.
It’s hard to believe this dramatic upgrade was achieved with such a budget-friendly, beginner-friendly DIY.
Not only does the finished look feel high-end and custom, but it also adds real value to the home.
Our client was absolutely thrilled with the transformation—she couldn’t believe how elegant and high-end her dining room looked.
The color-drenched box moulding brought a modern sophistication to the space that she said finally made it feel like her home.
And we were able to incorporate some old frames she had stored down in her basement that belonged to her mother.
The mirrors in the vintage frames were the cherry on top—adding just the right sparkle to complete the room’s transformation.
Shop This Project
If this dining room style speaks to you, we’ve rounded up a few of the decor items we used.
FAQs
What trim do you use for box molding?
For box molding, you can use a variety of trim types depending on the look you’re going for. We used flat PVC moulding for a clean, modern profile that’s easy to work with and budget-friendly. You can also use MDF trim or softer woods like pine—both cut well with miter shears and are great for painting. Look for trim that’s around 1″ to 1½” wide for a classic box moulding look, though wider or more decorative profiles can create a more traditional or dramatic effect. The key is choosing a style that complements your space and is easy for you to handle as a DIYer.
Is picture frame moulding outdated?
Not at all—picture frame molding, also known as box molding, is far from outdated. In fact, it’s making a big comeback thanks to its timeless charm and versatility. When paired with modern paint colors or applied using the color drenching technique, it feels fresh and sophisticated. Whether your style leans classic, transitional, or contemporary, box moulding adds depth and architectural interest that elevates any room without overwhelming it.
What angle should I cut molding?
For box molding or picture frame molding, you’ll typically cut the corners at a 45-degree angle so that the pieces fit together neatly to form a square or rectangle. These are called miter cuts, and they create clean, seamless joints at each corner. Whether you’re using miter shears or a miter saw, double-check your angles and measurements before cutting to ensure each corner lines up perfectly.
Should you paint before or after picture frame molding?
You can technically do it either way, but for the best, most seamless finish, it’s usually best to paint after installing the picture frame molding. This allows you to caulk any gaps and ensure everything looks smooth and built-in before applying your final coat of paint. Painting everything—walls and molding—in one go also creates a cohesive, modern look, especially if you’re color drenching the room. However, if you’re using a contrasting color for the trim, pre-painting the moulding before installation can make touch-ups easier.
How do I figure out how much moulding I need?
To figure out how much moulding you need, start by measuring the width and height of each box you plan to install on your wall. Add up the total linear inches (or feet) for all sides of all boxes. Then, add an extra 10–15% to account for mistakes, waste, or tricky cuts—especially around corners. If you’re doing multiple walls or an entire room, sketch out your layout first and calculate the moulding needed for each section. Having a clear plan will help you buy just the right amount without running short mid-project. And we like to purchase extra and then return any unused product!
Ready To Try It?!
This beginner-friendly DIY box moulding project proves that you don’t need power tools—or a big budget—to create a stunning transformation in any room of your home.
With a little planning and patience, you can add timeless character, modern elegance, and real value to your space.
We’ve linked all the materials we used above to make it easy for you to get started.
Have questions or want to share your own take on this project?
Drop a comment—we’d love to hear from you or see your version of this simple yet impactful upgrade!
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