The DIY coffered ceiling we just put up in our new nursery seriously makes this look like the nicest room in the house. We did another DIY beadboard ceiling in our stairwell and hallway last year, but this one did even better, thanks to experience and better products from Woodgrain.
Click here to pin this project to your Pinterest board!
Thank you to Woodgrain for sponsoring this post. All opinions are our own.
DIY Coffered Ceiling
We partnered with Woodgrain using their Finished Elegance line for this project just like we did with the DIY wainscoting we shared a couple of weeks ago.
This DIY coffered ceiling design was actually fairly easy in the grand scheme of things and way easier than in the stairwell since we didn't have to balance ladders on the stairs.
love this project? check out all of our nursery projects here!
Here's how we made our nursery's DIY coffered ceiling:
Click here to get this whole project in a handy printable PDF!
The Bead Board
We started by sketching out our ceiling with exact measurements, then cutting 10 squares of bead board to fit.
Nine identical squares for our square room and one different for the entry nook.
We attached the squares using construction adhesive and our nail gun. This made it very easy to install.
We had to cut holes for the fan hookup and the air vent, but otherwise, this was an easy process.
It definitely looks worse before it looks better!
Crown Molding
We used Woodgrain's 5 ¼ inch crown molding all the way around the room.
Their molding is flexible and light so it's easy to handle when you're trying to nail it in place.
We recommend you start with a long whole piece and work from there. This is easy to just nail into place.
Beams
Woodgrain has this awesome flat molding in various widths (we went with six inches wide) that we used to create faux beams for the coffered ceiling.
These butted right up against the crown molding nicely with their flat edge.
We started by doing long beams in one direction, then cutting the appropriately sized short beams to run across the other direction.
This created our 10 squares in a ceiling grid pattern.
Finishing
We spent a good amount of time caulking and sanding all the corners, nail holes, and edges to make sure everything looked as seamless as possible.
Woodgrain makes their own color-matched caulk that works great with their pieces of molding.
It blends into the color of the crown molding especially well.
Since the bead board was an off white though, we used our HomeRight paint sprayer to give the entire ceiling one coat of an off-the-shelf white.
The Final Product
Look how amazing this ceiling turned out y'all!
This DIY coffered ceiling really wasn't that hard at all. It took a couple of phases, but we had all the bead board, crown molding and beams up in one day.
It helped that I had cut the bead board pieces the night before.
Then we just caulked and sanded during the week and painted when we painted the wainscoting.
Before:
After:
Obviously you're getting a little sneak peek in these final photos of the fan and wallpaper as well, but we wanted to give you the full effect.
I love how much architectural detail this project added to this basic space!
Click here to pin this project to your Pinterest board!
For now, thanks again to our partners at Woodgrain for the amazing products they have that we were able to use for our nursery DIY coffered ceiling.
Their Finished Elegance line is great for the DIY home renovation crowd.
The products are really nice, we love that they come finished and how easy they are to cut and work with. We highly recommend Finished Elegance by Woodgrain for your next molding project!
Be sure to click over and check out our Jungle Theme Nursery Reveal!
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Hey there, I'm Sean, the woodworking enthusiast and builder behind CharlestonCrafted.com! Since 2012, I've been sharing the magic of turning raw materials into beautiful creations. I love teaching others the art and satisfaction of woodworking and DIY. I try to inspire fellow crafters to make something extraordinary out of nothing at all.
Erlene says
Wow, that is a great transformation. I love the interest that the coffered ceiling gives the room.
Sean says
Thanks so much, Erlene!
Stefanie says
Thank you so much for your post. I have been looking for a pretty alternative to covering our popcorn ceiling with shiplap and this is it! The beadboard coffered ceiling looks great! How large is your nursery? What dimensions did you cut the beadboard? Our kitchen is a large L shape with a dining area in the L, so trying to figure out how to do this and get the upscale look you achieved.
Thanks again!
Morgan says
Our nursery is about 10x10 foot plus the little nook by the door. We divided the inches by 3 to have the "beams" be evenly spaced. Good luck!!
Penny says
My Goodness.... Amazing......Amazing........
Stunning transformation........
You both should be very proud of what you have achieved
Loved it !!!!!!!
Sean says
Thank you so much Penny! We really love this room!
Jeff says
The ceiling and room turned out awesome. I am not a fan of how the flat molding butted right up against the crown molding. I think the crown molding could of been notched where they met to make a more appealing look. To me, It looks a little cheesy.
Sean says
Hey Jeff - you definitely could do that. The thickness of the flat molding is equal to the thickness of the flat portion of the top of the crown, so it actually matches up really nicely. However, if it bothered you, you could notch it out.
Thanks so much for stopping by!
Deb Knaff says
I don't have anything new to say that hasn't been already said here other than you just deserve more kudos for such a beautiful job well done. You should be so proud of your handiwork!!!!!
Sean says
Thank you so much that is so kind!
Lauren says
Your ceiling looks amazing! Could you please tell me which paint sprayer you used, and the type of paint? It has a nice sheen to it - I'm curious if it's something other than a standard flat paint. Thanks!
Sean says
Hi Lauren! Thanks so much for stopping by. We have used several paint sprayers but HomeRight brand is our favorite.
Ours: https://amzn.to/2rp0QdZ
Paint-wise, this is off the shelf white (I know! scandalous!) it's the same semi-gloss sheen that we use for all of our molding!
Susan KimBALL says
Where did you purchase that wallpaper? Love the room!! I want to recreate it!
Sean says
It's from Target! Here's the post all about it: https://www.charlestoncrafted.com/2018/09/10/how-to-hang-peel-stick-wallpaper/
Susan says
One other question... what is the width of the crown molding?
Sean says
Hi Susan! It's 5 and a quarter inch!
Jennifer says
I just saw your video on YouTube. Did you mark out where the joists were in the room and nailed the sheets up attaching at the joist or did you just nail into the sheet rock. I definitely want to give this a try so any additional tips would be great! Also, looking back would there have been something you would have done differently? Is it holding up?
Again thanks so much for providing the content!
Sean says
Hey Jennifer! Thanks for reaching out! We didn't nail to the joists. We used construction adhesive and the nail gun, shooting nails at opposing angles in each spot, spaced thoroughly across the beam. They are holding up great (I'm sitting underneath them looking at them now!) and look amazing. Definitely one of our favorite projects we've ever done! I would say the key thing is making sure your caulking is done well at the intersections of beams. That would be the main thing I would have done. I would have done another, smoother layer if we had had another day before painting, but we were running short on time thanks to the bun in the oven!
LaVonne Paul says
Great job! (you sure made it look easy). Where did you find light weight beadboard panels? My husband has neck issues, so light weight is good....lol. I went to Woodgrain's site, but only found millwork. Thanks for any info you can share.
LaVonne
Sean says
Hey LaVonne! Glad you like the project. The beadboard wasn’t from Woodgrain. You can get it at Lowe’s or Home Depot. The beams and molding were from Woodgrain. If your husband has a bad back, cutting the beadboard into smaller sections will help!
Suzi says
Do you know how dangerous that popcorn ceiling is? Popcorn is a friable material — meaning it is very easy to damage. Friable asbestos materials release toxic dust at the slightest disturbance. Inhaling asbestos dust is what can lead to serious diseases such as asbestosis, lung cancer and mesothelioma. It should have been removed first because every nail/staple you used caused the dust to filter into your nursery which anyone entering the room will be breathing in. In addition, the ceiling fan and heat/air conditioning will circulate this dust throughout your home. I hope you are able to remove the asbestos in your home before too much damage has occurred.
Sean says
Thanks for the detailed info Suzi from asbestos.com. Our house was built in 1993 and therefore not asbestos (you should test anything built prior to 1980). Thanks for your concern.
Lori says
Hi I love your project. I want to do the same ceiling. Do you have a total as to how much it cost to do the coffered ceiling?
Thank you
Morgan says
Hi Lori! The cost would depend on the size of your ceiling and the tools if you needed to purchase them. This was about $150-200 in supplies. I hope that helps! Please let me know if you have any more questions.
LORI says
Thank you!
Judith says
Hi, I am totally loving your project. How did you cutout the fan and vent areas on your bead boards?
Sean says
We made the bead board piece that would be in that area, then measured over from the wall where those holes would need to be, then just used a jigsaw to cut them out!
Rochelle says
Hello, did you cut the bead board to be a perfect square? I can't tell from the video! Thanks!
Sean says
Hey Rochelle, yes we cut each piece to be a 3’x3’ square. This made it easier to handle and put into place. Then we covered the seams with the beams and crown.
Becky says
Did you cut the bead board to make seams fall on stringers/beams to be able to nail into?
Morgan says
Hi Becky - we cut the beadboard to make a grid so that the seams would line up evenly.
Sallie says
How big of an area did you do? What was the total price? Thank you
Sean says
The room is 10x10. Price is roughly indicated in post.
Blaike says
This looks great! What is your ceiling height?
Sean says
We have 8 foot ceilings in that room.
Kate says
You say that you sanded after putting the boards up. What are you sanding? Would you sand before putting them up?
Sean says
We just sanded the wood filler where we had seams and nail holes.
Marilyn says
Best project on home talk !!!!
Well done .. It is stunning.
helene says
yes, it's lovely but not exactly a little diy crafty project. You really need a good drill, a good saw and hammer and a good husband to get all that done. Congrats on a beautiful job well done
Morgan says
It's not a small project but it's very doable DIY. We used a saw and a nail gun. And no, you don't need a husband to get a project done, though it is helpful to have a second set of hands. Thanks for stopping by!
Lara says
This is a great look! Thanks for sharing!
Deborah says
I love this ceiling. I despise popcorn ceilings they are so disgusting and cleaning them is a major headache. Thank you for sharing this great idea.
steven gurtz says
looks great really love that look so much better like it everywhere.
Sean says
Thanks!
Ivory says
Wow, what beautiful transformation. I love how it turned out. we plan to do this, but sure when, because of the coronavirus. Thanks for sharing, and stay safe and healthy.
Valerie D Newell says
I have looked at dozens of DIY coffered ceilings and your project is the one we’ve decided on. Two questions...We have low ceilings like your room, do you feel the beadboard makes the ceilings feel lower versus smooth planks? Also, I’m VERY imitated by the measuring process. We have a ceiling fan that I want to be in the middle of the board and I have no idea what size boards I need. It’s a standard rectangle room. Any advice on how to figure out the widths my boards? Can I just tell you my measurements and you figure it out for me? Just kidding, sorta. Thanks for any help.
Morgan says
Hi Valerie - these aren't low ceilings, just standard 8 foot. The beadboard adds such a minuscule amount - a few centimeters - it definitely does not feel lower. It feels much lighter and brighter compared to the popcorn which was shadowy and dusty. As for the widths of your sections, odd numbers look best. I would suggest dividing your room into a grid of 9, unless it's large and then it could be a 3x4 or 3x5 grid.
GREER FUDGE says
Hello what kind of staple gun did you use in the video and what brand?
Sean says
We used the Ryobi 18v brad nailer. You can check it out here- https://amzn.to/3d109ha
Scott T says
Hello Looks great! wanting to do this upstairs in the living room. What sprayer did you use? Im looking them up on HomeDepot and most of spotty reviews. Thanks and keep it up!
Sean says
We use the HomeRight Super Finish Max. Looks like it's not currently available on Amazon, but their Finish Max sprayer is very comparable- https://amzn.to/3c8IRNJ
Heather says
How did you cut out the circle for the fan?
Sean says
Measure where the hole needs to be, then mark that area on the piece of beadboard. Then we cut the circle out with a jigsaw.
Chrissy says
Hey it looks so great! Just curious- what size finish nails did you use?
Sean says
I believe they were 2"
Nan says
What model Ryobi nail gun did you use?
Looks light and easy to maneuver.
Sean says
Yep, it's great! It's the RYOBI 18 gauge brad nailer- https://homedepot.sjv.io/exDeO
Elizabeth Martin says
Could you give the exact product numbers for the Woodgrain 5 1/4" crown moulding and the 6" trim? The HD website lists so many!
thanks!
Sean says
Hey Elizabeth, I updated the post with the links, but the crown moulding is https://homedepot.sjv.io/e67bO and the flat boards are https://homedepot.sjv.io/Gv91m. Hope that helps!
Elizabeth says
Can you tell me the room dimensions ?
Length x width of the room?
Thanks!!
Morgan says
Sorry, I'm not sure! It's a fairly small bedroom.
Elizabeth says
I asked about room dimensions because I like the look of the proportion of ceiling squares to the total room and would like to mimic that in my condo living room which is 14 x 14.5 feet. Trying to gauge how many squares to do, factoring in efficient use of bead board sheets. Thanks!
Jeff Ellman says
Excellent job, looks very nice!
I would have coped the inside corners of the crown molding, but the caulk should suffice.
Congrats!
Olivia says
Any tips for which order to start putting the beadboard on the ceiling? Notice a few gaps in between them, which obviously is covered up with the boards after. Just concerned that we might do our best to measure, but when we start putting them up, we'll end up with some overhang, and unevenness and want to avoid.
Morgan says
If you have a square room, I would start in one of the corners and work one direction. Then start the next row and line up the ridges in the bead board. If you have a rectangular room, do the same thing. If you have odd nooks in your room, it might be best to save that for last so you can get as many perfect rows in place as you can, then work into the nooks.
Terri says
I have been searching for ceiling update ideas for months and this is IT! I will be going to Home Depot tomorrow to get started. Thank you sooooo much for sharing this information. I appreciate it. I don’t have popcorn ceilings but live in an old house that needs some TLC.
Morgan says
Thanks Terri! I hope it turns out great!!
Peggy Hendrix says
Thsi is absolutely wonderful!! We are going to to this in our new dining room - living room combo. I have 2 question though. Now it's 2021-Has your ceiling held up during these 3 years? Also, did you ONLY use the brad nailer? It seems like you'd need to put at least some screws or long nails into trusses to be sure of nothing coming loose. I would love to read a reply from you sometime soon, as we'll be starting our project soon. Thanks SO much!!
I posted this comment on the Youtube post but I never can find if someone responds! so I thought I'd put it here and maybe you could email me your reply. Thanks again!
Peggy
Morgan says
Hi Peggy, we used the nails and also construction adhesive to keep everything in place. We no longer live in that house, but it held up until we left with no issues whatsoever. But you certainly should feel free to add any additional support that would make you feel comfortable as it will be in your home.