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Criss-Cross Accent Wall for $30 or Less

 First off, the title of this post totally has me singing the Kriss Kross Jump song – you’ll think me later for sharing that link.

Other than Criss-Cross, I couldn’t think of a better description for this wall though – besides of course amazingly-awesome-and-total-game-changer-for-my-dining-room.

But that would have been a really long title.

Now, in true “Jenna” fashion, I discovered how and how not to do this type of accent wall.

I started out doing it one way and then ended up doing it another way.

Either way, this criss-cross accent wall was truly a huge game changer for my dining room and does make me wanna jump-jump.

Criss-Cross Accent Wall for $30 or Less via RainonaTinRoof.com #diy

Disclosure: This post is sponsored by FrogTape. However, all opinions, game-changing black and white accent walls, and references to Kriss Kross are 100% mine.  This post contains affiliate links for your shopping convenience. Click here to read my full disclosure policy.

Depending on what colors you want to use and how big your wall is, you can totally get by with $30 for creating this wall.

Yes, $30 for one huge impact.

Jump jump!

Ok, I’ll quit referencing Kriss Kross songs now. Maybe.

Materials & Supplies Needed:

Steps

Step 1

If you are cool with the current paint color on your wall and just want to add in the criss-cross, leave your wall color as is and just choose a color for the criss-cross. If not, go ahead and paint your wall. I wanted the crisp black and white combo, so I painted the wall first with my paintstick and Snowfall by Behr.

Step 2

To make the criss-cross pattern, you are essentially creating squares that you will paint around. To start it off, take a piece of 12 x 12 cardboard or 12 x 12 scrapbook paper and place it in the top center of your wall turned sideways. Trace around the cardboard / paper.

Criss-Cross Accent Wall for $30 or Less via RainonaTinRoof.com #diy

After you have traced it, place your FrogTape along your lines. You want the outside edge of your FrogTape to go right along the traced lines, therefore keeping your overall square 12 x 12, but making the white space within the tape smaller than that. Make sense?

Step 3

From here, you can go about making the rest of the pattern two ways. The first way is to place two pieces of tape along the edges of your square you just made and then trace another square, and repeat steps two and three until your wall is covered. Like this:

Criss-Cross Accent Wall for $30 or Less via RainonaTinRoof.com #diy

I did this method for a little while and then saw that my pattern was becoming quite uneven. I removed some of my uneven spots and started using a good old ruler and pencil to measure out the rest of my pattern. Either way you do it, I suggest using the 12 x 12 piece of cardboard or scrapbook paper to make your first square. The measurements below are what you should be using to get your squares right:

Criss-Cross Accent Wall for $30 or Less via RainonaTinRoof.com #diy

Just take your ruler and make tick marks, then put your tape along those marks and repeat.

Criss-Cross Accent Wall for $30 or Less via RainonaTinRoof.com #diy

Step 4

Once you have all your pattern taped out, you need to go back and even up your tape edges, so that you have perfect squares and can paint around them. I did this with an X-Acto knife and ruler.

Criss-Cross Accent Wall for $30 or Less via RainonaTinRoof.com #diy

Step 7

After your tape is squared up, take a credit card and use it to press firmly along the edges to seal the tape.

Criss-Cross Accent Wall for $30 or Less via RainonaTinRoof.com #diy

Step 6

Paint around your squares.

Criss-Cross Accent Wall for $30 or Less via RainonaTinRoof.com #diy

Step 7

After your final coat of paint, remove the tape.

And just so we remember how this space started, here’s the before:

Criss-Cross Accent Wall for $30 or Less via RainonaTinRoof.com #diy

And now:

Criss-Cross Accent Wall for $30 or Less via RainonaTinRoof.com #diy

Criss-Cross Accent Wall for $30 or Less via RainonaTinRoof.com #diy

Criss-Cross Accent Wall for $30 or Less via RainonaTinRoof.com #diy

Ya know it makes ya wanna jump jump!

Yea, I lied about the whole “I’ll stop referencing Kriss-Kross” thing.

I’m sure it seems like this took forever to do. It actually really didn’t. Once you get in the hang of marking your measurements, it goes really fast.

If you want to see the whole new dining room, you can tour it here.

Need more accent wall ideas? I’m your girl!

Cane Inspired Accent Wall for $25 or Less – a gorgeous wall that packs a big punch for not a lot of money!

Black & White Gallery Wall – one of my favorite accent walls of all time, and an easy one to do!

Easy Confetti Accent Wall – super easy and super fun accent wall!

9 Accent Walls for $30 or Less – on a tight budget? Check these out!

You know you don’t wanna miss any of this crazy.

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Comments

  1. Nicole says

    There is always a good use for Frog tape! I love your idea of an accent wall and it turned out great. I am an exceptionally messy painter so I tape EVERYTHING! I find that I actually save time because I don’t have to worry about being meticulous about cutting in. My next painting project is my guest bathroom and there will be plenty of Frog tape involved.

    Reply

  3. Mary says

    Since I’m a scaredy-cat – I would love to try a pattern paint on my laundry room cabinets. If that turned out okay – my laundry room would be my next big project.

    Reply

  10. Hope Williams says

    Oh I’m in love! I want to try a dresser top first. I’m dyslexic, sooooo, it will be a slow go until I get the brain to comprehend but I WILL get it. I’m excited to try.
    Your dining room looks beautiful and the feel of the room is perfect!

    Reply

  11. Susan M. says

    Wow, talk about a transformation!

    BTW, for me it’s Kriss Kross Applesauce! Just came back from a weekend with my 3 yr. old granddaughter and can’t tell you how many times I was told to do that when we sat down! (smile)

    I’d love to attempt a herringbone pattern at the end of a small hallway. I have my fingers crossed and thanks so much for the opportunity!

    Reply

  12. KWolff says

    We just so happen to have a big, empty wall in our dining room. It is so empty that one of our kids looked at it the other day and commented how lonely our one little piece of art looked. I have been dreaming of doing something bold.different.fun in there. This would be fantastic to do! And any time there is a product available that will make my life easier, sign me up!

    Reply

  15. Darla Bunyan says

    I am trying to figure out what I want to do with my daughter’s room. I think Chevron, but, no matter what I decide, I will use Frog Tape! I hate having to concentrate so hard on not making a mess, without tape!

    Reply

  16. Sharon says

    Game changer is right! I’m blown away by not only the change, but the whole design. Painting gold accents on your mirror, the new lamps and bowl on books… that buffet! It looks incredible.

    Reply

  24. Gypie says

    Love your dining room! I just used frog tape in foyer…did horizontal stripes…frog tape is absolutely the BEST!!! Would never use any other kind. Planning on doing guest bathroom.

    Reply

  26. Michelle Vincent says

    I love love this wall. Your dining room is stunning! I’m going to paint my guest bathroom soon and frog tape would come in so handy. Thanks for sharing your tips!

    Reply

  33. Cindy Trobaugh says

    I have a long narrow Bathroom and the Wall at the end is still Painted Paneling for now…Yuck! so I would Love to Jazz it up! Thanks Jenna

    Reply

  39. Vidhya Rao says

    I am in LOVE with this cris cross, not wait, the mirror, no wait the blue chest…well what the heck…I love them all individually and together…great taste, wonderful idea and fantastic result. I would want to do that on my powder room ceiling i guess. Thankyou for the tutorial / idea.

    Reply

  41. Jamie says

    Oh my god, I don’t know how the hell you did that!! My eyes hurt. You can come over and do that in my home. Your tut is awesome though. And I would only use Frog Tape too.
    Hugs, J.

    Reply

  44. Kristina says

    I just LOVE your blog! You inspire me! I recently attempted a chevron pattern with blue painters tape, but the tape barely stuck and the project was a disaster. I tend to shove those dud projects aside, but I really need to fix it and try again. So I guess I’ll have to buck up and buy the Frog Tape, since it clearly works great! I’m also afraid Ill cut too deep with the E-Acto knife. Can you offer any tips or tricks to keep from gauging my projects? Thanks again for the inspiration!!

    Reply

    • Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says

      Thanks so much, Kristina!! I live for comments like that! First off, I have tried the FrogTape Chevron pattern tape and it worked amazingly well! Loved it! On the X-Acto knife, multiple light cuts are the way to go to avoid deep cuts. However, if you get a small deeper cut every once in a while, they are usually not noticeable after its painted. Hope that helps!

      Reply

  45. Jeannie Garcia-Buechele says

    I have always wanted to refinish my kitchen table in black paint and do a cream chevron pattern on the top. I am not a great painter, but I am sure with the help from Frog Tape and my HomeRight paint sprayer, it will look beautiful 🙂

    Reply

  48. Rhonda Grisham says

    I am currently making LOTS of wooden signs. This would be perfect for stenciling background designs onto them!!

    Reply

  49. Joyce T. says

    I’ve been thinking about a “picket fence” on my accent wall in the kitchen. The background color is already painted—-just need the pickets!

    Reply

  53. Vanessa says

    Wow, what a gorgeous and bold wall. I love how it turned out and you did a great job. Thank you for sharing at Dishing it and Digging it link party.

    Reply

  54. Karren Haller says

    What a great way to spruce up plain walls, I can see this in my bedroom with the help of my son!!
    Thanks for sharing on Oh my Heartsie Girls WW this week!
    Have a great week!

    Reply

  58. Linda says

    That turned out very impressive! Thanks for sharing at What’d You Do This Weekend? Hope to see you again next week!

    Wishes for tasty dishes,
    Linda

    Reply

  59. Wendy Ewing says

    Jenna,
    Can you give instructions on how you did your random circles black and white wall? I love itt!! ?

    Reply

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