Discover the ultimate DIY guide to creating a captivating interior stone wall in your home. Unleash your creativity and enhance your living space with our step-by-step instructions, tips, and tricks. Get ready to add a touch of timeless elegance and rustic charm to your interiors.
DIY Interior Stone Wall
This stone wall is what dreams are made of, folks! We have done many projects in our current home, like adding molding to walls, adding beadboard to a bathroom, zellige tile, and I love them all. But this one was the one I was most excited about by far. And the bonus is that my husband, Chad, is a skilled stone mason, so I lucked out. He has done hundreds of projects over the last 18 years, so putting him to work in our home is always a lot of fun. Seeing him do his thing, whether it is a brick project or a stone project, is quite something. And believe me when I tell you this stone project is just plain amazing! I love how it completely transformed my living room. I know you will love this look in your home, too. Want to give it a try?
Today, we’ll take you through all the steps necessary to get this look. Let’s get started and enjoy this fantastic transformation together!
Supplies for DIY Stone Wall
- Rough Cut Casablanca Eldorado Stone
- Lath
- Staple gun
- Wire Cutters
- Masonry Mortar
- Wheelbarrow
- Mortar hoe
- Notched trowel
- Masonry saw or grinder (If you won’t be doing multiple stone projects, I’d recommend just using a grinder)
- Masonry trowels
- Aluminum Masonry Hawk
- Mortar for grout in color of your choice
- Grout bag
- Tuck pointer
- Masonry brush
How to Install a DIY Stone Wall
- Create a visual plan for your stone by assessing your overall pieces.
- Begin stapling the lath to the wall. Be sure to wear gloves-it’s pretty sharp stuff.
- Cut the lath to fit your wall with wire cutters.
- Be sure it sits pretty flat with no bumps on the wall.
- Once the lathe is up, apply a scratch coat – this is the layer of mortar that fills the gaps of the lathe and will allow for a stronger stone adhesion.
- Keep in mind wet mortar bonds well to dry mortar.
- Use a notched trowel to add more texture to the wet mortar.
- Using your flat edge, scratch the wall to create grooves. This helps when you go to mortar the stone on the wet mortar – it will then seep into this dried mortar, creating an adhesion. This helps it dry quicker.
- This step takes several hours to dry, so keep that in mind.
- Now, with mortar mixed, stone options need to be laid out.
- Begin at the windows and begin wrapping around the corners.
- This process is like a puzzle. Pick a stone, and do a test fit to see if you like it. Use a masonry saw if needed. (These stones are pretty thick so be prepared to cut back some as needed.)
- If you like it, apply mortar and attach the stone to the wall.
- As you apply, wiggle the stone and don’t let go of it until you feel it grab securely.
- Patiently add your stones to your wall, taking time and enjoying the process. It is really quite satisfying.
- How big your joints are is up to you. I wanted a slightly over-grouted look, but you decide what you like best.
- Once all stones are laid, apply your grout to fill in your gaps using a squeeze bag.
- Let the grout sit for several minutes to start to dry & then tuck point & brush it to smooth the grout.
- Mold it around the stone.
- Brush excess.
- Lastly, wipe your wall of any debris and be prepared to hear all the compliments for your hard work creating this epic stone wall in your home.
What is the Perfect Consistency for Your Mortar?
Properly mixed mortar ready for use should have a consistency comparable to thick peanut butter. Test its thickness by seeing how it adheres to the trowel or mixing paddle. Scoop some of the mortar onto the tool and tip the tool 90 degrees. If it falls off immediately, the mix is too thin. When remixing after the first use, let it sit for a few minutes. After about 3 to 5 minutes you will be able to tell that it is starting to set up a bit. Mix it again, and it will stay longer, prolonging the time you have to work with less stress.
Tips For Selecting the Right Stone to Fit
- Lay your stones out on the floor creating a visual, but be patient and flexible.
- Test a stone in a few spots to see what works, and remember it is okay if it doesn’t.
- Select a new one.
- Repeat over and over and over.
Things to Keep in Mind for Your Stone Wall
Our wall had windows in this space. They did not have trim around them, to begin with, but they did have window sills. We removed the sills. Use cornerstones to wrap around. Be sure the stones meet up directly to the window frame. If it doesn’t meet perfectly, that is okay. Fill in that gap with grout. This creates a cohesive look and allows the window to still be fully functional. We also removed the baseboards to have the stone go entirely from floor to ceiling for a seamless, complete look.
Where to Look for Great Living Room Decor to Add to Your Stone Wall Space?
Many people have loved the living room decor I used to truly make this space as beautiful as I knew it could be when I first saw this gutted old ranch home. I love each of these items so much, and you will too. Check out all of these gorgeous items I found on Amazon. If you love the look of our couch and accent chair, check out RC Willey. You will love their selection!
The word I have heard the most when anyone sees this finished DIY Stone Wall is WOW! And I feel the exact same way. WOW indeed! There is just something so beautiful about decorating a space with interior stone in your home design. It’s such a gorgeous way to transform your space, and it’s a very classic and timeless element. If you are ready to tackle this project, be sure to check out my video tutorial on how to install an Interior stone wall. Follow along with me on Instagram for my daily project process, and be sure to tag me in your finished projects so I can see how amazing they are! #howwedoandyoucantoo
