DIY Textured Wall Art with Gold Leaf
An Easy, Elegant Project to Elevate Your Home in 2025
If you’ve been craving something a little more for your walls — something neutral but rich, textured yet modern — this DIY textured wall art with gold leaf is your sign to create it.
Whether you’re a seasoned DIYer or just dipping your brush into creativity, this project is both beginner-friendly and seriously stunning. I’ll walk you through how to add depth with joint compound, where to place your gold foil, and how to achieve a professional finish using resin.
Why You’ll Love This Project
Minimal yet luxe
Great for modern, organic, or art deco-inspired spaces
Customizable in color and size
It looks high-end without the price tag
Supplies You’ll Need:
Wooden panel (I used 11x14, but any size works)
Elmer’s glue (optional for preventing cracks)
Step-by-Step Tutorial
1. Prep Your Panel
Start by applying a layer of gesso to your wooden panel. This primes the surface, helping everything adhere.
2. Apply Joint Compound
Spread a thin layer of joint compound across the panel. Don’t go too thick — you want texture but not weight.
Tip: Add a small amount of Elmer’s glue to the compound to reduce cracking as it dries.
Now, create your design! Use a comb, scraper, or spatula to carve in lines, curves, or abstract shapes. This step takes a little trial and error — I took my time here (and that’s okay).
Let it dry overnight.
3. Add Gold Leaf
Once the texture is fully dry, apply a thin layer of sizing (adhesive) to the areas you want to highlight with gold. Let it sit for 5–8 minutes until tacky.
Place the gold leaf over the tacky sections and use a brush or stipple sponge to press and smooth it gently. Save your gold leaf scraps in a jar — they’re perfect for other projects!
4. Seal with Varnish (Optional)
To protect your gold leaf, brush on a light layer of clear varnish. Let it dry for at least 30 minutes.
5. Paint Your Base
Use white acrylic paint over the entire piece — or leave the natural texture if you love the raw look.
6. Resin Finish
This is where the magic happens. I used 4 oz of epoxy resin, carefully taped off the panel’s edges, and poured it slowly across the top.
Let it self-level for about 10–15 minutes, then remove the tape so the resin can flow to the edges. Add painter’s tape to the bottom to catch drips.
I applied two coats to ensure the entire surface, including the textured parts, was fully coated.
Between each coat, use a torch gun to remove air bubbles.
Let the piece dry overnight — and you’ll wake up to a gallery-worthy masterpiece.
Styling Tips
This piece works beautifully in:
Modern organic entryways
Art deco-style bookshelves
Minimalist living rooms with warm neutrals
Layered gallery walls for contrast
You can hang it or lean it against a shelf or mantel. If you use a larger panel, it makes a beautiful statement above a console or bed.
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