How to Cover Pipes on a Wall

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Pipes are a necessary feature for every home, but leaving them exposed on a wall can take away from the overall aesthetic. If you want to cover your pipes, it can be hard to find a way without doing a whole room renovation. Fortunately, you can do a few home projects to either cover or disguise your pipes to make your walls look the way you want them to.

Method 1
Method 1 of 2:

Disguising Your Pipes

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  1. [1] Find a paint color that matches your walls and buy a can of it. Use a paint brush to add some color to your pipes so that they don’t stand out so much against your wall. [2]

    Tip: If you can’t find the exact color of your walls, scrape off a small chip of paint with a box cutter and take it into a hardware store to get color matched.

  2. You can purchase a wooden or plastic cover for your pipes at a hardware store to match your decor. Spray some adhesive spray over your pipe and wrap your covering around it completely. Cut off any excess with a box cutter or a utility knife to make your pipe look like a decoration. [4]
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  3. Find a simple wooden shelf that you can attach to your walls that spans the width of your pipes. Measure how far your pipes stick out of your wall, then cut a square into your shelf large enough for the pipes. Hang your shelf up with screws around the pipes, then use it to store laundry supplies, tools, or board games. [5]
    • This is a great way to add more storage space to your garage or basement.
  4. If you have radiator pipes near your baseboards, find a piece of furniture with thick legs. Place the furniture in front of the wall, but be careful not to lean the furniture against the pipes in case they get hot. [6]
    • If you have woodworking skills, you can also build a piece of furniture to fit around your pipes by making cutouts in the back that fit around them.
  5. Find a houseplant that stands up tall, like a money tree or an umbrella plant, or use a climbing plant, like ivy. Set the plant in a pot in front of your pipes to distract the eye. [7]
    • You can also hang plants from your ceiling if your pipes go all the way up your wall.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 2:

Covering the Pipes with Wood

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  1. Use a tape measure to find the measurement of how tall your pipes are. Then, measure how wide your pipes are so you can create an accurate covering for them. [8]
  2. Measure from the wall out to the front of the pipes and write that number down. This will tell you how much your wood needs to stick out from the wall. [9]
    • Try to make your measurements exact so that your wood piece fits snugly around the pipes.
  3. Depending on how much your pipes stick out, you can use 2 x 4s or something skinnier. Mark the height of your pipes on each board and use a table or hand saw to cut them down to size. [10]
    • Once you cut the first piece of wood, you can use it as a guide for the next 2.
  4. Use wood glue to attach these boards together so that they form a rectangle with 1 open side. Clamp the boards together while they dry to keep them in place. [11]
    • Let the wood glue dry overnight before you use your boards again.
  5. Place the wooden boards over your pipes so that they are flush with the ground and the ceiling. Push the boards up against the wall so they cover the pipes completely, then use caulk to attach the boards to the wall. [12]
    • You can find caulk at most hardware stores.
  6. Find the paint color that you used to paint your walls with and paint a layer onto your wooden boards. If you have wooden panels on your walls, you can stain the wood to match the color instead. [13]

    Tip: If you have baseboards or moulding, you can cut the wooden boards so they sit on top or underneath of your baseboards and moulding.

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Expert Q&A

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  • Question
    How do you cover water pipes on the wall?
    Kanika Khurana
    Interior Designer
    Kanika Khurana is an Interior Designer and the Owner of Kanika Design. With over 12 years of experience, Kanika specializes in remodeling, refurnishing, and color consulting. Kanika holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from San Francisco State University, a Redesign and Home Staging Certification, and an Associate Degree in Business Administration from Cañada College.
    Kanika Khurana
    Interior Designer
    Expert Answer
    All you have to do is paint the pipes the same color as the wall or ceiling. There you go, the pipes essentially go away! However, if you want to bring out more character and use the pipes in the design of the room, you can always paint them a complementary color.
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      Tips

      • Exposed pipes can add an industrial feel to your home. If all else fails, make your pipes a feature element of the room by painting them a bright, eye-catching color, like yellow or white.
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      • If you want to hide pipes on an outdoor wall , you can paint them a color that matches the building, install a pipe cover, or disguise the pipe with plants.
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      Things You’ll Need

      Covering the Pipes with Wood

      • Measuring tape
      • Pencil
      • 3 boards
      • Wood glue
      • Metal clamps
      • Caulk
      • Paint
      • Paint brush

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      References

      1. ↑ Kanika Khurana. Interior Designer. Expert Interview. 9 October 2020.
      2. ↑ https://www.bobvila.com/slideshow/exposed-10-tips-for-showing-off-ducts-pipes-beams-and-more-47284#contemporary-kitchen
      3. ↑ Kanika Khurana. Interior Designer. Expert Interview. 9 October 2020.
      4. ↑ https://www.homestratosphere.com/make-exposed-pipes-chic/
      5. ↑ https://www.homestratosphere.com/make-exposed-pipes-chic/
      6. ↑ https://www.homestratosphere.com/make-exposed-pipes-chic/
      7. ↑ https://www.homestratosphere.com/make-exposed-pipes-chic/
      8. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ps--eBUfrv8&feature=youtu.be&t=21
      9. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ps--eBUfrv8&feature=youtu.be&t=21
      1. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ps--eBUfrv8&feature=youtu.be&t=32
      2. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ps--eBUfrv8&feature=youtu.be&t=90
      3. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KRvvGtjVPuI&feature=youtu.be&t=156
      4. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KRvvGtjVPuI&feature=youtu.be&t=324

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