Before you do anything, make sure that the surface of your wall has a moisture barrier. The mortar that you’ll be using to construct your accent wall needs water to cure.
A wall without a moisture barrier can draw the water out of your mortar and interfere with the curing process. For us, this was easy because our wall was already painted.
Next, nail, screw or staple wire mesh onto your wall. Attach securely at the studs. You’ll want to cover the entire work area with this mesh. This won’t be seen in the end so perfection is not required.