Creating a Slat Wall in your home can be a simple DIY project. With these simple to follow directions you will have your very own wood slat wall in no time.
How to Create a Wood Slat Wall
One of the things I have been wanting to do for a long time is to create a slat wall in our bonus room!
It gives so much texture and depth to a wall in a room and can easily be done in a weekend with the right tools.
This step by step slat wall tutorial will take you through all the steps to make your very own wood slat wall!
For more step by step DIY projects be sure to follow us on Instagram at @howwedo208!
Getting Materials
When it comes to any project you want to make sure you have all the supplies you need before you start! There is nothing more frustrating than starting a project and having to run to the store because you forgot something.
Supplies Needed
- Hobby Boards. Mine were Pine boards. I used boards that were 3 feet tall, ½ inch thick, and 6 inches wide. I ripped these down to 1 1/2 inches wide.
- Laser Level
- Wood conditioner
- Stain. I used Minwax Early American
- Minwax Wood Putty
- Saw horses (optional, but so handy!)
- Several foam brushes
- Brad Nailer
- Brad Nails
- Trim pieces for the top of the wall.
While I don’t cover the actual painting of this room in this tutorial I have had a lot of questions on the color of the wall. It is Iron Ore from Sherwin Williams and the Stain is Minwax Early American.
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Step by Step Guide to Creating a Wood Slat Wall
- To begin, you’ll want to determine how tall you want your slat wall to be. I wanted to create a slat wainscoting on the wall so the 3 feet high boards worked perfectly and required no trimming for the height. You will also want to determine how far apart your slats will be and how wide they will be. My slats were 1 ½ inches wide (ripped them down on my table saw); I chose to space my slats ½ inch apart which worked great especially with my trick I am going to show you. Once you figure out this, decide how much material you need.
- Once material is bought and cut, you will want to use wood conditioner on the wood. This helps allow the stain to penetrate the wood for better coverage rather than a splotchy look.
- Once the wood is conditioned, apply the stain within 2 hours. I highly recommend conditioning the wood and staining in groups rather than all at once. More staining tips in the tricks and tips section.
- When you are ready to start I recommend starting on the open part of the wall. That way if you do have to rip a piece smaller it is hidden in the corner rather than right next to the doorway or big opening.
- You want to make sure your first piece is plumb with the edge and straight. I highly recommend you use a laser level to ensure it is straight. Use this throughout your project. Once plumb and straight, use a brad nailer to nail it to the wall.
- I chose a ½ inch spacing in between each slat for the slat wall. I then can turn an extra slat sideways and use that for my spacer since it is ½ inch thick. Just line it right up with the piece you just nailed and place another slat right next to it the correct way. Ensure it is level and nail it.
- Continue to do this as you attach all the pieces to your slat wall.
- If there are obstacles and outlets there are different things you can do. We decided to whittle the back of the board to fit over the outlet.
- Once all the boards are in place, attach your trim piece(s) to the top. I used 1x2s and laid one flat against the wall on top of the slats, and another sitting sideways on top of the first trim piece to create a ledge.
- Once the trim is attached, go through with wood putty and fill the holes. Since we used stain we needed to use wood putty. Miniwax has wood putty that is specific to their color stains, so read which one is best for the stain you choose.
To see the entire process, be sure to watch our Bonus Room Highlight video on Instagram!
Tips For Creating a Slat Wall and Staining
- Be sure your boards are straight. You need to be really picky when choosing a board. Oftentimes I have to go to multiple places to find enough straight boards. This is worth the effort.
- Be sure to test the stain first in a small spot to make sure you like it prior to staining all of them and then realizing it’s not what you thought it would be.
- When staining be sure you always use a wood conditioner. This helps the stain go on evenly.
- Stain your boards in groups for a more efficient use of time. Staining each board individually will take a lot longer. I love using saw horses because it makes staining so much easier.
- The first board you nail must be plumb! That is the key to a great looking slat wall.
- Be sure you shake your stain. Never stir it.
- Stain in the direction of the grain of the wood.
- If you want a darker stain color, leave the stain on longer before wiping off the excess or you can do a second coat at least 2 hours later.
What does ripped mean when you are cutting boards?
Oftentimes I will say I ripped the board as we did with our original boards. This basically means I cut the board lengthwise in the direction of the grain.
There you have it! How to install a slat wall! If you like video tutorials be sure to watch the entire process on Instagram. Be sure to tag me on Instagram in your finished projects so I can see how amazing they turn out! #howwedoandyoucantoo
