We all seem to be getting a little bit better at interior design as we continue to spend more and more time at home. Or perhaps we’re simply making a conscious effort to improve as a result of realizing how bad we once were. That’s really lovely, too. Trying to be a little bit better every day is what life is about, and sometimes that means ditching the “live laugh love” aesthetic (or even better, the taped-to-the-wall Pulp Fiction poster
aesthetic) and elevating our living space. After all, the interior of our homes is as much a reflection of who we are as the clothes we wear, and one of the most fulfilling things you can do is design a space that feels both distinctive and fashionable.
Trends continue to draw inspiration from the entire world and the 20th century as they develop. Our Pinterest and Instagram feeds seem to float with a blend of midcentury maturity and Scandinavian minimalism, but it’s not easy to create the effortlessly whimsical interiors that all the influencers possess. Being distinctive without blending too many styles and losing the cohesiveness is difficult, but on the other hand, coming up with a simple design that doesn’t just feel like something out of a Wayfair or West Elm catalog is difficult in and of itself.
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How To Build A Slat Wall
We built this striking slat accent wall at the top of our stairs, and I’m going to explain how we did it here! I’ve loved this wood and black slat wall look for a very long time and was eager to find a place in our house to do it. Small nooks are my favorite place to be daring because I think they’re the ideal setting for a lively accent.
Paint a wall black, then attach boards to it at regular intervals to create the general look of this paneling design. There are many possible variations because you can be really creative with it. In order to create a separation pattern on my wall, I used a combination of vertical, horizontal, and diagonal narrow boards, mostly spacing them evenly apart.
Materials Needed:
- 1x2x8 boards: Home Depot (Note 1: Although I only used 1x2s, you can build a slat wall with any size boards you like and even change the size as you go. Note 2: To achieve an even spacing between the planks, you really need them to be straight and unwarped, so I advise purchasing good grade lumber for this project. Third point: I needed 21 1x2x8s to build my wall. Reminder 4: Before using your boards, make sure they are straight; they cannot be warped.)
- Paneling adhesive: Home Depot | Amazon (and adhesive gun)
- Painter’s tape: Home Depot | Amazon (if you’re using 1x2s like I did, then I suggest getting ~1.5″ painter’s tape as it is close to the size of the 1x2s and you can use it for templating)
- Black paint: I used BM Black Panther (matte), but you can use any background color you like
- Stain: I used Special Walnut
Determine the Amount And Type Of Plywood
I had to do a little math (which strangely is one of my favorite parts of my projects) to figure out how much plywood I would need. My slats and spacing needed to be the same width. I selected 1″ wood slats and spaces for ease of planning. I calculated the total number of slats I would require by multiplying the wall’s width by two.
I bought two pieces of 3/4″ x 4″ x 8″ birch plywood so that I could have some extra slats and account for waste from the saw blade cuts. Since I would be staining it, I decided to use birch plywood. Any plywood that is stain-grade will do.
Cut The Plywood
When I bought the plywood, I had my neighborhood hardware store cut it in half. My ability to manage it improved as a result.
Fortunately, my husband gave me a little assistance when I was cutting the plywood. Running plywood through a table saw is a lot easier with a second pair of hands! To make 1″ slats, we cut both plywood sheets.
Working with power tools obviously requires a high level of safety. Use a push stick or pushblock when using the table saw, and it’s crucial to keep your hands away from the saw blade. When we reached the final few slats on each piece of plywood, we took extra care.
Sand The Plywood
I began by sanding the plywood’s cut edges. Since I knew it would be nearly impossible to make the sharp edges smooth, I mostly wanted to get rid of them. My orbital sander worked best when all the pieces were lined up and sanded simultaneously.
I used a sanding sponge to hand sand the edges to smooth them out after sanding the top and sides. I skipped sanding the plywood’s face that would be in contact with the wall.
Paint The Wall
I’m worried about the paint’s quality because the slats would cover the majority of the paint. I painted the accent wall with two quick coats of a cheap matte black paint. Before putting in the wood slats, I gave the paint time to dry.
Stain The Plywood
I sometimes question the point of straying from my go-to products.. I decided that I wanted a light stain, so I bought Golden Oak for the stain. I tested some plywood in the room and ultimately came to the conclusion that it was too golden when compared to our dark floors. I therefore chose Special Walnut, my preferred stain (which I should have made the decision for myself in the first place).
I began by placing several slats side by side. The two cut sides received the first coat of stain using a paintbrush. Compared to a rag, the brush was much more effective at getting stain into all of the cracks. The stain was really sucked up by these sides.
Conclusion
To help you design the wood slat feature wall of your dreams, here are three options for three budget ranges. This style is the ideal fusion of classic design and contemporary aesthetics, and it will unquestionably transform your home, whether it is the living room, bedroom, office, or another space.