.png){kind=small}
One Room Challenge: How to Build a Slat Wall
We've reached week 7 of the One Room Challenge. The time has flown by! While we haven't maintained the pace we intended, we have made tremendous progress. The slat wall project was much more time consuming than we anticipated. Let's not confuse the amount of time with the level of difficulty. Don't get me wrong it was challenging, but we were able to minimize the level of difficulty by being honest with ourselves. We knew what we're capable of - thus we found inspo on Beyoncé's internet and tweaked it to fit our skill level. WHOOP! There it is!
BEFORE
TOOLS
SUPPLIES
Now that you have all of your tools and supplies, let's start DIYing!
Step 1: SAND AND STAIN
Stan your plywood and 1x2s. We opted to stain prior to putting anything on the wall so we didn't have to worry about dripping.
We mixed Special Walnut and Golden Pecan in a 50/50 ratio. We used a paint brush to apply the stain to the plywood and 1x2s. We ultimately added about 2 coats remembering to spread the stain as thing as possible. We didn't stain all of the 1x2s at the same time, which is why there are variations in the color.
Step 2: MARK YOUR STUDS
Measure and mark the studs with the stud finder to properly install the plywood. This will add extra support for the slat wall.
Step 3: CUT YOUR PLYWOOD
Measure and cut your plywood using a circular saw. Be sure to measure and cut out the area of any existing outlets. We used to the reciprocating saw to cut out the area for the outlets.
Step 4: CUT YOUR 1X2S FOR FRAME
Cut your first 4 boards using a circular saw or miter saw. You'll want to measure the length and width of the plywood.
Step 5: INSTALL THE PLYWOOD
Hang the plywood by nailing into the studs. We didn't stress for the areas that didn't hit a stud, as the plywood is light and we knew we would hit as many studs as possible installing the 1x2s.
Step 6: INSTALL 1X2S FOR FRAME
Hand the 1x2s to the length and width of the plywood. Be sure to hit as many studs as possible during this process.
Step 7: PLAN YOUR DESIGN
This step was the most important and stressful part of the process. First, we measured the seams where the different pieces of the plywood met. Next, we measured the areas around the outlets where there were rough plywood cuts. From there, we used our iPad Pro to plan out the remaining space.
Step 8: CUT YOUR 1X2S
This was the slowest part of the process to ensure we made proper cuts. We used the circular saw for straight edge cuts and the miter saw to achieve 45 degree angles. Be sure to measure, measure, measure, as we discovered our wall was not 100% straight. So don't attempt to take one measurement for multiple cuts in different areas of the wall.
Step 9: HANG YOUR 1X2S
Since we've already framed out our area, the next step is covering the seams and areas around the outlet. We then moved forward with the installing the 1x2s for the rest of the feature wall. Remember if your plywood didn't hit enough studs for proper support, be sure to make sure the 1x2s hit studs for added support.
Step 10: FINISHING TOUCHES
Now that your feature wall is complete, go back and add finishing touches to elevate the look of your slat wall. Add paintable caulk to fill any gaps. Once the paintable caulk dries, go back and touch up all seams, corners, and edges with stain.
Was this slat wall worth all of the stress and time? ABSOLUTELY! It was a fairly inexpensive way to add a bold feature to our bedroom. Check out my IG Highlight "ORC" for a closer look. We still have to weeks left of the ORC. We're not sure if we'll finish on time, but we're proud of the work we've done so far. Be sure to check out the incredible work the other Guest Participants have completed. They are killing it!
