TikTok Shows You How To DIY A Wooden Slat Wall
If you've been looking for a way to decorate a large wall, then you might have come across wall slats. Wall slats are basically strips of wooden panels that line up from the floor of your wall to the ceiling, giving it a wholly sophisticated upgrade. Adding wall slats can change the entire face of a room and make the house feel so much more contemporary and luxurious. Purchase and installation costs can range from $1,000 to over $1,300, but thanks to TikTok DIY home improvement and design couple Aminah and Bernard, you can create a budget-friendly version with some plywood, wall slats, paint, and liquid nails.
You'll first need to find the perfect wooden panels, which means doing some research on what color and type of material would go well with the look you're aiming for. The creators used 33 MDF boards and stated that they spent just under $200 on them. MDF is a great material if your décor budget is running low, as it is engineered wood instead of solid hardwood. If you have a bigger budget, however, you can take your pick of walnut, oak, or any other hardwood. Once you've chosen your material, you're one step closer to getting the wall of your dreams.
You may want to paint the slats before attaching to the plywood
After you've decided on the type of wall slats you want to use, you'll need to gather your other supplies — at least two sheets of ¼-inch plywood, paint (and an optional paint sprayer), liquid nails, a paint tarp, and a power drill. If you've decided on engineered wood, you can get primed MDF boards for $1.10 per foot from American Wood Moldings. For plywood, expect to spend $30 per sheet at Home Depot. If you don't have a paint sprayer, your next course of action is to paint your wall slats. If you do have one, then you can skip this step for now and focus on attaching the slats to the wall.
Attach the plywood boards to the wall that you want to cover with the slats by nailing them to the wall studs. Then, use the liquid nails to attach each slat to the plywood uniformly. If the wall is longer than the slats, you can customize some extra pieces to make up the difference at the bottom. Now you're ready for the paint. Tape the paint tarp around the slats and use the sprayer to color them. Once they're fully coated, remove the tarp and let them dry. Finally, take a step back and admire your work.