DIY Wood Slat Plant Wall
This idea has been living in my head for a while. I had first seen wood slat walls during a vacation trip to Mexico about 5 years ago. It served more as a divider and had plants at the bottom. Today, I’m taking inspiration from that trip and my tropical kitchen wallpaper to create this DIY wood slat plant wall!
Friends, you know if I can do something, then you can too. This wall is my second woodworking project, my DIY floating shelves was my first, and it was much easier this time around with the measurements. Here are the simple steps and materials needed to create this DIY plant wall. Oh, and if you love video, check out my highlights on Instagram for all the DIY Plant wall behind the scenes action as well as the full DIY Wood Slat Plant Wall project on my Reel video.
How to Create a DIY Wood Slat Wall
This project is a two part project. First you’ll need to construct the wood slat wall. You’ve probably seen this project all over the place from accent walls to headboards. It’s a pretty easy project to do on a wall….on a doorway…. a bit more challenging. Make sure you start with a painted wall in the color you’d like to show between the slats. I painted the wall in the same blue paint as the blue hallway makeover I did. You DO NOT want to be painting this after you install this wall.
*Here’s a Big Tip: Stain your wood slats before you install them. I was on the fence about painting or staining them so I decided that I’d wait until I saw it up…. well, my fingers are still aching from sliding them between each slat to stain…NEVER AGAIN!
Materials for DIY Wood Slat Wall
- 1x3x8 Common board (length depends on your wall)
- liquid nails and caulk gun
- 2 inch brad nails and nail gun
- level
- stain or paint ( I used American Walnut stain)
- table saw or miter saw
How to make a DIY Wood Slat Wall on a doorway
- Measure the height of your wall and buy 1×3 lumber to size
My ceilings were 9ft tall so I purchased 30 8ft long 1×3 common board for this project, but the amount of lumber depends on the wall you’d like to cover.
- Layout your boards to see which spacing you prefer between each board. You will also determine if boards have to be cut later to fit.
I used an extra 1×3 board as a spacer. Not only was it easier, but the close to 1 inch spacing was exactly the spacing I desired. A paint stirrer or meter stick also works for smaller spacing.
- Once you decide your layout, decide whether you’d like to remove the baseboard and shoe trim. (optional)
I preferred a more seamless look to my wall, so I opted to remove both the shoe trim and baseboard but this is totally optional. I cut 1×3 boards to serve as the baseboards and hide the space gap from my luxury vinyl plank flooring.
- Paint or stain each board. Once dried, apply the first board to your wall using liquid nail and 2inch brad nails.
Use a level to make sure the board is straight before nailing to the wall with your nail gun.
- Apply liquid nail to your next board and use the spacer board (on the 1 inch side) in between the first and second board. Check the level for straightness then nail to the wall. Repeat this step until your wall is covered.
- I wanted the top of the wall to match the baseboard, so I installed 1×3 to run across the top like moulding and used the spacer board to install another parallel to the board. This filled up the last remaining feet of my wall.
I had to use my miter saw to cut another board to finish the wall, but again this would depend on the width of your wall.
- Cut smaller pieces to run across the top of doorway opening using the same spacer. Install onto your wall and now you have a geometric look to the wall!
How to Install a Vertical Plant Wall
Once you have your wood slat wall completed, it’s time to install the wall mount planters! This part isn’t as easy at it would seem since some of the rings curve slightly upwards than others. So, if you are trying to get a straight row of the planters, it’s going to be some work for you.
I used these 6 inch wall mount planters and spray painted these 6 inch planters the colors I wanted. I was looking to coordinate with the colorful African baskets I have on the other dining room wall. I started at the top row and installed one every 2-3 slats. The first and last row was 14 3/8 apart from the previous row while the center rows were 13 1/4 apart from each other. You can space them however you’d like but be sure to take measurements so that the planter pots on the opposite side of the doorway is aligned to it.
Here is a big tip! Do not rely on the mount bracket to install straight. You’ll have to use your eye or a level on the actual ring to make your rows straight. That means that some of the brackets will look a bit crooked on the wall, but the ring will be straight. If you’d rather eye it (which is what I did) instead of using a level, that is perfectly okay. Just be okay with some rings being just a bit off.
Install the remaining rings and then you’re ready for your planter pots! Check out my Shop With Me instagram video of me shopping for the plants at The Home Depot. I just adore how this wall turned out!
Are you ready to tackle this project? I’d love to see how you create your own wood slat plant wall! Drop a comment below telling me where you’d like to have this plant wall in your home and tag me to your social posts when you do it!
