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You are here: Home / Home Decor / A Rental-Friendly Solution for Plank Walls

May 25, 2015 · 27 Comments

A Rental-Friendly Solution for Plank Walls

Home Decor· Rental-Friendly· Wall Decor

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Do you love the look of plank walls, but don’t want to commit or can’t install in your rental? Check out this awesome tutorial – the rental-friendly solution for plank walls. The best part? It only cost $8.00!!

If you’ve been on Pinterest lately, you may have noticed that plank walls are HOT right now.  Everyone and their mom is incorporating this awesome design element into their homes, and I’m loving it!

I could seriously add plank walls to every room in my home.

There is only one small problem… I rent.  Sigh!

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I recently re-did my bedroom for the One Room Challenge.  I chose a Cape Cod Coastal theme, and really wanted a plank wall.  I had to get creative.

Do you love the look of plank walls, but don’t want to commit or can’t install in your rental? Check out this awesome tutorial – the rental-friendly solution for plank walls. The best part? It only cost $8.00!!

I considered building some sort of free-standing plank-wall that would just rest between by bed and the wall.  That seemed like a bunch of work, and I wasn’t up for that much carpentry action.

Then…. I was wandering the aisles at Joann Fabrics and lightning struck.

Do you love the look of plank walls, but don’t want to commit or can’t install in your rental? Check out this awesome tutorial – the rental-friendly solution for plank walls. The best part? It only cost $8.00!!

Do you see this roll of paper?  It’s sold to teachers to use on their bulletin boards, and it’s $8.  Yes.  $8.  Sold!

Installing a Rental-Friendly Faux Plank Wall

Supplies

  • 1 roll of decorative wood grain paper – available here or here
  • measuring tape and pencil
  • masking tape
  • 2 8-foot 1x3s
  • saw
  • primer and white paint
  • hammer, finishing nails, and nail setting tool

Instructions

Step 1 – Pick a Wall

before

I chose the wall behind my bed.  It’s small enough that I only needed one roll of paper, and I thought it would make a great feature.

Step 2 – Measure

Do you love the look of plank walls, but don’t want to commit or can’t install in your rental? Check out this awesome tutorial – the rental-friendly solution for plank walls. The best part? It only cost $8.00!!

Measure your wall and center the roll of paper on the wall.  Using a pencil, make small marks where the paper should line up.

The paper that I used was 4 feet wide.  I just took the width of my wall, subtracted 48 inches and divided by 2.  I then measured this amount from each wall edge.

Step 3- Tape the Paper to the Wall

Do you love the look of plank walls, but don’t want to commit or can’t install in your rental? Check out this awesome tutorial – the rental-friendly solution for plank walls. The best part? It only cost $8.00!!

Do you love the look of plank walls, but don’t want to commit or can’t install in your rental? Check out this awesome tutorial – the rental-friendly solution for plank walls. The best part? It only cost $8.00!!

Do you love the look of plank walls, but don’t want to commit or can’t install in your rental? Check out this awesome tutorial – the rental-friendly solution for plank walls. The best part? It only cost $8.00!!

Using your pencil marks as a guide, carefully tape the roll of paper to the wall.

I rolled the tape at the top of the paper.  Since I knew my sides would be covered by the 1x3s, I just taped the paper regularly to the wall.  Don’t be afraid to use a fair amount of tape.

Step 4 – Cut and Paint 1x3s

Cut the 2 1x3s to the appropriate height of your ceiling.  Prime and paint white.

Do you love the look of plank walls, but don’t want to commit or can’t install in your rental? Check out this awesome tutorial – the rental-friendly solution for plank walls. The best part? It only cost $8.00!!

Step 5 – It’s Hammer Time

Using 3 finishing nails on each board, nail the 1x3s to the wall, covering the edges of the decorative wood grain paper.  Use the nail setting tool to set the nails, and spackle over the nails.

Do you love the look of plank walls, but don’t want to commit or can’t install in your rental? Check out this awesome tutorial – the rental-friendly solution for plank walls. The best part? It only cost $8.00!!
Do you love the look of plank walls, but don’t want to commit or can’t install in your rental? Check out this awesome tutorial – the rental-friendly solution for plank walls. The best part? It only cost $8.00!!

Step 6 – Step Back and Admire Your Handiwork

TA-DA!

Do you love the look of plank walls, but don’t want to commit or can’t install in your rental? Check out this awesome tutorial – the rental-friendly solution for plank walls. The best part? It only cost $8.00!!

Budget Breakdown

This project was seriously CHEAP! Here’s what I spent:

  • Roll of paper – $8
  • 2 – 1x3s – $3
  • primer, paint, tape, nails – all things I had from previous projects

So the grand total for this project came to be $11.  Seriously.  Probably less because I think I used my 40%-off coupon on the roll of paper at Joann.

Do you love the look of plank walls, but don’t want to commit or can’t install in your rental? Check out this awesome tutorial – the rental-friendly solution for plank walls. The best part? It only cost $8.00!!

Do you love the look of plank walls, but don’t want to commit or can’t install in your rental? Check out this awesome tutorial – the rental-friendly solution for plank walls. The best part? It only cost $8.00!!

I would love to hear what you think of my new feature wall?  Do you rent?  If so, is this something you would tackle in your space?

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Comments

  1. Melanie says

    May 25, 2015 at 4:00 pm

    What a great idea! I always hated renting because I felt like it didn’t let me decorate to the extent I wanted to, but this is a great way to get creative with decorating a rental! I hope you’ll share this over at the Motivational Monday Link Party this week: http://makingitinthemitten.blogspot.com/2015/05/motivational-monday-may-24th.html

    Reply
  2. Ashley ~ 3 Little Greenwoods says

    May 27, 2015 at 6:59 am

    Such a brilliant idea! I’ve been trying to figure out how to add a plank wall without actually using nails and this solution is perfect. Thanks so much for the inspiration!

    Reply
  3. Audra @ Renewed Projects says

    May 27, 2015 at 6:08 pm

    Totally love your “plank” wall! Renting or not, its a great way to try out the look without committing all that time to sanding every.single.plank.board.

    Reply
    • aimee says

      May 30, 2015 at 6:45 am

      Thanks so much Audra! Great point about “trying out” a look… plank walls are a commitment!

      Reply
  4. Blanca D says

    May 28, 2015 at 10:10 am

    Wow you did a great job!

    Reply
  5. CD Loken says

    May 28, 2015 at 3:29 pm

    What a great idea!! I would never have known that was paper!!! I’m definitely pinning! Thank you so much for sharing at The Wonderful Wednesday Blog Hop!

    Reply
    • aimee says

      May 30, 2015 at 6:45 am

      Thanks for sharing and the pin love!

      Reply
  6. Natasha in Oz says

    May 30, 2015 at 5:08 pm

    That is such a brilliant idea! It would be so perfect for a dorm room too. Thanks for sharing this!

    I’m stopping by via Snicker doodle Sunday.

    Best wishes,
    Natasha in Oz

    Reply
    • aimee says

      June 2, 2015 at 8:16 am

      What a great idea…. I never thought about dorm rooms!

      Reply
  7. Lisa @ Fun Money Mom says

    May 30, 2015 at 5:21 pm

    I love this! It’s such a creative idea and really turned out beautifully! Visiting from Snickerdoodle Sunday

    xoxo
    Lisa

    Reply
    • aimee says

      July 26, 2015 at 2:06 pm

      Thanks for stopping by, Lisa!

      Reply
  8. Mel @ Adventures of Mel says

    May 31, 2015 at 9:10 am

    This is beautiful! I love this idea. Whether we rented or not, I wouldn’t mind doing this in our home. Such a great idea. Thank you for sharing at Inspire Me Wednesday. Featuring you in this week’s issue.

    Reply
    • aimee says

      July 26, 2015 at 2:06 pm

      Thanks for the feature!!

      Reply
  9. Fabiola Garcia says

    May 31, 2015 at 10:59 pm

    It looks amazing, and you have provided me with a great idea. This can also be use as a backdrop wall for pictures. Thanks!!

    Reply
  10. Darla at HeartWork Organizing says

    June 2, 2015 at 10:02 am

    Pinning. You had me there for a moment. I really thought it was a plank inset. Looks good from way over here! Thanks for posting to Allie’s Worthwhile Wednesdays.

    Reply
    • aimee says

      June 2, 2015 at 2:57 pm

      I seriously thought about building something, but when I found that paper…. game. over.

      Reply
  11. Melissa French, The More With Less Mom says

    June 7, 2015 at 9:15 pm

    I never would have guessed, this is so clever. Thanks for posting. Hello from Inspire Me Wednesday.

    Reply

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About Me

I’m Aimee, The Crazy Craft Lady. I strive to make my home a more stylish, organized, and creative place, while keeping things uncomplicated and budget-friendly. Here you will find DIY projects, seasonal decor and crafts, recipes, and organizing tricks. I hope you stay awhile and leave inspired.

Let’s “make everyday creative” together!

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