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!
This post contains some affiliate links. Click here to read my full disclosure policy.
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.
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 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
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
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
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.
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.
Step 6 – Step Back and Admire Your Handiwork
TA-DA!
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.
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?
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
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!
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.
Thanks so much Audra! Great point about “trying out” a look… plank walls are a commitment!
Wow you did a great job!
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!
Thanks for sharing and the pin love!
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
What a great idea…. I never thought about dorm rooms!
I love this! It’s such a creative idea and really turned out beautifully! Visiting from Snickerdoodle Sunday
xoxo
Lisa
Thanks for stopping by, Lisa!
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.
Thanks for the feature!!
It looks amazing, and you have provided me with a great idea. This can also be use as a backdrop wall for pictures. Thanks!!
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.
I seriously thought about building something, but when I found that paper…. game. over.
I never would have guessed, this is so clever. Thanks for posting. Hello from Inspire Me Wednesday.