How to Make a Plank Entry Wall

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Last week I shared with you all my plank wall entry reveal.  As promised, today I am sharing my tutorial for making your very own plank wall.

This may seem like a  complicated DIY project, but I promise you it’s not.  This wall went up in no time at all.  And the only cutting you will be doing can be accomplished with a simple hand saw.

Let’s get planking!

I started with a little entry space in serious need of some sprucing up. 

Super blah! Am I right?

Since plank walls are all the trend right now, I decided to try my hand at this DIY project.  Like any good home DIY-er I headed off to my regular Saturday evening hangout spot: The Home Depot.

Speaking of the Home Depot, I got a credit card offer in the mail the other day.  Let’s just take a minute to appreciate the irony of this:  I make so many trips to the Home Depot that they felt it appropriate to send me a credit card offer.  I rent.  What kind of DIY addiction does a renter need to have in order to land on the radar of Home Depot’s credit department?

Oh, and speaking of renting.  “Girl, what on earth are you doing installing a plank wall in your rental?”  Well, like I said, I have a DIY addiction.  Also, it’s better to ask for forgiveness than permission.

Actually, I just used finishing nails to install the planks, so this project really won’t affect this wall that much.  If the landlord doesn’t like it, I will just take the wall down and patch over the nail holes.  Thanks to my two toddlers, I’m going to have some touch-up painting to do anyway.

Disclaimer: All landlords and leases are different.  If you rent, be sure to read your lease carefully before starting a project like this.

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Here’s everything you need for this project:

• A wall… duh!
• Tempered hardboard (it’s like MDF, only more dense) – cut the length of your wall, and then into 6″ strips.  The people in the lumber department at Home Depot can cut this for you.
• Primer
• Paint – in color of choice.  See below for my custom paint color choice
• Brushes
• Finishing nails
• Hand saw
• Nail setting tool
• Trim “outside corner” – you only need this if you have a corner on your wall
• 2 – 1 x 4s cut to the width of your wall
• Screws for assembling the shelf
• Hooks for the shelf – I love these ones in particular because the price was right and shipping was free!

A Few Preliminary Matters

The wall that I used for this project was 53″ wide.  This is about the max width that I would go with a project like this.  If the planks are much longer than 53″, they will begin to bow, making it difficult to make everything even and level.  If you have a larger wall, I would suggest using smaller planks and staggering them.

For the paint, I chose an interior eggshell enamel in my “Ikea white” custom color.

Step 1 – Paint

Prime and paint the “planks.”

Step 2 – Plank One

Start planking.  I started at the bottom of the wall with the first plank.  The main reason that I chose hardboard over plywood, is because it comes in 1/8-inch thickness (as opposed to 1/4-inch), meaning that the plank wall is flush with the baseboards.

Keep it level: It is incredibly important to make sure this first plank is level, because it will impact everything above it.  DON’T ASSUME that your baseboard is level.

I used three evenly-spaced finishing nails to attach each plank to the wall.

Step 3 – Keep Planking

Now, dig into your pocket and find a couple of dimes.  They will be your spacers between the planks.

I used two dimes between planks.  Now would probably be a good time to call in a helper.  Juggling dimes, planks, hammer, and nails is probably more than a one-person job.

Keep working your way up the wall.

Step 4 – Work Around Outlets & Light Switches

If you have outlets or light switches on your wall, TURN OFF THE POWER.

When I reached the light switch with my planking, I traced an outline of the light switch opening.

Then, I used a hand saw and razor blade to cut a square out of the plank.

Here’s what the wall looked like once I had finished adding all of the planks.

Step 5 – Trim, Set, & Spackle

Since my wall has a corner, I added corner trim with some more finishing nails.

Then, I used my nail setting tool to set the nails.  This way you can spackle and smooth over the nails.

Step 6 – Shelf Time

One everything was good to go with the plank wall, I started thinking about a shelf.

I kept things really simple – just 2 – 1 x 4s painted then screwed together.  The shelf was then screwed into the studs in the wall.

Add some hooks, and you’re good to go!

My Finished Plank Entry Wall

Here’s the wall, all finished and ready to go!

Want to see how I decorated my new entry?  Head on over to see my Entry Reveal!