My son Isaac is 7 years old and he has been begging for a “really cool room.” His room is large, it could easily be a master bedroom. I have big plans and completed my feature wall this week. Originally inspired by the “wonder wall” from The Lettered Cottage, I set out to recreate the look for my son’s room. Kevin & Layla actually had their beauty naturally under their drywall. But I guarantee my house wouldn’t have that underneath so I recreated it on top of the drywall instead.
Supplies:
1/4” luan 4’ x 8’ sheet cut into 6” strips ($13.28 each at Lowes)
2’x 4’s (I used 18 of them)
miter saw
air brad nailer
primer
Valspar paint color matched to my trim color
paint sprayer or brush and foam roller
nickels for spacing
chalk line
electric drill
2 1/2” wood screws
wood filler
level
tape measure
caulk
1. My wall was 16’ wide by 8’ tall. This worked perfect to have 4’ x 8’ sheets of luan cut into 6” strips. Lowes can do this for if you let them know ahead of time and give them a couple of days to do it. My wall took 4 sheets ripped into 6” strips. Because of the width of the saw blade you will have one strip that isn’t exactly 6”. Those can be used at the top and bottom of the wall since the 2’ x 4’ shelving will cover it.
2. Draw a chalk line level on the wall. Then line that first luan strip with that line. Use a brad nailer to attach the planks to the wall. Using nickels as spacers, I kept adding planks until the wall was complete. I had one seam on each length that I put in the middle. Since a 2’x 4’ was covering it the placement was perfect.
Here is a picture of the nickel spacing…
3. Use a multi max tool or a jigsaw to cut around the outlets.
4. Next add the 2’x 4’ on the bottom, top and sides using 2 1/2” wood screws. (Note: Remove the baseboard and cut the left and right baseboard the depth of a 2’x4’ with a multi-max tool) You can screw the 2’x 4’ right into the carpet on the bottom or cut the carpet back if you’d rather.
4. Add all your vertical 2’x4’s first. You will have to drill the screws at an angle in order to secure the 2’x4’s in place.
5. Next figure out the placement of your horizontal boards and cut those to fit. Drill those in as well.
6. After it was complete I filled all the brad nail holes and caulked the top, left and right 2’x4’s at the seam where it meets the wall. I didn’t not, however, fill the wood screws. I wanted to maintain a little of the rustic aspect of it since the 2’ x 4’s were a bit rough anyway. Once painted you can barely see them anyway.
7. Using my new Graco True Coat Plus II paint sprayer (full review soon!) I spray primed and painted my shelves. Sprayed molding gives it such a nice look compared to hand painting it, imho.
Here is it all primed…starting to catch the vision?
I think this made a HUGE impact on the room and cost less than $100. Not bad if you ask me. I can’t wait to start styling it. I have a long way to go until then, meantime, I keep plugging away at his room. And let me tell you…it is awesome. You are going to die when you see what I did next.
Note: If you do not use a paint sprayer make sure you paint the wall ahead of time or you will see the wall color peeking through the tiny plank cracks.
Click here to see it all styled as well as the final room reveal.
And check it out here in my son’s new room in Ohio.
