Wood Slat Wall : 7 Steps (with Pictures)

Wood slat feature wall for entryway.

Step 1: Materials

I used select pine in alternating 1″x2″ and 1″x3″ pieces. I chose select pine (it seemed the most economical) after testing some stains on a piece and liking the results. I highly recommend using pre-stain wood conditioner for a more even stain (helps to prevent blotchiness).

Step 2: Test Stains

I tested several different stains to see how they would look.

Step 3: Wood Prep

After selecting the stain (Minwax English Chestnut), I started prepping the wood. This involved lightly sanding each piece (22) 1″ x 3″ and (24) 1″ x 2″ to expose the grain.

Step 4: Staining and Mockup

I wasn’t looking forward to the process of multiple staining and sanding of the wood slats, but was surprised when the Minwax instructions said to NOT sand between applications. I was a bit skeptical, but followed the directions and was happy with the results. I applied about 2-3 coats of stain with rags (old socks!) waiting for each coat to dry before applying the next. I liked the slight sheen that came from only using the stain, and opted to not apply any Polyurethane clear coat.

Step 5: The Slats

I did not pre-cut any of the slats due to the slight variations in the wall length which ranged from 1/4″ to 1/2″. I first held a slat on the wall, and marked the overhang (part to cut off) and trimmed off using a miter saw. I used a brad nailer to attach the 1″ x 2″ to the top of the 1″ x 3. This also helped to straighten out some of the boards that were slightly warped.