DIY Black Slat Wall (with before and after photos)
In September 2022 I was ready to change up the faux shiplap I had previously installed on the stairway wall and create something more moody! So, I took the shiplap down, touched up the drywall below and got started brainstorming.
Once I decided what I wanted it to look like, I needed to decide how to achieve the look (as budget-friendly as I possibly could). The answer?! A matte black DIY slat wall accent using 1×2 boards. In this blog post, I’ll walk you through the process I used to create this wall so you can get to creating your own!
The Design
Materials Used
- 1×2 lumber (select pine from Home Depot)
- construction adhesive (liquid nails)
- two inch brad nails
- matte black paint (gallon)
- DAP spackling or wood filler
- sanding sponge
Tools Used
- 18 gauge brad nailer
- caulk gun (for liquid nails)
- table saw (to rip the 1x2s in half)
- Miter saw (to cut slats to length)
- cordless paint sprayer (not required)
- paint brush and/or mini roller set
Plan and Measure: Start by deciding the dimensions of your slat wall accent. Measure the wall where you intend to install the slats, considering both height and width. Determine the spacing between the slats, keeping in mind your desired aesthetic and the functionality of the wall.
Prep the Wall: After I had my design all planned out, I painted the drywall black, the same color the slats will be. The wall is going to be visible in the space between the slats so this step is very important. My favorite black paint is “Limousine Leather” by Behr paint.
Next, I started cutting 1×2 boards for the slats. To save money, I actually ripped the 1x2s in half (depth wise) on a table saw. I do not recommend this unless you have another person helping and/or have experience with a table saw. This achieved the depth look I wanted (similar to pole wrap) but on a larger scale….and it DOUBLED how far the wood would go so it saved me a lot of money! If you aren’t worried about budget and don’t want to rip the 1x2s in half, I recommend this product! This trim is already 1/2″ depth so you wouldn’t have to worry about the table saw step.
After all of the slats were ripped depth wise, it was time to cut them length wise. For me, I first had to determine the angle of the staircase wall. Using a miter saw, I cut the slats into the correct lengths. This project would be super easy on a wall that didn’t need different lengths! Then I sanded any rough cuts using a sandpaper sponge and started preparation to paint the slats.
Time to Paint: I decided to paint the slats with my paint sprayer to get a flawless finish and save time! If you don’t have a paint sprayer at your disposal, you can easily use a small roller or paint brush to paint the slats. Make sure to paint three sides of the slats so no bare spots show in between the slats (believe me, it is super noticeable). After your slats are all painted, it’s time to get them on the wall!
Starting from the bottom, hold the first 1×2 board vertically against the wall and use a beam level to ensure it is straight. Mark the locations for nails. Apply construction adhesive on the backside of the board and secure it to the wall using a brad nailer. From there, use a spacer to create the space in between the slats. I used a spacer approximately 1/4″ wide to achieve the look I wanted.
Next, repeat, repeat, repeat….Apply construction adhesive on the backside of the slat, place the slat board next the first one, ensuring even spacing between them, and repeat the process until the entire wall is covered with the 1×2 boards.
After all of the boards are secure, you’ll have a beautiful wall (with a lot of tiny nail holes if you used a brad nailer). To ensure a smooth finish, fill the nail holes with wood filler and let it dry. Once dry, use sandpaper (or a wet cloth) to remove the excess filler from the face of the boards.
Once all of the nail holes and/or gaps are filled and sanded, I applied another coat of paint on the slats. I didn’t use my sprayer for this step because I didn’t want to tape off the entire living room to prep the space for indoor spray. Instead, I used a paintbrush and foam roller to apply the paint evenly. you can paint or stain the slat wall to match your room’s decor. The fun part here is you can modify these plans however you’d like to match your own home aesthetic! Paint the wall black and stain the slats walnut?! DO IT! Paint the entire wall hot pink?! DO ITTTT! Really, you can do a lot to customize this project.
I’m so happy with how this wall turned out and SO happy I went with matte black! To help camouflage the outlets on the wall, I switched out the standard white one for black and got a new black electrical outlet trim plate. I also spray painted the heater vent cover with a high heat black spray paint. It looks SO much better! Let me know if you try this out in your home!
