How to Create a White DIY Wood Wall Accent

Take your room from boring to beautiful with an easy DIY wood wall accent.

Creating a stunning accent wall can add so much character to your home. It's a great way to implement a unique design without changing the footprint of a room. We have installed various wall accents in different mediums into current and previous homes.

Adding a white DIY wood wall accent to our farmhouse master bathroom makes a big impact in a small space.

Previous Wall Damage

When we first moved into this home, the bathroom was very traditional and builder grade. A partial remodel led us to ripping out the existing vanity and mirror, but also caused wall damage in the process.

Because of limited budget, we painted the walls and a new mirror was hung to cover most of the damage until we could fix the wall space.

Finally acquiring a budget to finish this home project prompted us to fix the blank wall for a complete bathroom remodel.

DIY Wood Wall Accent

The first step originally was planned to hire out replacement of the entire wall with new sheet rock, mud and tape. However, plans changed when I discovered Amy Howard's Pallet in a Box. We opted to cover the walls with wood for a rustic look instead of tearing down all the sheet rock.

Pallet in a Box

Amy Howard's Pallet in a Box consists of 20 square feet of 5 inch wide wood wall planks that are ¼ inch thick oak. The wood pieces are unfinished so that you can add your own style preference, if desired.

Another option is to used pallet wood or any wood that had a rough texture.

My husband first suggest weathered white DIY wood accent walls for our bathroom instead of the traditional stain colors. The rustic wood slats fit in well with our farmhouse style bathroom. And by creating a light color accent wall you also brighten up the small space and it appears larger than it actually is.

How to Create a White DIY Wood Wall

You will need the following tools and supplies to create your own wood slat wall. Affiliate links included.

Supplies for DIY Wood Wall

• Pallet in a Box or a similar wood you want to use
• Vintage wood solution, Better with Age. Or make your own. Tutorial here
• Venetian plaster
• Paint brush
• Putty knife
• Sandpaper
• Nail gun
• 1" finish nails

Treat Planks with Aging Solution

If you are unable to acquire a Pallet Box, you can also use scrap wood, pallet wood, pine boards, or whatever wood type you would like. Grab wood from a hardware store like Home Depot. I am using the oak planks from Amy Howard.

The first step for this easy project is to treat your oak planks with Vintage Wood. This is a natural stain solution that makes the wood look more vintage and weathered without waiting for natural aging to occur. See this process here.

Read instructions on the container and use a paint brush to apply onto the wood board. Allow for the solution to completely dry.

Mix Plaster

When your Vintage Wood solution is completely dry, the next step will be to mix up your plaster. Add plaster into a disposable plastic cup or bowl. Then add water a little bit at a time until you reach the desired consistency. The consistency will impact how white your finished product turns out.

• For a white washed look: Add extra water so your plaster consistency is more runny.
• For a stronger white look: Add less water so the consistency is that of a paste.

My plaster consistency is thicker because I wanted a stronger white. As you can see, this plaster is more of a paste when it is poured out onto the board.

Spread the Plaster

After you have the plaster on the top, use a putty knife to spread the plaster across the entire thing. Press the mixture down into the texture of the wood as you go. The planks have a beautiful texture that really makes a huge impact once you have added the plaster.

Go back and forth to create a smooth surface. Take a little plaster off or add more on until you get a unique look that you love. This plaster doesn't dry super fast which allows you plenty of working time on your DIY wood wall.

Dry and Sand

When your planks are all plastered, it's a great idea to let them dry over night. The next day you can lightly sand them to get any excess plaster off or to smooth out the rough edges. Be sure to blow or brush off any dust particles.

DIY Wood Wall Installation

Luckily, you don't need too many power tools for this home decor project. But a nail gun will be much more efficient for installing your wood slats. You also may need a jigsaw depending on the placement of your outlets and if you need to cut around them. 

We installed these plank boards the same way we installed our faux shiplap here. Though you can create a vertical line with your wood, I prefer horizontal lines along the wall. 

Begin by installing your wood at the bottom of your wall. There are a few options for how you can do this depending on personal preference. If you do not have molding up along the bottom, install at the edge where flooring and wall meet and add trim later. If you already have baseboards up, put your first piece on top of the molding. 

Unlike the shiplap, I did not space these boards apart. Line your wood edges against each other so there are no spaces. This will be a little bit cleaner finish. Work your way up from the bottom to the top on one wall, before moving to the next wall. 

Also be mindful of how many nail holes you are adding into your boards. You can choose not to fill them with wood putty if you want a more rustic DIY wood wall accent.

There are different ways to install your white DIY wood wall. I chose to do an entire wall of white wood behind the vanity. But I only installed the wood accent along the bottom of the wall on the other two walls. 

After much research and being told several times, we opted not to seal the wooden planks. These planks have been installed for over a year now and the plaster does not come off or flake if they get a little wet, though it does darken slightly until the water dries. 

DIY Wood Wall Decor

I love the rustic and elegant look that this DIY wood wall accent gives us in this bathroom. All of the texture shining through creates such beautiful decor that no other wall decorations are needed. 

We completed this bathroom with farmhouse fixtures. This French style mirror and farmhouse light fixture really make this space stunning. 

Additional Ideas for Accent Walls

Don't miss out on these other DIY walls that anyone can do.

• Fireplace accent wall in our living room
• DIY wood accent walls
• Wallpaper mural 
• Picture frame molding wall in our master bedroom
• Wainscoting using MDF boards
• Shiplap wood planks
• Painting an entire room and ceiling in a bold color
• Peel and stick wallpaper in different colors

Looking for more creative ways to try out weathered wood? Try this weathered wood idea with tea, coffee and vinegar. If brown stains aren't your thing, you can also try this grey weathered wood look that is classy too. 

A DIY wood wall is the perfect choice for complimenting the look of any room. You can never go wrong when adding character with an accent wall. For a minimal cost, you can implement a fun design element to make your home style and decor truly unique.

Shop the Post

 Don't forget to accessorize. I have gathered some of my favorite farmhouse items on Amazon below!

Happy DIYing!

Brooke

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