How to Make a DIY Wood Slat Wall

Fluted wall paneling introduces stunning texture and elegance to any space, but it comes at a steep price—hundreds of dollars per linear foot. A more budget-friendly alternative is pole wrap paneling, though the optimum method to replicate luxurious fluted panels is by using individual wood slats. In this guide, we’ll illustrate how you can easily create a striking fluted wall at a fraction of the cost, resulting in a chic, modern accent wall perfect for any room.

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Our DIY approach involves slim, vertical strips of wood running from floor to ceiling, fastened to the wall with nails. Depending on your design preference, these slats can range from ½-inch to 2 inches in width. You can purchase 1-inch-by-2-inch slats or, if confident in your carpentry skills, cut larger wood pieces to the desired dimensions.

The distance between the slats can vary based on the aesthetic you wish to achieve. An essential rule is to ensure the gap between slats is narrower than the width of the slats themselves—maximizing the wood-to-wall ratio. For our project, we opted for 2-inch-wide wood slats spaced 1 inch apart.

The wall color visible through the slat gaps plays a crucial role in the final appearance. To achieve added drama and depth, consider painting the wall a dark shade. We used Valspar's Noir in a matte finish for our design.

A common question we receive is, "How many slats will I need?" The answer lies in first deciding the gap size between the slats.
Below are examples of different gap sizes between wall slats. Generally, slats are spaced 2 to 3 cm apart.

Calculating the required number is straightforward. Suppose your wall measures 1.4m in width and 2.5m in height, with a desired 2 cm gap between the slats. Given that the slats are 2.75m long, height is not an issue. Focus on the width. Converting 1.4m to 140cm:

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140cm - wall width

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2.9cm - slat width

2cm - desired gap width

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140cm / (2.9 cm + 2cm) = 29

Thus, you will need 29 slats for this particular setup.

 

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