Create a Wood Slat Wall That Wows
From Blank to Bold
Vertical wood slat walls are a popular decorative accent for living rooms and other areas of the home, but the cost of hiring a contractor to create a wood slat feature can be steep. Despite this, a wood slat wall is among the easiest beginner projects for a
wannabe home remodeler. Check out the easy steps to create your own DIY accent wall!
painting supplies, including paint, painter’s tape, a drop cloth, and paint rollers or brushes.
WHAT YOU NEED At a lumber store, buy 1-by-2-inch slats of pine or poplar wood cut to a length that fits the height of your wall. Select slats that are straight, not warped, and save scraps for later use. If you are using pine, sand the slats with fine-grit sandpaper and stain them to the wood tone that best suits your decor. Although poplar slats cost more than pine, they offer a more high-end look. Additionally, they don’t require staining or sanding, as they’re beautiful in their natural state. For either type of wood, add a layer of polyurethane as a sealant. Assemble your supplies, including the slats, a nail gun, and wood conditioner, plus wood stain if desired. Remove any baseboards from your accent wall. We recommend painting the wall behind the slats a dark color to accent the natural beauty of the slats. For this, you need the usual
ATTACH THE SLATS To help you envision the final look, use painter’s tape to position the slats at different distances. If your slats are 1 inch wide, experiment with spacing them 1/4–7/8 inch apart. (Any farther apart, and you risk creating a zebra-stripe effect.) Use a scrap piece as a spacer between slats. Then, attach the slats to the wall using the nail gun, inserting one nail each in the top, middle, and bottom. When nailing slats to an area without a stud behind the wall, use two nails, driving one downward and a second upward, creating an X behind the slat to hold it firmly in place. Use the spacer as you drive a nail into each piece, ensuring your slats are vertically straight.
Once your slat wall is finished, relax and enjoy the warmth of the wood tones and the visual interest you’ve created! You’ve transformed an ordinary wall into a highlight of your home. Cold Outside, Stuffy Inside
EASY WAYS TO REFRESH YOUR HOME’S AIR
AIR PURIFIERS AND HUMIDIFIERS Homes can be a haven for pollutants, irritants, and allergens, something you’ll surely notice as you spend more time inside during winter. To combat these air irritants, you should invest in an air purifier. Many air purifiers automatically turn on when air quality worsens, keeping your house breathable year-round. If dryness causes discomfort, consider humidifiers. These raise the moisture level in your home, making you more comfortable while helping your house stay warm.
Throughout the winter months, many people in our area stay within the confines of their homes, only leaving to go to work, a restaurant, or the grocery store. The rest of the time, we read, watch TV, or participate in some of our favorite indoor hobbies. As the days pass, you may notice your air quality diminishing. When you can’t step outside comfortably for a breath of fresh air, it becomes even more apparent, which makes you wonder how to freshen up your home and clear the air. Here are a couple of easy-to-implement ideas. FURNACE UPKEEP AND MAINTENANCE Your heating system has to work harder in winter to keep your home as warm as possible. When your furnace does not get regular upkeep, it has to work harder, burning more energy, raising electricity costs, and kicking more irritants into your home’s air. Ideally, a professional inspected your furnace before the cold set in to ensure it was in peak condition, but if not, you can still take action now. The best place to start is the furnace filter. Replacing it will immediately improve your home’s air quality, and it will also serve as a warning sign if maintenance, repairs, or replacement are necessary. If it’s only been a month or two since you replaced it, and you notice extreme buildup or a bad smell, you may want to call for HVAC service.
2
• 678-252-2525 • SRHomes.com
Made with FlippingBook Ebook Creator