If you’ve been scrolling Remodelaholic, Instagram, or Pinterest lately, you’ve probably noticed a trend: wood plank walls are everywhere. From spa-like bathrooms to cozy living rooms, a simple wood accent wall can completely transform a basic box of a room into something warm, textured, and custom. The best part? You don’t need a contractor, a giant budget, or a reality TV crew to pull it off.
This guide walks you through how to add a wood plank wall to your home, inspired by the Remodelaholic approach and backed by tried-and-true tips from carpenters and DIY blogs across the United States. We’ll cover planning, materials, tools, installation, finishing, and real-life lessons learnedso your wall looks intentional and high-end, not like a 2 a.m. “let’s just wing it” project.
Why a Wood Plank Wall Is Such a Game-Changer
A wood plank wall (sometimes called a wood accent wall, shiplap wall, or planked wall) is simply a wall covered in horizontal or vertical boards. It can be rustic, modern, coastal, or Scandinavianthat depends on the wood, stain, and layout you choose.
- Instant character: Wood adds warmth, texture, and depth to otherwise flat drywall.
- Budget friendly: Many DIYers create plank walls using plywood strips or affordable pine boards rather than expensive pre-made paneling.
- Flexible style: Stain for a natural spa feel, paint for crisp farmhouse shiplap, or go dark and moody for a modern look.
- Beginner-friendly: With a level, stud finder, and basic saw, most homeowners can tackle this over a weekend.
The Remodelaholic version often pairs a stained wood plank wall with simple fixtureslike a freestanding tub or clean-lined vanityso the wall becomes the star of the room without looking busy.
Step 1: Plan Your Wood Plank Wall Like a Pro
Choose the Right Wall
Not every wall deserves to be a main character. For the biggest impact, pick:
- The wall behind your bed or headboard
- The wall behind a freestanding tub or vanity
- The TV wall in your living room
- An entry wall or hallway that needs visual interest
Avoid walls with a ton of doors, windows, or vents if you’re new to DIYit’s still doable, but you’ll be doing more precision cutting.
Pick Your Wood Plank Material
There’s no one “right” material for a wood plank wall. Popular options include:
- Solid pine boards: Great for a stained or natural look. They have real wood grain and take stain beautifully.
- Plywood strips: 1/4" or 1/2" plywood cut into long strips (often 6–8 inches high) is a budget-friendly way to mimic shiplap.
- Shiplap boards: Pre-milled shiplap from the home center with a tongue-and-groove or rabbeted edge for easy alignment.
- Peel-and-stick wood planks: Easy to install, especially if you’re renting or want to avoid a lot of nailing.
- Reclaimed wood: Perfect for a rustic, eclectic accent wall. Just be prepared to do extra sorting and sanding.
For a Remodelaholic-inspired spa wall, stained solid wood or plywood strips with a rich, mid-tone stain work beautifully and feel timeless.
Decide on Orientation and Layout
Your wood planks can be:
- Horizontal: Classic shiplap look; visually widens the room.
- Vertical: Great for low ceilings; adds modern or cottage vibes.
- Herringbone or chevron: Advanced, but stunning for a feature wall.
Most first-time DIYers start with horizontal planksit’s forgiving, and you can easily stagger seams for a natural pattern.
Step 2: Gather Tools and Prep the Wall
Basic Tools & Supplies
For a typical DIY wood plank wall, you’ll need:
- Stud finder
- Level (a long one is ideal)
- Measuring tape and pencil
- Miter saw or circular saw
- Nail gun with finish or brad nails (or a hammer and finish nails)
- Construction adhesive (optional but recommended)
- Spacers (tile spacers or nickels for even gaps)
- Wood filler and caulk
- Sander and sandpaper
- Paint, stain, or clear finish plus brushes/rollers
Prep the Wall
A little prep saves you from a lot of headaches later. Most pros and DIY guides recommend:
- Removing outlet covers and switch plates
- Taking off baseboards or crown molding if you want the planks to run behind them
- Cleaning the wall with mild soap and water and letting it dry
- Locating and marking wall studs from floor to ceiling
- Repairing big holes or loose drywall
In bathrooms or moisture-prone areas, make sure the wall is dry and well-ventilated. A bathroom fan and a good primer on the existing wall can help your new wood accent wall last longer.
Step 3: Cut and Prep Your Wood Planks
If you’re working with plywood or long boards, cut them down into consistent plank widthscommonly 5–8 inches. Many DIYers have the home center rip their plywood into strips to save time and keep cuts straight.
Sanding and Sorting
Before you ever touch the wall:
- Sand the cut edges to remove splinters and roughness.
- Lightly sand faces if they feel fuzzy or uneven.
- Sort boards so you can mix knots, grain patterns, and color variations across the wall.
If you plan to stain the wood, many DIYers prefer to stain or pre-finish the planks before installation so they don’t have to brush stain above their heads and around outlets later.
Step 4: Start the First Row (This One Matters Most)
The first row of your wood plank wall sets the tone for the whole project. A slightly crooked first board can turn into a noticeably crooked top row, even if you’re careful later.
- Snap or draw a level line. Use your level to mark a perfectly straight line where the top of your first board will go. Do not trust the ceilingit’s usually not perfectly level.
- Install the first plank. Line it up with your level line and nail into studs through the face or tongue, depending on the board style. Many DIYers add a bead of construction adhesive behind each board for extra holding power.
- Check for level… again. Before moving on, confirm everything is still straight.
If you’re installing your planks above a tub or vanity like the Remodelaholic bathroom feature, double-check heights so your planks line up nicely with fixtures and don’t leave a thin, awkward sliver at the top.
Step 5: Stagger, Space, and Work Your Way Up the Wall
Stagger Board Seams
To get a professional, intentional look, avoid having all the seams line up in a grid. Most tutorials recommend randomly staggering cuts like hardwood floors:
- Start one row with a full board.
- Start the next row with a shorter board cut from a scrap.
- Keep seams at least a couple of studs apart from one row to the next.
Use Spacers for Consistent Gaps
If you’re going for that classic shiplap shadow line, even gaps are everything. Insert spacerstile spacers, nickels, or pre-made plastic spacersbetween each row as you work.
Cut Around Outlets and Obstacles
When you hit outlets, vents, or windows:
- Hold the board in place and mark where the obstacle lands.
- Use a jigsaw or oscillating tool to cut out the shape.
- Install the board and later extend outlet boxes if needed using box extenders (for safety and code compliance).
Work row by row until you reach the top. For the final row, you may need to rip boards lengthwise with a table saw or circular saw to fit the remaining space.
Step 6: Finish Like a Remodelaholic
Fill, Caulk, and Sand
Before you break out the stain or paint, clean up the details:
- Fill nail holes with wood filler and sand smooth after drying.
- Caulk where planks meet adjacent walls or ceilings if you want a more built-in look.
- Lightly sand any rough spots or edges.
Stain or Paint Your Wood Accent Wall
Your finish choice determines the final vibe:
- Stain + clear coat: Great for spa bathrooms, rustic bedrooms, or cozy living rooms. Choose warm mid-tone stains to keep things inviting.
- Painted white or soft neutrals: Classic shiplap lookbright, airy, and incredibly forgiving. Use a paint-and-primer combo for raw wood.
- Moody color: Deep charcoal, navy, or saturated green adds modern drama without feeling busy.
For bathrooms, a sealing topcoat and good ventilation are key. Follow manufacturer guidelines so the finish can stand up to humidity long term.
Design Tips to Make Your Wood Plank Wall Look High-End
- Scale the planks to the room: Very narrow planks can feel busy on a large wall; wider planks (6–8 inches) usually read more modern and calm.
- Carry the color through the room: Echo your wood tone in shelves, picture frames, or a vanity to make the design feel intentional.
- Let it be the star: If your wood plank wall has rich grain and texture, keep furniture and art simple so it doesn’t compete.
- Mind the lighting: Sconces or wall washers pointed at the planks will highlight the texture and make the wall look custom, not DIY.
In the Remodelaholic bathroom example, the wood plank wall is centered behind a freestanding tub. The fixtures are simple and modern, which lets the wood do the talking and creates that “home spa” moment without a full remodel.
Common Mistakes to Avoid with Wood Plank Walls
- Skipping the level: If you freehand the first row, you will see the crooked line from across the room.
- Nailing only into drywall: Always aim for studs or use construction adhesive plus fasteners; boards are heavy and will move with humidity.
- Ignoring expansion gaps: Wood expands and contracts. Tiny expansion spaces at corners and consistent gaps between planks help hide movement.
- Not pre-finishing in tricky spaces: Staining a wall in a tight bathroom with a tub, toilet, and vanity in the way is… not fun. Pre-finish when you can.
- Overdoing knots and busy boards in one area: Mix them around so the wall looks balanced instead of chaotic.
Real-Life Experiences: What DIYers Learn After Adding a Wood Plank Wall
This is where the internet highlight reels go quietbut the real learning happens. After reading through dozens of DIY tutorials and project recaps, a few “I wish I had known” truths come up again and again.
1. The Wall Changes the Whole Mood of the Room
Almost every homeowner reports the same thing: as soon as the wood wall is up, the room feels more finished. A plain, echo-y bathroom suddenly becomes spa-like. A boring builder-grade bedroom feels like a boutique Airbnb. It’s not just the lookit’s the way the texture plays with light throughout the day.
In the Remodelaholic bathroom example, the wood plank wall behind the tub instantly turned a standard bathroom into a retreat. That’s the power of giving your eye a focal point instead of more blank drywall.
2. Prepping and Layout Take Longer Than You Think (and That’s Okay)
Many DIYers admit that the measuring, stud marking, and layout tinkering took almost as long as installing the planks themselves. But that extra time is what separates a “weekend hack” from a wall that looks like it came with the house.
People who rushed the first row or eyeballed stud placement often ended up with boards that squeaked, shifted, or needed to be re-hung. Those who slowed down to snap chalk lines, double-check measurements, and pre-sort boards were happier with the final look and had fewer mid-project meltdowns.
3. Adhesive + Nails = Peace of Mind
One theme from professional installers and reclaimed wood suppliers: using construction adhesive in addition to nails creates a much more solid wall. The adhesive does most of the heavy lifting once it cures, while the nails hold everything in place as it dries.
Yes, it means the wall is more “permanent,” but if your goal is a long-term feature and not a temporary backdrop for next month’s TikTok, it’s worth it.
4. Lighting and Decor Make or Break the Final Look
After the last board goes up, some homeowners feel strangely underwhelmeduntil they tweak the lighting. A single, cool-white overhead light can make even gorgeous wood look flat. Swapping to warmer bulbs, adding sconces, or using a lamp that washes the wall with light can bring out the grain and texture dramatically.
Decor choices matter, too. A wood plank wall doesn’t need to be smothered in art. A single large piece, a simple mirror, or a row of hooks often looks better than a busy gallery wall. Think of the wall itself as decor, not just a background.
5. It’s Addictive (In a Good Way)
There’s a running joke in DIY communities: you don’t stop at one accent wall. Once you finish your first wood plank wall and see how dramatically it changes your space, you start side-eyeing that bland staircase wall, the hallway, maybe even the home office.
Homeowners who started with one small Remodelaholic-style project often move on to vertical shiplap in an entryway, a reclaimed wood wall in a workshop, or a painted plank wall behind a TV. Each project builds skills and confidence, and suddenly “I could never do that” turns into “Okay, what can we plank next?”
The bottom line: adding a wood plank wall to your home is a smart, relatively approachable project that delivers a big return in style and satisfaction. With thoughtful planning, solid installation, and a bit of design intention, you can create a feature that looks like it belongs in a design magazinewithout blowing your budget.
SEO META JSON