Interior wood slat wall panels: The best out there

You can see people adding slat walls to their homes wherever you look. What’s the reason behind this latest trend?

While it may seem like a lot of work, adding this fixture to your home is rewarding. It can transform your living room in ways you couldn’t even imagine. Depending on your type, it can make your room appear wider or taller. Not to mention the satisfying feeling you’ll get for sprucing up your room all on your own. You’ll soon love this new decoration even if you don’t care about the latest trends.

In this article, we will tell you everything there is to know about interior wood slat wall panels. We’ll also show you some of the best options out there.

Summary

We tested various products and found that the best interior wood slat wall panels out there was the Only Garment Racks maple product. The runner-up interior wood slat wall panel was SSWBasics.

Here is a summary of our category winners:

• Best overall interior wood slat wall panels: Only Garment
• Best garage wood slat wall panels: PROSLAT
• Best vertical wood slat wall panels: Woodchucks 

Best wood slat interior wall panels

SSWbasics – Black Laminate

This SSW basics panel is very durable, making it excellent for garages. Thanks to its horizontal groves, you can use it to hold hooks.

Name	SSWBasics
Size	4 ft x 2 ft
Amount	2
Color	Black
Good for	Retail

SSWbasics – Light Maple

This light panel from SSWbasics can create an interesting contrast in your room. Its horizontal grooves make it perfect for holding items.

Only Garment Racks

You’ll have no issues installing this Only Garment Racks panel. It can hold a surprising amount of weight, which is why we mention it on our list.

PROSLAT

This PROSLAT panel was made for a garage organizer. With it, you’ll never trip over your tools again.

Name	PROSLAT
Size	8 ft. x 4 ft
Amount	4
Color	Black
Good for	Garages

Crownwall

If you’re looking for a cheaper garage option, consider this Crownwall panel.

Vertical slatted wall panels

Woodchucks Wood Lumber

This 10-pack gives you all the materials you need to set up your panel. It comes in several different wood types, all quite affordable. We particularly liked the smooth texture.

Name	PROSLAT
Material	Walnut
Amount	10
Color	Natural
Good for	Vertical creations

Belgravia Wallpaper

You might be wondering why we placed a wallpaper on the list. Well, this one perfectly captures the texture of a slat wall. And unlike the real deal, it’s easy to install and remove.

Slatpanel

Slatpanel offers one of the best wood veneer panels on the market. Not only does it look elegant, but it also absorbs sounds. It can be a godsend if you have kids running around in the house.

Eazart

Few ribbed wood panels can compare to the one from Eazart. It comes in three different colors, meaning you won’t have to do any repainting. It also has acoustic properties.

Woody Walls

If you wish to realize your wood paneling makeover ideas, you can’t go wrong with this one. You’ll have an easy time installing it, even if you don’t do DIY projects often.

What is a slat wall?

Before we jump into the topic, let’s take a closer look slat wall stands for. Slat wall is a type of construction material that features grooves or slats. That’s where the name comes from. A standard panel comes with horizontal slats, meaning you can use them to hold items such as hooks and shelves.

It was first created in the 1960s and emphasized convenience rather than beauty. That’s why people first used it in retail stores to display their items better.

While you can still see these panels in shopping malls, they’ve evolved greatly. What started as a purely practical design has also turned into a beautiful fixture. Today, many people use them to decorate their living rooms. Some even prefer to create vertical slats instead of the classic horizontal ones.

You may also hear people calling this type of fixture slot wall, groove wall, or even bracket board.

5 reasons you may need a slat wall without even knowing it

Still not convinced you could use a slat wall? No need to worry. Although this type of fixture may seem like a very niche addition to your home, you’d be surprised. The right panel can make your home not only more organized but also much more beautiful. If you want your home to look elegant and modern, you should have at least one in your home.

Here are the 5 reasons why you should invest in a slat wall panel:

1. You can get it for a very low price
2. It will last you a long time
3. You can customize it as much as you wish
4. You can install them easily
5. It has many different uses
6. Low Price

Home improvement can be a very expensive hobby. Luckily, that isn’t the case will slat walls. Unlike most projects, this one will leave your wallet mostly unscathed. And if you decide to go down the DIY path, you won’t pay for anything more than just the wood and tools.

1. Sturdy and long-lived

While many homeware additions come with high maintenance, slat walls are the rare exceptions. Once you install them, you won’t have to do anything other than the occasional dusting. These fixtures are also built to last, meaning your kids or pets will rarely damage them.

2. Highly customizable

Though most people imagine slat walls as boring white display racks, yours doesn’t have to be this way. The market is teeming with possibilities, meaning you’re guaranteed to find one that will find in your home. And if you don’t, you can just build one yourself.

3. Easy installation

If you’re not very handy with tools, rest easy. Installing a slat wall will be one of the easiest DIY projects you’ve ever experienced.

4. Versatile use

You can use your slat wall in any way you want. Some people use them in their garages to better organize their tools. However, you be creative and build yourself a wood slat accent wall instead. We recommend using them in the living room – that’s where they shine the best, especially if you go for vertical grooves.

What type of wood is used for slat wall panels?

Are you sold on the idea of building yourself a slat wall? Before you do, you need to settle on the right material. People usually create these panels from metals, plastic, or wood. While metals and plastic may work well in your garage, you shouldn’t use them elsewhere. When it comes to decorative wall panels, wood is your best option. Its elegant texture complements most modern houses well.

Another reason wood is such a great choice is its versatility. With so many types of wood, you’re bound to find one that complements your room well.

You can find the overview of wood types in the table below:

Wood Type	Cost	Durability	Color
Plywood	Cheap	Not as durable	Varies
Pine	Cheap	Not as durable	Light
Poplar	Cheap	Moderately durable	Light
Redwood	Affordable	Resilient	Dark
Cedar	Affordable	Resilient	Light with dark undertones
Fir	Affordable	Resilient	Light
Walnut	Expensive	Resilient	Dark
Alder	Cheap	Resilient	Light
Larch	Affordable	Moderately durable	Light
Oak	Expensive	Resilient	Dark

What type of wood is used for slat walls? How to choose the best type

As you can see in the table above, you have plenty of options to choose from. But how do you choose the right one for you? This decision is more than just a matter of preference. Before you buy your preferred type of wood, you should consider the following 3 factors:

1. Your budget
2. The wood’s durability
3. The color of your room

Budget

It will be the limiting factor in your decision-making. While you may think all wood is just wood and should cost the same, this isn’t entirely true. Many factors influence the cost of each type of wood. For instance, different tree species have different growth rates. The ones that grow slower will thus be much more expensive.

Beyond that, it’s all about supply and demand. The higher the demand, the lower the supply. And the lower the supply, the more expensive the wood will be.

It shouldn’t affect you too much unless you plan on buying mahogany. Most of our listed options are quite affordable without sacrificing any quality.

Durability

The second factor you must consider is durability. Though it may not be intuitive, durability is related to your budget. While you may be tempted to buy cheaper wood, you’ll likely end up replacing it more often. Thus, you’ll have to deal with unforeseen expenses. We recommend going for wood types marked Moderately Durable or higher on our list to avoid this. Though the initial price may be higher, it will be a better investment in the long run.

Room color

The final factor has to do with aesthetics. We recommend using contrast to its full potential. If your room uses a dark color palette, go for light wood. If it’s bright, choose a darker type of wood. It will make your home appear modern and elegant. Before you know it, you’ll have the most beautiful living room in the neighborhood.

You can also use stain to change the original color. It is much cheaper than buying the real wood type.

Are slat walls trendy?

There’s never been a better time to build a slat wall. Elegant and affordable, everybody wants to have one in their house. Don’t believe us? You can look at social media. Many influencers and even celebrities have slat walls in their homes.

They’re especially trendy in the living room. Since most people prefer a modern and elegant look, the right panel can bring out its color.

But it’s not just about the looks. These fixtures are also cheap and easy to install. We guarantee you’ll install one in a matter of minutes, even if you don’t trust your DIY skills. As for the cost, it all depends on the materials you choose. But compared to other home improvement projects, you should still be able to afford it.

How thick should a slat wall be?

Before you get to work, you must decide how thick you want your wall to be. While this will come down to your personal preference, we recommend the following thickness.

As a rule of thumb, the wood strips should touch the wall closely. It will give it more structural support, preventing it from collapsing. If you’re using plywood sheets, they should be about 3/8 inches thick. If you’re using 1×2 lumber, cut your strips so that they are 3/4 inches thick.

Horizontal vs. vertical slat wall – which one is better?

Both options have their pros and cons. You can review their difference in the table below:

Type	Visual effect	Available in wallpaper form	Item storage
Horizontal	It makes the room appear wider	No	Yes
Vertical	It makes the room appear taller	Yes	No

DIY slat wall

Now that you know everything there is to know about slat walls, it’s time to get to work. Although the DIY project isn’t difficult, it has many steps, especially if you plan to cut the wood yourself. But that doesn’t mean you can’t do it. When you handle these projects yourself, you learn to appreciate them better. After all, they are the product of your hard work.

This guide covers every step of the way. Here are the 11 steps you must follow:

1. Gather your gear

You won’t get very far without the right equipment. Apart from the wood itself, you’ll also need the following tools:

• Woods stain of your choice
• Construction Adhesive
• Polyurethane
• Paintbrush
• Table saw
• Miter saw
• Finish nailer
• Nails
• Orbital sander
• Wood filler
• Protective gear
• Protective gloves
• Protective goggles

1. Check the wall

Make sure you check the walls in your room. Ideally, it should be as straight and smooth as possible. If it’s too uneven, it might not be the best wall for this DIY project.

2. Handle the preparations

It’s much more effective to handle the calculation before you start working. First, measure how many slats you’ll need before you begin working. Make sure you account for waste.

3. Paint the wall

Once you install your slat wall, dismantling it will be a pain in the neck. Thus, you should paint it thoroughly before you add the wood strips. It should ideally contrast with the wood stain you chose. Allow the wall to try before you install the strips.

4. Cut the wood

The next step is to cut the sheets into individual strips. If you’ve purchased pre-cut strips, you can skip this step.

If not, cut the wood using a table saw. We recommend doing this with the help of another person. Since this is a dangerous tool, make sure you place safety above all else. Pay extra attention when you get to the end of each board, as this is when most injuries happen.

5. Fill in the gaps

Inspect the strips for any holes and gaps. If you find any, fill them in with a wood filler.

6. Sand the wood strips.

Align the strips on the floor and sand them with an orbital sander. Once you’re done, sand each piece individually as well. You can skip the side that will face the wall if you wish.

7. Stain the wood strips.

Paint or stain the wood strips. Make sure you cover only three sides, leaving the one that will face the wall. If you paint it, it may not align against it properly.

Most paints and stains smell for the first few days after you apply them. If you can’t ventilate your room, allow them to dry somewhere else before you continue with the project.

8. Cut the end of the wood strips.

In an ideal world, the walls in your house would form the perfect square or rectangular shape. But in this one, most of them aren’t straight. Thus, you’ll have to cut each wood strip individually to match the shape of your room.

Although this may be the most boring part of the installation, it is extremely important. If you skip it, your wood strips won’t align properly, and you’ll have to start the whole project again.

9. Install the wood strips on the walls.

You can finally install the strips. Apply construction glue to the back of the strips. Make sure the beads are small and in the center. Otherwise, it will leak. Finally, nail the strips to the wall.

If you have any outlets on the wall, use the miter saw to cut the strips when you reach them.

10. Remove the nails and fill in the holes.

Once the glue dries, you can remove the nails. While they leave small holes, you may want to fill them with a wood filler.

Conclusion

Slat walls are all the rage these days. And for a good reason. This unique decorative feature can reshape your room, making it feel modern and alive. While you’ll have to step out of your comfort zone to install one, it’s certainly worth the effort.