This pallet wood closet wall project in the form of a rustic feature wall has saved my bedroom! 🙂
I’m not crazy about hanging up clothes. Truly, I’ve had this “issue” since … forever.
So when a blank wall kept staring at me while my clothes were slung all over my bed, I came up with a plan.
I dreamt the wall was loaded with hooks so I could merrily throw my clothes against it like some carnival game, hoping they’d catch! Fun! 🙂
Truth be told, I just prefer to hang clothes from hooks instead of hangers. So I decided to turn the blank wall into a functional, productive pallet wood closet wall that became a beautiful rustic feature wall as well!
Here’s what I did!
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How to build a pallet wood closet wall
Choosing the pallet wood
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1. Gather up random pieces of reclaimed wood. Clean and lightly sand to prepare.
First up I needed some wood! This pallet wood mix would do the trick nicely!
It’s a mix of pallet wood, fence planks, and other random wood scraps collected over time.
But the best part about it is that each board looks a little different!
Once the boards of choice were chosen, they were given a light sand with a palm sander, but not too much as I desired to leave the old wood patina intact as much as possible.
Learn how to prep reclaimed wood HERE
Painting the wall
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1. Paint the wall in the desired colour.
First up, I painted the wall with an eggshell pure white.
I was going after a strapping look, that’s why I wanted the wall white. You know strapping right? Old fashioned houses had drywall over plaster and slats of wood.
For an added twist, I chose the strapping design to run vertical to give the wall the illusion of more height. This design reduced the amount of wood cutting to size as well as you’ll soon see why!
How to install each wood plank for a feature wall:
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- paint wall first
- position long planks first
- insert one screw in the middle
- use a level to straighten
- add more screws to secure
- cut smaller planks to fit around longer planks
2. Position each plank where desired, starting with the longest planks first, leaving most or all at their full length to start.
3. Then trim smaller boards to fit around the longer boards, much like building a puzzle.
How to level the planks
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4. Level each plank as you install.
Leveling the planks is easy! I like to start by inserting a screw into one plank first so it’s easy to rotate.
Then using a level as your guide, gently tap the board until straight, and secure with more screws.
Adding planks above a doorway
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Above the doorway, the wood was simply cut to size just missing the door moulding. It worked great!
Isn’t that different wood patina fabulous?!
So, let’s add some fun clothing hooks next… with a twist!
Adding salvaged hooks
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5. Install random hooks all over the pallet wall where desired.
Hooks of all types were desired, so I did a thrift store shop as well as a snoop through my own hook stash and came up with some interesting old relics to try!
You’ll soon note that not all these pieces were actual hooks! My goal was to use anything that had the potential to hang clothing.
The above combo is a large hook of some sort teamed up with a rusty gear.
With a bed frame hook on the upper right!
A door knob plate became a unique base for a simple screw! Yup, screws are hooks too!
An old spool that held cable wire became a handy wider hook, that would be also perfect for hanging belts or jewelry.
Each salvaged closet hook was randomly spaced to accommodate enough space under each one to at the very least hang a shirt, with some hooks with nothing underneath to hang long things like pants or coats.
Salvage hook ideas:
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- old rake heads
- rusty gears
- handled tools
- large spools
- upside down vintage hangers
And here’s how the pallet wood closet wall turned out!
The finished pallet wood closet wall
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Annnnd, let’s load it up! How fun is this? The pallet wood closet wall is productive and has such a cozy look thanks to all that reclaimed wood patina!
And the white wood showing through between the wood helps to highlight the beautiful shape of each plank.
For a different look, you could also paint the wall black. But for this room, I love the white spaces in between the boards!
And here’s a peek at the other side of the room…
This little empty wall corner was about to get a whole lot more productive…
Ladder changing area
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Thanks to a ladder and a bench!
The vintage hangers fit perfectly on the ladder rungs!
And of course, add to the woodsy rustic charm as well.
So am I more encouraged to hang up the clothes now?
You bet!
I officially no longer envy those with walk-in closets because my entire room is now one! Everywhere you look.
What do you think of the pallet wood closet wall idea? Think you’d enjoy having all that extra clothing hanging as a benefit to a room in your home too?
(all bedroom redo 2012 projects are HERE)
Other closet related projects you may enjoy:
Create a reclaimed wood bathroom storage closet
Double the space of any small closet with this simple closet kit
Visit all closet projects HERE
And many other unique storage ideas HERE
I love how your wall turned out and the creative hooks/hangers, too. This totally warms up the look, even before you dressed the wall in your clothes!
Wow! The things you think of! This was such a unique idea! Love!
Becca
Looks great, Donna – adds so much warmth to the room. I’ve never heard the term strapping before – we always refer to it just as lath & plaster.
Blessings,
Angie @ Knick of Time
Oh my God that is very very interesting. I will copy it. Greeting Simone
I love the idea of tossing my clothes on some hooks. I really hate walk in closets. I can never find anything 🙂
Donna – you knock it out of the park every time!! God has given you a special gift of unique creativity… love it.
Perfect solution! I also don’t like the hanging up or putting away side of “clothes management”!also, love your floors. very pretty.
You really take the cake… fabulous! Turned out fabulous!
Hello Donna,
Honestly, when I started to read this post. I was not to sure about the wood on your bedroom wall? Wow, to my surprise! The finished wall looks amazing. You are so creative and insightful.
Smiles, Paula
Eclectic and not wonky at all! My question is, will you need to vacuum your wall? The roughness of the wood and the spacing between boards seems to me to be a dust (or around here pet hair) catcher.
I do appreciate your sense of adventure.
Believe it or not, I NEVER worry about dust. Nothing a vacuum brush can’t handle from time to time. The wood was well sanded before going up so it’s pretty smooth! The sawhorse bench keeps the dog from rubbing against it I suppose and the cat can’t be bothered. 🙂
Great job Donna.. I’m sure this is one that will go viral… I love all the original hooks you used.
Susan
PS I love my miter saw too! 🙂
Great. Now I’m looking around for a wall to attach pallet pieces to and I think my husband wants to leave me for you. I suppose I’ll have to designate a wall for him to palletize and maybe he’ll keep me for a bit longer…… till your next project that he loves anyhow. Thanks for not hanging lingerie on the pallets, I don’t know if he could take it!
~Bliss~
Love your palette closet, Donna! I especially love the found objects as hooks. But my very fave it that you used a piece of wood with a knot hole! Love, love, love knot holes in wood!
LOVE your idea to take the wood vertical. What are you doing with the switch cover?
http://junkparlor.blogspot.com
The plate fits… I just have to pick up a white one. I’m not too worried about it being there since clothes are always on the wall. 🙂
Gah! Love it! Love that I’m not the only one who would rather toss her clothing on a hook (I currently have old shoe forms as my hooks) and LOVE what you did with your wall. Great job on the challenge and the execution.
Love the pallet wall and unique hooks!
Thanks for the kudos everyone! I’m in LOVE with this wall… can’t live without it at this point! 🙂
Love every inch of it!!! I especially like the wooden hanger used as a hook! I have so many of them in my antique booth, but they just don’t sell down here…maybe if I showed this idea they’d fly outta there. Too cute, Donna, too cute!! Best, Vicki
Love it, love it, love it. Great idea. Thanks for sharing.
This I LOVE! I certainly have plenty of old wood to use, but I never thought of such unique things to use a hooks. Love this!
Very fun and quirky! Love your vision.
Absolutely love it Donna – so you, so perfect, so inspiring. Thanks for sharing, Laura
I need to find some “good” pallet wood. All I have right now is ones from the roofing company. Love it.
Mad Love as always! Now I have to go pick up the clothes at the end of my bed on the floor…hmmm.
You are so creative! And brave! It looks amazing. I should devote one wall per room in my house to this and see if we can keep the clothes off the floor….
Absolutely gorgeous! (Whoever thought those words would be used in conjunction with pallet wood and junk-lol!)
This is so great I love it. YOu did a really good job, and it is creative
using pallet wood. Love it.
Blessings,
Debbie
Love it, what great treasures you have added. I am working on a pallet wall above my fireplace–but am painting and distressing the wood. Girlfriend, you need to get a miter saw stand–I got one for Christmas and it is so wonderful, and easier on the back and safer!
Amazing! That really looks great.
This is fabulous! You’ve inspired me to get out the saw!
Holly @ Life as a Thrifter
Wow, that is so awesome! What a fantastic idea to have! It looks great!
-kendall
songbirdsandbuttons.blogspot.com
Wow are the wheels turning in my head now!
~Annie
I really like how your wall turned out. What makes it over the top great are all of the interesting “hooks” you have used. I love the upside-down hangers!! I’ve been thinking about getting a miter saw….it’s a done deal now!
Jane
Another unique solution to a problem. This would be great in a boys’ room. Or a mud room. I’m going to pin it, hope it goes more viral than the toilet paper holder. Ann
Love it!! My hubby wonders why we have a walk in closet when the 4 outfits I have are almost always on the floor, hanging off the chair or draping over the laundry basket….I got a bunch of wood from an old shed- it would perfect for that- thanks for sharing and getting our creative juices going!! You are AMAZING!!
You truly are a creative genius! I am in AWE! What an amazing transformation. It gives the room interest, texture, and a place for your “stuff” to land. I am just sitting here shaking my head in disbelief at your unstoppable creativity! You rock!
xo-Lisa
ahhh love it! that WALL is FABULOUS! so awesome & unique! and so YOU!! Happily your newest linky follower! xo
http://www.NorthernCottage.net
Honestly, just when I was starting to get sick of the whole wood pallet trend, you turn it all around.
This is amazing. And beautiful. And unique. And wonderful. Love, love, love!!
This is great! Once again you have blown me away with your eye for ways to use things!
I love the texture, the dimension and of the course the funkiness of it all!
AWESOME wall and the hooks are great..Love the wall..Great job..
Hi there,
How did you put up all the wood if there are not studs everywhere in the wall?
I wanted to do something like this in my actual 10 foot narrow hallways, but my house is older and I don’t have studs where I would want to put the wood.
Can you help?
Thank you,
Crystal
I love everything about your site.
Real builders, cover your eyes! 🙂 Fiarykin, I didn’t worry about studs. At all. I just screwed them in and called it done. The trick is to not over do it so you don’t strip anything. What you see is as sturdy as ever.
Donna
WawaWOW! You did an amazing job on that wall. I’ve always admired when people can take the most mundane, “ugly” objects and make them work–and let’s be honest what you did here was waaaaay more than just making it work! You nailed it!
Love it…specially the different hooks and hangers! Your creative energy is contagious! Thanks for sharing. Enjoy your new closet 🙂
I totally love that wall and the hooks are perfect!! The lacey heart touch is fabulous!!
Hugs
SUeAnn
Love the new wall! What a great place to plan out your outfits!
There are some people who do not have a lot of closet space available. Thank you for posting some alternative ideas.
I am a huge fan of hooks – love this idea; will have to try it!
Love your new header 🙂
Love the header!!!!!!!
Donna,
Only you could come up with this charming idea and make it work…I LOVE IT!!! I also love the new header too. I am now following with the new linky…also been following with Facebook and hope you will follow me too:)
Blessings,
Linda
Wow, this is so cool! I don’t know how you do it! ~Lori
ummmm, that’s freaking awesome!
Trish
http://www.mash-upchic.blogspot.com
Such rustic charm. I love it! Especially love all of the unique hooks. This wall just screams FUN!
Hugs,
Jann
Donna that is truly unique, only you could get away with that. Love all the different hooks you used.
That is the cutest and most thing to hit a bedroom I have ever seen. I so love this, not so sure the husband would….Oh well, I can admire yours!
Your wall looks fantastic. Where do you get all of your salvaged wood? We just did a dining room refresh…check it out and let me know what you think?
The wall turned our really cool. I love the various types of hooks too. You done good of course you always do
lol! Great job, Donna! This wall is so YOU, girl! lol! Only you would be so stinkin’ creative and think so out-of-the-box!! 🙂
xoxo laurie
Truly did a wonderful job on the wall, the idea of using junk was brilliant. I like using junk as much as I can in creating new items out of it…
insurance auctions usa
Oh, thank you for sharing! One of our daughters’ wishes is such a pallet wall. We have two addresses where we can pick up as many old pallets as we like (thanks, hubbie!!) so we’re definately gonna make this. I’ll show C. your post tonight, she will get crazy, hehe 😉
Wow – I love that wall and the ladder, You have, once again, given me some great inspiration for my room. I hate to hang up my clothes too! And how beautiful it turned out!
Thanks for this post about a pallet wood closet wall. What a unique idea.
Love the pallet wall and unique hooks!
Love the wall but I am wondering what kind of floor you have installed in the bed/bath?
Hey Nancy! It’s hardwood flooring (the real deal) from Costco from a few years back. Gunsmoke was the colour.
I love this idea so much….now I just need to find a suitable wall!!
Thanks for all the inspiration on your blog!
Awesome. Thinking of doing a pallet wall in my office.
You are a genius girl. Love this idea and your site.
Hey Funky Junk Sister! I love your Style