Building a half-wall covered with panelling is an easy way to add a point of interest to your bedroom.In fact, this wall can be used as both a headboard and a shelf, allowing you to place beautiful decorative accessories on it.
Tools required
- Mitre Saw
- Orbital Sander 5 in.
- Sandpaper #120
- Reciprocating Saw
- Brad Nailer
- Trim & Baseboard Filler
- White latex Crack Filler for Interior
- Paint Roller
- Electric Drill
- Tape Measure
- Pencil
Material required
- White Paint
- 2 Decorative Grooved Wall Panel 4 ft. x 8 ft. (cut in two)
- Flat Head Wood Screws 2 in. #8
- 8x pine board 2 in. x 6 in. x 8 ft. (half-wall structure)
- 2x pine boards 2 in. x 8 in. x 8 ft. (shelves)
Step 1: Build the Half-Wall Structure
1.1 Measure the width of the headboard wall.
1.2 Place a 2 in. x 6 in. x 8 ft. pine board against the wall and mark with a pencil where to cut the baseboard, perpendicular to the headboard wall.
1.3 Cut the baseboard with a reciprocating saw.
1.4 Cut four 2 in. x 6 in. x 8 ft. pine boards. Two horizontal boards will be laid end to end on the floor. Two more horizontal boards, also laid end to end, will form the top of the half-wall structure.
1.5 Cut the remaining four 2 in. x 6 in. x 8 ft. pine boards into 40 in. high pieces that will form the vertical studs of the half-wall structure.
1.6 Screw the two bottom horizontal boards into the floor.
1.7 Screw a 40 in. high board at each end into the wall perpendicular to the headboard wall.
1.8 Place the 40 in. high vertical pine boards on the bottom horizontal boards at regular intervals.
1.9 Place and screw the top horizontal boards onto the vertical wooden boards.
Step 2: Cover with decorative wall panels
2.1 Cut the grooved decorative wall panels to the desired height (in this case, 44 in. high). Cut the last panel widthwise so that all the panels fit together on the headboard wall. In this case, 3 pieces of 48 in. wide x 44 in. high and a final piece of 20.5 in. wide x 44 in. high will be required.
2.2 Using a brad nailer, nail the grooved panels at the top and bottom into the vertical wood studs of the half-wall structure.
Note: If there is an electrical outlet on the headboard wall, plan to cut a rectangle out of the decorative wall panels to insert the electrical outlet. You could also plan to add two wall-mounted bedside lamps directly on the half-wall. Perfect for hiding the wiring!
Step 3 : Put the wooden shelf in place
3.1 Cut two 2 in. x 8 in. x 8 ft. pine boards so that they join end to end and fill the entire width of the top of the half-wall. These boards will form the decorative shelf. Sand the top and edge of both boards with fine grain paper (#120).
3.2 Paint the top and edge of the two 2 in. x 8 in. pine boards with white paint. Allow to dry.
3.3 Screw the 2 in. x 8 in. boards, laid horizontally on top of the half-wall structure.
3.4 Fill the screw holes with a white trim and baseboard filler.
3.5 Fill the joint between the shelf and the grooved panels with white latex crack filler.
3.6 Flatten the crack filler with your finger or an applicator.
Decorate with various accessories
Place objects of various shapes and heights on the shelf: rectangular pictures, round mirror, candles. Create visually appealing groupings.
For more inspiration, check out our blog post on how to build a headboard covered with wallpaper.