How to Build Your Own Modern Plank Wall

Clear the wall and the space around it to prepare for planks. Take off electrical covers and anything else that is adhered to the wall.

Using a stud finder, mark where the studs are across the whole wall.

Measure your wall and decide how to best fit your planks. This particular wall is 14 feet by 8 feet. Each plank is 6 inches by 12 feet.

Cut your boards using the miter saw.

Start at the bottom of the wall with a 12-foot plank. Place the first plank on the far left side of the wall on the floor with the smooth surface out. Use a level to check to see if the board is level when it's sitting on the floor. If level, continue to step 6. If it's not level, use a shim to make it level before proceeding.

Use an air compressor and nail gun to nail in your board. You will need to apply pressure to the board so that each nail goes in well. Place two nails in the board at every other stud.

When you come across an electrical outlet, you will need to place an electrical extender on the outlet to make it come out further from the wall. Once that has been done, trace the outlet box on the back of the plank where it's going to fit on the wall. Use a jigsaw to cut your template out of the board.

Repeat steps six and seven to continue filling in the wall.

If you have other obstructions (such as a staircase or railing), then you will need to make a template for each one and use a jigsaw to cut the pattern out. Keep in mind, that the seams between the boards need to be straightly aligned. For some areas (like the top of the staircase pictured below), it might be easiest to place the next plank above and then fill back in afterwards. This will help make sure you have a straight seam.

Keep adding your planks, making sure to keep up with your original pattern, until you get to the top of your wall. More than likely, the boards will not fit exactly. In this case, measure what the distance is between the top board and the ceiling. Use that measurement to cut your board to size using a circular saw. Once cut, nail in the top boards.

Using your finger and wood filler, fill in the nail holes, blemishes and seams (if you needed two boards to complete one row on your wall) in the boards. Let the filler dry. Once dry, sand to get a smooth finish and repeat filling and sanding as necessary.

Prime your wall using a high-hiding primer. Make sure to not overcoat your brush, because you want to be able to see the seams in the wood. Once the wall has had two coats, look back over the wall for imperfections. Go back over the imperfections with wood filler. Let the filler dry and then sand.

Use interior paintable caulk to caulk the edges of your wall and the top where the board meets the ceiling. This gives your wall a more finished look.

Pick your paint color and paint the boards to finish.