How to Decorate Walls With 1x2 Boards

Slide a stud finder across the wall that you want to decorate with the 1-by-2-inch boards. Mark the location of each stud along the entire length of the wall using a pencil.

Measure the distance from the ceiling down to the floor using a tape measure. This measurement is the length required for the 1-by-2-inch boards.

Lay out the 1-by-2-by-96-inch boards with the 2-by-96-inch sides flat on a work surface. Measure and mark each board to the length you measured in Step 2 using a tape measure and pencil. Mark as many boards as you have marked studs. You will install a board at each stud marking. Studs are spaced at a standard 16-inches apart.

Place each marked board flat on the table of a miter saw with the marked side facing up. The 1-by-96-inch edge should be flush against the miter saw fence. Slide the boards along the table of the saw until the pencil mark lines up with the outside edge of the blade. Pull the trigger on the saw and pull it down in an even motion to allow the blade to cut through the wood. Raise the saw back up to the starting position and release the trigger to complete each cut.

Sand the cut ends of the boards with a fine-grit sanding block. Prime each board with interior acrylic latex primer using a nylon/polyester paintbrush. Allow the primer to dry for at least four hours. Brush on an even coat of interior acrylic latex paint using a nylon/polyester paintbrush. Allow the paint to dry 24 hours.

Position boards vertically one at a time with the 2-by-length side flat against the wall. Make sure the board is centered at each stud marking. Hammer finishing nails through the boards into the wall studs. Space the nails every 4 to 6 inches along the entire length of each board to secure them in place.

Center the nail set point over each finish nail head and tap the end with a hammer to set each nail 1/16-inch below the surface of the wood. Fill each hole with a slightly raised dab of wood putty using a putty knife. Allow the wood putty to dry 24 hours.

Sand the wood putty flush with the surface of the wood using a fine-grit sanding block. Touch up the patched nail holes with primer and paint in the same way that you primed and painted the boards.