Transform Old Blinds Into A Unique DIY Accent Wall That Looks So Trendy

Back in the early 2000s, home decorators and designers leveled up the drama in their designs by adding an intense splash of color on just one wall in a room — the accent wall. A couple of decades later, we're now seeing the effect manifest in a more sophisticated way with wood slat accent walls. Getting the look isn't exactly cheap, with professionally installed versions running $10 to $15 per square foot for simple designs. But you can make it more affordable by repurposing some old wood window blinds. Creating a stunning accent wall has never been easier with this clever DIY. You can even customize it to your design tastes with paint and lighting. Or, modify the layout of your wood slat wall for an even more dramatic look.

While the accent wall trend may have begun with color, it's come back with an added focus on texture. That evolution laid the groundwork for what just might be a match made in design heaven: the classic wood slat room divider that was endemic to mid-century modern design and the newly-evolved accent wall. The wood slat accent wall is a trend that seems to show up everywhere, one that you can easily duplicate without a hefty price tag. All you need are some salvaged wood blinds and nails.

Executing the DIY is as simple as removing the wood slats from the strings that once made them blinds, then mount them on your wall. The fantastic bonus (outside of saving a set of blinds from the landfill and money on your accent wall) is that you can let your creativity take the wheel, and craft a feature wall that speaks specifically to you and your style.

Don't be afraid to take this opportunity to embrace the bold, dynamic colors that are all over current decor trends. Paint your slats a strong color that contrasts with the hue of your walls, like dark turquoise pieces against a cream colored wall. Or, go really bold and cover them in a deep blue or black.

In addition to giving you a trendy accent wall that will take your space to the next level, upcycling wood blinds into a slat wall also gives you a fantastic chance to play with lighting options. Run LED strips between the slats to create a warm and modern vibe, or cut your light strips to varying lengths for a more sensational effect. You could even create a design, like a simple circle, with the lights between your slats. Of course, the way you lay out your wood slat design might just have the biggest impact.

While vertically laid wood slat walls are striking, there are a lot of other design options to consider. What's more, the spacing between the slats will play heavily into the overall look. Lay your slats out with very little space between them, and you'll have a look that unquestionably harkens back to the mid-century modern roots of the style. More space between them might feel more "now."

Get creative with the pattern itself to add even more interest. Go for a chevron pattern, for instance, or embrace a more traditional gingham style. Create an extravagant look by lying your slats out in diagonal strips, lower left to top right on the left side of your wall and lower right to top left on the right side. Eventually, they will cross each other in the middle, creating a small section in the center with an interesting basket weave pattern.

Evoke a more intimate feel by situating your slats in the corner of the room, coming in horizontally at varying lengths toward the center of your wall. Or, bring a more traditional vibe by mounting the slats vertically at wainscotting height. You could even arrange them in squares or rectangles for an art deco look. There are so many creative options. In fact, with all of the ways to make the style your own, this wood blind upcycle DIY might be one of the best accent wall ideas to liven up your home.