Planked Walls in the Entry
If you’re looking for an easy, fast, and cheap way to add character to your home, consider planking your walls. We just finished adding plank walls to our entry way and it’s added that perfect amount of character and farmhouse style!
I’ve been ready to change our entryway for quite a while now. When we first moved in after the house was built, I knew that because we had such an open floor plan, I would need to find ways to create separate “rooms” within the same open floor plan. The first way I created that, was by painting stripes in our entry. I loved them the instant we finished painting. They were exactly what the space needed, and instead of having one big room, it felt like we actually had a designated entry.
It’s amazing to see how much I’ve grown and changed as the time has gone by. In the beginning, I was still very much looking for my style. It wasn’t until a few years ago when I finally found it, that I was conscious of what I was doing, and why I was doing it. It was more than doing something because it was a trend, it was about doing something because I loved it.
And that’s how I’ve been since the very beginning with plank walls. I love them. The first plank wall we added was in the breakfast nook. After it was installed, I knew it was a keeper. Since then, we’ve added them throughout the house, and I can honestly say we’re not done yet!
Our entryway, even though it’s a grand mess (really the whole house is!), looks completely different.
While I did love the stripes when we painted them, I’ve known they weren’t the right fit for our house, or what we’ve already done, and what we have planned. It was time for a change, and the plank walls were the perfect way to tie the house together.
I thought long and hard about how I wanted the entryway to connect into the living room, especially since the living room walls are done in board & batten. I decided it would look completely fine to have the two different wall treatments connected, and I’m glad we did it. I’ll talk more about that later, but I’m so happy I went with my gut feeling.
Right now, it’s very much a blank space. I’ve pulled a few things to use from other rooms in the house, and we have a few new DIY projects planned to finish it out, but I am just enjoying the fresh new perspective this gives the house. I’ll be sharing more on that soon too, so stay tuned.
If you’re curious how to make your own plank wall, here’s our tutorial.
P.S. The planked walls are painted in Super White by Benjamin Moore in Eggshell.
Beautiful! We are halfway through doing a similar look with faux “board and batten” in our entry. We are currently at a painting halt because I can’t decide on the interior door color… Ours is solid, so I’m thinking the black exterior color would be all wrong inside. I’m thinking of just keeping it super white, and use an interior wreath to define it as door… I don’t know,,, but this is just beautiful!
I, too, love planked walls. I added them as wainscoting in my living room and would like to add them elsewhere. I worry about having to rip them down in 6-10 years. Do you think it’s a trend or it’s more classic like beadboard and batten & board and there isn’t going to be some mass ripping out across America?
I know exactly what you mean, Janet. Anthony asks me this every time we install another wall in the house. I do think plank walls are very hot right now, but I look to see them last over time. They are classic, just like beadboard and board and batten. I don’t think they’re going anywhere. 🙂
It looks wonderful!
Love the plank walls!!
I loved the stripes, but adore the crisp, fresh new look as well.
The new plank walls look great, especially with the black door. That is such a nice large and open space. Our front hall is not very big. We painted the inside of our front door black several years ago (and the outside black last year) and I still love it. Looking forward to seeing how you style everything as time permits.
Love the planked walls, you made a good decision! I too painted your double entry doors black … love the look!
Looks great! I am planning to do this in our son’s bathroom – the walls are covered in 1940’s beige tile that HAS to go!
Oh those walls are so gorgeous and crisp! Wonderful choice! And I love love love the black door!
I am looking to add a plank wall in our dining room and bathroom. Did you follow a certain post on how to do these? I have read some and it seems as though there are many different DIY methods. Thanks!
Thank you so much Kelli! You can find our tutorial here: https://www.thewoodgraincottage.com/2013/01/22/breakfast-nook-plank-wall-tutorial/
Shayna,
I own a craftsman cottage in a small town. All the walls are ship lap covered with dry wall. In some places the walls are poorly installed. Your pictures have given me hope that I can remove some “new walls” to expose the old ones. How refreshing to see that you understand the beauty of this type of design. Thanks.