DIY Pegboard Wall
While we were living in a rental, I was itching to start working on some of our ideas for our new home. We knew we were going to have really high ceilings, and wanted a way to accentuate them, while also making them feel useful - so in came my idea to make some large plywood pegboards. Aside from the weight of them (hanging a 4x8 sheet of 3/4 inch plywood fifteen feet in the air is no easy task!), this project was super simple and has been one of my top DIY projects to date.
Here's a glimpse at the finished product!
pegboard wall
Alright...so how we got to that point has been a long time coming. Back in the rental we had access to a garage, so we purchased the 4x8 sheets of plywood. We went with a higher quality, 3/4 inch birch (about $50 each) in order to tie in to other plywood features we were planning on. To make the holes evenly, I decided to purchase a sheet of cheap pegboard to plan out the grid (2x4 sheets are less than $5). I made a pilot hole on all the marked spots, and then used a 3/4 inch forstner bit to make the holes ($8.50 for the bit).
preparing the plywood
installation
The completed boards sat in garages for several months before we worked up the nerve and time to get around to installing them on the wall. Due to the heft of the plywood, good studs are necessary, and taking time to check and double check that the support boards are secure won't hurt. We used a series of 2x4's cut shorter than the length of the plywood to fasten to the studs in the wall - and to that we fastened the plywood. A tip to anyone trying this in their own homes is to measure a lot! We pre-marked and drilled the plywood so we knew where the 2x4's would be once we had the sheets in position - we didn't want to be guessing where to put screws in while holding these heavy pegboards. (tip: counter sink the screw holes for a clean finish)
keep installing
For some of you, one full sheet of plywood might be enough. Stand back and enjoy! We had big goals for this wall however, and after a few nights of working after the kids were in bed, and asking for an extra hand for the really high sheet, we finished the project.
If I'm being honest, I thought this would be a lot more difficult to write up. But it's a simple concept and really was quite simple start to finish. My spouse doubted that I could make a straight and usable grid on such a large scale - but using a template was worth the small expense. All in all, we were able to complete this project for less than $175, and create an eye catching element of home design on our sloped ceiling.
benches
simple benches built out of 2x12 boards, also function as steps for reaching these high shelves