DIY Modern Farmhouse Kids Activity Wall Board

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If you’re a fan of Farmhouse style kids decor, this DIY adds so much charm and fun to a kid’s room or playroom!

I recently shared the big reveal for my boys bedroom makeover. I absolutely love that room now. It’s a fun mix of traditional elements and Modern Farmhouse style. It makes me smile as soon as I walk in. So far, I’ve shared all of the DIY projects from that room, EXCEPT for this DIY Modern Farmhouse Kids Activity Wall Board. And it’s about time that I did, because it’s one of my favorite projects in the room!

I went for an extra big Wall Board with 3 different activity boards to keep my boys busy. In fact, mine is about 8′ long. But don’t worry, you can adjust the build size to fit your space and design. You can also mix and match your own activity boards. My guys are little, so a Lego Board, Magnet Board, and Peg Board work great for them now.

When they’re a bit older I can change things up, give them a Basketball hoop next to a Velcro Ball Target. Or cool marble run pieces for their magnet board or peg board. Maybe they’d like another Lego Board one day. Or, I could attach one of those fun craft paper rolls for them to draw new masterpieces on. We’ll see.

I thought up 20 ideas for boards that would be awesome for any age groups, including Mom’s office. BUT I’d LOVE, LOVE, LOVE for you to tell me any fun board ideas you might think up. I can always use clever ideas for future projects.  🙂

Now, let’s get this build started!

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DIY Modern Farmhouse Kids Activity Wall Board- Materials Needed

• Wood Glue (I used this extra strong glue)
• Brad Nailer with 1 1/4″ Brad Nails
• Kreg Jig and screws
• Miter Saw and Circular Saw
• Wood Filler
• Paint, I used Behr’s Castle Path Latex
• Stain, I used Minwax’s Golden Oak
• A Good Water-Based Polyurethane
• 1×2″ & 1×4″ Select Pine or Poplar
• 1×3″ Cedar Boards
• Lattice Boards – Unfinished if Staining, Primed if Painting

DIY Modern Farmhouse Kids Activity Wall Board – Build Steps

PLEASE NOTE: Certain types of activity boards will have a DEFAULT SIZE, so it’s best to plan ahead. For example, the Lego Base Plates come in a standard size. You might want to plan the frame to fit around a certain number of base plates. Another example, you can buy chalk board, peg board, plywood, dry erase board, etc in 2′ x 4′ segments at stores like Home Depot and Lowes. And sheet metal for magnet boards comes in sizes like 1′ x 2′ or the 2′ x 3′ size I used. SO PLAN AHEAD for the best layout and size. I actually ended up cutting 2 of my Lego Base Plates with a Utility Knife because the sheet metal for the magnet board would have been much harder to cut. 🙂

Step 1

Plan how many activity boards you’ll need, the type, and size before building. See note above for tips about what to consider.

Step 2

Cut and sand your 1×3’s for the inside frame. I used 2 – 8′ long boards and 4 – 19 1/2″ cedar boards for mine. I drilled 2 pocket holes on each end of the 4 – 19 1/2″ boards with my Kreg Jig R3. Then I sanded the boards smooth with 150-grit sandpaper. It’s easier to sand something this big in pieces. 🙂

Step 3

Clamp your boards in place before screwing them together. Assemble the whole inner frame.

Step 4

Wipe the boards clean and stain this frame, per instructions on the frame. When using both stain and paint on a project, it’s easier to get a perfect look by staining and painting the pieces separately.

Step 5

Cut, sand, and paint the outer 1×2 & 1×4 frame boards. Double-check for exact measurements on the outside of the frame you just built. I used 1 – 8′ long and 2 – 25″ long 1×2 boards, plus 1 – 97 3/4″ long 1×4 for the bottom shelf.

Step 6

Once the stained and painted boards are dry, glue and nail the outside frame to the inner. I used 1/4″ thick plywood board as a spacer to create a gap behind the inner frame. This gap creates enough space for you to attach the activity boards you picked. BUT IF YOU PICK A THICKER activity board material, or if you want to use peg board storage organization attachments, you’ll need to adjust your gap to give enough room behind the inner frame.

Step 7

Cut, sand, and paint the Lattice Board that wraps around the bottom shelf. I used 2 – 3 3/4″ boards for the sides and 1 – 98 1/4″ piece for the front. Again, double-check for exact measurements on the outside of the frame you just built. I’m a big fan of double-checking. 🙂

Step 8

Once the painted lattice boards are dry, glue and nail them to the 1×4 shelf.

Step 9

You can apply your polyurethane to the whole build now. I use a couple coats when it’s something my boys will play with. They like to bang things up a bit. 😉

Step 10

Finish and attach your activity boards with screws, so they can be easily removed later.

Step 11

Hang the board with appropriate weight wall anchors or french cleats for the weight of your DIY Modern Farmhouse Kids Activity Wall Board. I actually went the extra cautious route and used 2 french cleats that could have held the wait with just one. But, I always go with caution when I build something for my kids. I didn’t want this heavy wood falling on my guys.

ALSO, I used 2 3M Velcro Command Strips on the bottom of the board to prevent the kids from lifting the bottom off the wall. Those command strips keep the board tightly secured to the wall. I actually use this trick a lot. You can see it on the DIY Light Clip Display Board in their room and the 1-Day Bookshelf Build in the Playroom/Office that doubled their book storage.

DIY Modern Farmhouse Kids Activity Wall Board – Board Details

Now, let me show you some of the fun details on our 3 activity boards!

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And be sure to check out the Kids Bedroom Reveal for lots of budget-friendly and fun DIY and decor ideas your kiddos will love!

Looking for more fun DIY projects your kids will love?! Check out this DIY Nerf Gun Target Tutorial. The moving targets make it more challenging and fun!

They might also love this beautiful DIY Wooden Kids Kitchen with lots of storage and interactive fun.

And, up your toy storage game with this DIY Wooden Toy Storage Crate.

This DIY Table Over Washer and Dryer is always a popular build.

If you need a great little desk for your elementary age kids. Check out this DIY Childrens Desk with Storage Drawers.

Or, this easy DIY Kids Play Tent from PVC Pipes.

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Feeling inspired? Get out there and make your own DIY Modern Farmhouse Kids Activity Wall Board. Have fun and let me know if you have questions. Don’t forget to sign up for the Abbotts At Home email newsletter to get DIY, Remodeling, and Crafty ideas in your inbox.