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Easy DIY Scrap Wood Wall Art: Build Steps and Video

Do you love DIY Scrap Wood Wall Art? But can’t find the right colors or patterns in the stores. Follow these steps to build it!

DIY Scrap Wood Wall Art

I am always drawn to wood wall art in the stores, like this amazing abstract chippy wall art. But even if I love it, the colors or design don’t seem quite right for the room I want it for.

So, as a power tool junkie, I decided it was time to make my own. And of course, I had to share this DIY Scrap Wood Wall Art with you!

I love this DIY idea! Here's how-to build steps and a quick video to show you how to make your own DIY Scrap Wood Wall Art. #AbbottsAtHome #ScrapWood  #Woodworking #WoodArt #WoodworkingIdeas
I went with a slightly distressed look on this DIY Scrap Wood Wall Art.

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This tutorial focuses on the steps you can follow to design your own pattern and paint job to make your own.

And if you do, I’d love to see it! You can always tag me on Instagram to show me what you’ve made.

I love this DIY idea! Here's how-to build steps and a quick video to show you how to make your own DIY Scrap Wood Wall Art. #AbbottsAtHome #ScrapWood  #Woodworking #WoodArt #WoodworkingIdeas
Don’t forget to Pin Me!

Which Wood to Use for DIY Wood Wall Art

When I make my Geometric Wood Art, I usually use scrap Select Pine because I tend to use it for a lot of my DIY Furniture Build Plans.

You can use different widths or types of wood for your design. Pick the wood that you like for your build. If you’re painting the pieces, go with Select Pine since it’s usually the most affordable.

I like to use Select Pine over Common Board or Whitewood for DIY Scrap Wood Wall Art because it’s generally very straight, smooth-textured and knot free.

Oak and Poplar boards work just as well. But they are more expensive. So, only use those when you’ll be staining the wood and want to show off the wood grain and tone. Also remember that Oak will have a textured grain, instead of a smooth feel.

Image of DIY Scrap Wood Wall Art with 3 design ideas. Easy woodworking steps.
This is a fun wood wall art project for beginner woodworkers.

The Cedar boards you find at Lowes or Home Depot can work too. But they tend to be rougher than the other dimensional lumber. So, carefully pick out the straightest boards with the least amount of imperfections.

You can find more design inspiration for geometric wood art and table tops in some of my other tutorials. Check out this beautiful Poplar DIY Geometric Wood Table Top.

And, the amazing variation in Cedar designs in this DIY Wood Mosaic Table Top or this DIY Chevron Wood Wall Art Tutorial.

Wood Used for this Tutorial

  • 1/4″ Plywood or Luan Base – I had 5mm (about 1/8″)  plywood leftover from my Master Bedroom Ceiling Update.
  • 1″x2″ and 1″x3″ Select Pine Dimensional Lumber

Tools & Supplies Needed

I love this DIY idea! Here's how-to build steps and a quick video to show you how to make your own DIY Scrap Wood Wall Art. #AbbottsAtHome #ScrapWood  #Woodworking #WoodArt #WoodworkingIdeas
This DIY Scrap Wood Wall Art set works great in our Master Bedroom. We are in the middle of a big remodel. You can see the big DIY Wood Panel Vaulted Ceiling Makeover.

Watch the DIY Scrap Wood Wall Art Build Video

If any of the steps below are confusing, check out this quick video for a better look at each step of the build. Sometimes seeing something done makes it easier to understand.

I LOVE this DIY Scrap Wood Wall Art - Steps to Make Geometric Art for Beginners

Build Steps – Cut Your Frame and Pieces

Design Note: I only used nails on my outside frame. But you can nail and glue each piece in place, if you like the look of the nails.

Or, if you’re using scrap wood that bows and really needs the nails to keep it flat against the surface. I would use 1/2″ plywood for the base, in that case. Be sure to pick brad nails that aren’t too long.

Step One

Decide on the best size DIY Scrap Wood Wall Art for your space. I went for 3 – 18″ x 18″ pieces for a large wall. Cut your plywood base to size. Remember, the outside frame should be 1/2″ wider than the plywood base.

Keeping the plywood smaller will keep it out of sight when you hang it on a wall.

Build your own custom DIY Scrap Wood Geometric Art. Works for Barn Quilt, Tribal Art, Boho, Mosaic, geometric wood designs and more. Includes DIY Tutorial steps and how-to video!
Cutting the DIY Scrap Wood Wall Art plywood base square is easy with a straight cutting guide clamped to the board.

Step Two

Next, I used a straight-edge to mark corner to corner and across the middles. Those marks just helped me make sure the design stayed centered.

Build your own custom DIY Scrap Wood Geometric Art. Works for Barn Quilt, Tribal Art, Boho, Mosaic, geometric wood designs and more. Includes DIY Tutorial steps and how-to video!
The pencil marks act as a guide for my design. The frame helps hold the pieces in place while I make sure my cuts are tight. I love this Bessey Strap Clamp for jobs like this.

Step Three

Each of my 3 DIY Scrap Wood Wall Art designs, started with an outside frame. Clamping those together made it easier to hold the inner pieces in place while I worked on the design.

Each piece has to be cut to the exact same length to get a perfect square. I usually use the first piece as a cutting guide for the rest. Just clamp the piece to the top and line the blade up with the edge on the top piece before cutting the bottom piece.

Build your own custom DIY Scrap Wood Geometric Art. Works for Barn Quilt, Tribal Art, Boho, Mosaic, geometric wood designs and more. Includes DIY Tutorial steps and how-to video!
I clamp the first board to the following boards to get matching lengths. Just push the top board up to the lowered blade to make sure you’ll cut the bottom board at the same length. Don’t start the blade until you raise it off of the boards, though.

Step Four

Once the outside frame is cut and clamped in place, you can start cutting the inner pieces for your DIY Scrap Wood Wall Art. You can use my designs as a guide or pick your own. Instagram and Pinterest are full of inspiration.

I decided that I didn’t want to make cuts along the length of any boards, to avoid using my table saw. So I worked my way from the outside to the inside, using 2″ or 3″ wide boards to give more variation and interest to the design. I also stuck with just 45-degree angle cuts.

Use as many full width pieces as possible. My small triangles in each piece are the pieces that needed cutting on the width and length of the design.

The last couple of pieces may need to be cut carefully with whichever saw you are comfortable using for the job. You can find 4 Tips for How to Safely Cut Small Wood Pieces on a Miter Saw in another post.

Be sure to follow safety rules for the saw. For pieces that are just a bit too long for the space, only shave small amounts off until you get a tight fit. I’ve wasted too many boards over-cutting pieces in the past.

Do not get your hands anywhere near the blade. Start with a long enough piece of lumber to keep your hands away. Cut the angle you need on one end of the board. Then cut off the end to complete the cut.

Build your own custom DIY Scrap Wood Geometric Art. Works for Barn Quilt, Tribal Art, Boho, Mosaic, geometric wood designs and more. Includes DIY Tutorial steps and how-to video!

Step Five

When you have the whole design finished and set in place to make sure you have nice tight miters, pick a few boards to raise with 1/4″ scraps, biscuits, mdf, etc. I went with 1 pattern in each piece to raise.

Build your own custom DIY Scrap Wood Geometric Art. Works for Barn Quilt, Tribal Art, Boho, Mosaic, geometric wood designs and more. Includes DIY Tutorial steps and how-to video!
Picking which pieces will be raised in this piece.

Step Six

Now you can sand the boards with a medium grit sandpaper, like 150-grit. But make sure you remember where each piece goes. I sanded the top and sides of each board. I also sand down all corners a bit to give it a rounded, finished look.

You can see what I’m talking about in the close up. It’s a bit like creating a Chamfer edge with sandpaper. So, it’s not perfect but I love the look.

Build your own custom DIY Scrap Wood Geometric Art. Works for Barn Quilt, Tribal Art, Boho, Mosaic, geometric wood designs and more. Includes DIY Tutorial steps and how-to video!
Here’s a closer look at the knocked down edges I did with sandpaper.

Finishing Your DIY Scrap Wood Wall Art Pieces

Now, before assembling all these pieces, I apply the finish. Pick whichever acrylic paints, chalk paints, latex, and/or stains will work with your design. You should use a good nylon paint brush or foam sponge brushes to get a smooth finish on the pieces.

If you have a latex paint you want to use, I highly recommend using this DIY Chalk Paint Recipe from Latex Paint to turn latex paint into quick drying and easy to use chalk paint. Chalk paint is easier to sand and dries harder than latex.

Let’s get into the steps for finishing those pieces.

Step One

Wipe off all dust. Apply the paint and stain colors you picked for your DIY Scrap Wood Wall Art. I played around with colors and looks for a while before settling on mine. I also used layers of acrylic with my homemade latex chalk paint to create layered looks.

I love this DIY idea! Here's how-to build steps and a quick video to show you how to make your own DIY Scrap Wood Wall Art. #AbbottsAtHome #ScrapWood  #Woodworking #WoodArt #WoodworkingIdeas
I used my Latex Chalk Paint Recipe, some acrylic paints, and Minwax Stain for this look.
I love this DIY idea! Here's how-to build steps and a quick video to show you how to make your own DIY Scrap Wood Wall Art. #AbbottsAtHome #ScrapWood  #Woodworking #WoodArt #WoodworkingIdeas
I applied a light layer of Elmer’s School Glue to create a crackle finish on some boards. I went for the same paint color above and below the glue on most boards. I was going for the textured look.
Build your own custom DIY Scrap Wood Geometric Art. Works for Barn Quilt, Tribal Art, Boho, Mosaic, geometric wood designs and more. Includes DIY Tutorial steps and how-to video!
The light-colored outer boards on all 3 are a grey acrylic lightly covered in a light cream chalk paint, then distressed.

I used Elmer’s School Glue to add a crackle finish to most of the pieces. I was hoping it would mimic an aged wood look and give the piece more character. I ended up going with a similar design and color scheme to the one I used on my DIY L-Shaped Backyard Bench.

Step Two

After painting and staining all of the pieces, I lightly sanded the edges on all of the pieces to add more character and extra dimension to the look. Finish by applying a matte poly top coat over each board.

Build your own custom DIY Scrap Wood Geometric Art. Works for Barn Quilt, Tribal Art, Boho, Mosaic, geometric wood designs and more. Includes DIY Tutorial steps and how-to video!
I played with different colors and stains before picking the final look.

Step Three

Once dry, you can glue everything in place. I started by gluing the surrounding outer boards (from step 4) in place first. Then placed them inside the Bessey Strap Clamp again. To hold them in place while the glue dried.

Build your own custom DIY Scrap Wood Geometric Art. Works for Barn Quilt, Tribal Art, Boho, Mosaic, geometric wood designs and more. Includes DIY Tutorial steps and how-to video!

Then, I added the other pieces one by one, using plenty of Elmer’s Wood Glue as I went. Press every piece tightly in place. Let this fully dry before gluing and nailing the frame on.

Step Four

Attach a large Sawtooth hanger or hanging wire to the back and hang in place. Wood art can be pretty heavy, so be sure to buy the right anchors or hanging hardware for the weight of your design.

That’s it, you’ve built your own DIY Scrap Wood Wall Art. Give yourself a pat on the back.

UPDATE: After a couple years, I decided to give this wall art a new look so that I could use it in another room. Check out how I gave this a makeover in this Simple Scrap Wood Wall Art Tutorial.

Give your Custom Scrap Wood Wall Art a Color Makeover with these easy steps. Plus, find out how I built this set of fun wall art with the scraps from recent builds. I love this wall art update, guys! #AbbottsAtHome #WallArt #ScrapWood #WoodArt

If you’re ready for another wood art project, you can see all of my Geometric and Scrap Wood Videos in this Playlist on YouTube.


Try this Wooden DIY Barn Star Art for your next build.

How to build this Wooden DIY Barn Star Art (Wood Barn Quilt) for less than $20 in lumber. Pottery Barn sells it for $400. Winning! DIY Wood Sign - Barn Quilt - Pottery Barn Knock Off #ChristmasProjects #ChristmasDecor #ChristmasSign #PotteryBarn #BarnQuilt #AbbottsAtHome

Here’s another great way to use Scrap Wood. Check out this DIY Scrap Wood Table Top Tutorial.

Turn that scrap wood or reclaimed wood into this beautiful rustic DIY Scrap Wood Table Top for your next furniture or woodworking project. How to build a rustic reclaimed wood table top with a Kreg Jig.

Looking for cute and crafty decor? Try this Easy Wood Slice Wall Hook DIY.

Add the wood slice trend to your decor with this simple wood slice idea. This is how to Make a Simple DIY Wood Slice Wall Hook. An easy wood slice decor idea. #woodslice #DIYWallHook #DIYWoodSlice #WoodSliceDecor

Or, have a look at how to faux paint 20 different metal patina looks.

Build a DIY Chunky Wooden Frame for a canvas, print, or anything. You'll save money and get a custom size for your wall decor. #AbbottsAtHome #customframe #DIYframe

I love this beautiful DIY Acrylic Paint Pouring Wall Art tutorial.

Make your own stunning art for less than $20 with this pretty DIY Paint Pouring Wall Art Idea & Tutorial. I love this DIY Art Project, guys! Anyone can do this. #AbbottsAtHome #WallArt #PaintPouring #PouringPaint #AcrylicPaint #DIYDecor

Feeling inspired? Get out there and make your own DIY Scrap Wood Wall Art. 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.

Mary Petersonma

Saturday 20th of April 2019

that is a beautiful piece. I really like doing these.

Stephanie

Sunday 21st of April 2019

Thanks so much, Mary. Me too!

Leanna

Monday 19th of February 2018

This is seriously beautiful, I love it and not only is it a great use for scrap lumber, it is the perfect practice piece for making exact end cuts. Pinning.

Stephanie

Monday 19th of February 2018

Thank you! It is a fun project.

Marie

Thursday 8th of February 2018

These are fabulous, Stephanie! Cutting all those angles and having them fit so perfectly is impressive. Pinned

Stephanie

Friday 9th of February 2018

Thanks so much, Marie!

acraftymix

Monday 5th of February 2018

You always come up with such amazing ideas and your tutorials are so well explained. I love the look of your wall art. One of a kind pieces that will last for a very long time and I can't wait to see the big master bedroom reveal. That ceiling you guys added just blew my mind

Stephanie

Monday 5th of February 2018

Thanks so much, Michelle!!! Your comments are always so kind. :)

Charlene

Sunday 28th of January 2018

This is such a cute idea. I love it. Thanks for sharing with us all.

Stephanie

Monday 29th of January 2018

Thank you!

Comments are closed.