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At The Picket Fence with Vanessa Hunt

Where Ideas for your Home Meet Inspiration for your Heart

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October 15, 2013

How to Make a Decorative Picket Fence

I realized recently that I have a kind of latent rebellious streak.

I’ve always been a rule-followin’-by-the-book-don’t-rock-the-boat kind of gal.

But now, for some reason, I want to just toss the “book” into the garbage and wing it!

I think I’m getting in touch with my inner Sandy from Grease. 😉

how to diy a decorative picket fence for your wall

This reared up recently when I went in search of some kind of vintage fence piece to use in decorating my Fall Mantel. Do you remember that one? The one that I got all set up and photographed and edited the photos and started writing the post before I realized the connection between my Picket Fence Mantel and the name of our blog? Yep.

Just call me Miss Observation! 😉

Fall Mantel with DIY picket fence backdrop from atthepicketfence.com

After many attempts at finding the perfect old fence piece I found myself wandering around Lowes hoping inspiration would strike (and being asked over and over by enthusiastic sales people, “may I help you find something?” because I had sort that dazed and confused look on my face) I ended up outside in the garden center and that’s when I saw them.

Picket fence posts! What if I could make my own picket fence piece for my mantel?

Did I do a Google search on how to make a picket fence? Nope. Did I call my husband and ask him to give me some instructions since he was the one who installed the actual picket fence around our yard at our old house. Nope.

I just decided to wing it!

HOW TO BUILD A PICKET FENCE (for decorative purposes only!)

Step 1) Select the number of pickets you will need depending on how big you want your fence section to be. Avoid the pickets with bird doo-doo all over them. You will also need 2 of the cross boards (is that what they would be called?) which are found in the store at the same location as the pickets.

picket fence supplies

Step 2) Lay your pickets down placing them as close together as you would like them to be. Typically real picket fences wouldn’t be this close but for our purposes we want them closer. About 2 inches apart will do.

Step 3) Place the boards across the pickets and cut to the appropriate length, making sure that each of the end pickets will be attached to the cross board.

how-to-make-a-picket-fence

Step 4) Hammer a nail into the cross board connecting to each picket making sure the nail goes all the way through to secure the boards together.

how-to-build-a-picket-fence

Step 5) Apply the stain color of your choice! I used a weathered gray stain and then did a dry brush of white over the top to add more layers giving an aged effect.

weathered gray stain on fence posts

And that’s all there is to making a picket fence…for your wall!

Think of the possibilities…you could put hooks on the pickets and use it to display your kids’ artwork…you could turn it into a headboard by attaching it to the wall behind a bed…you could attach a little bench to it…you could add a flower box and set it on your porch…oh the list goes on and on!

double-grapevine-wreaths-fall-mantel

The only problem is that this little fence has added fuel to my inner rebel fire.

Who knows what I might do next!

Thanks so much for joining me At the Picket Fence today…literally! 😉

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19 Comments Filed Under: Crafts, Decorating, DIY, Good Ideas Tagged With: DIY, fall, fall crafts, fall decor, fall Decorating

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Comments

  1. laura says

    October 15, 2013 at 11:23 AM

    Oh no …watch out danny!

    Reply
    • At The Picket Fence says

      October 15, 2013 at 12:09 PM

      LOL Laura!! Before you know it I’m going to be rockin’ some leather pants and dancing around at the fair! 😉

      Reply
  2. Claire @ A Little Claireification says

    October 15, 2013 at 11:55 AM

    How cute and fun is that?? I love it. And LOL “Sandy from Grease”. You go girl! Pinning! xo

    Reply
    • At The Picket Fence says

      October 15, 2013 at 12:09 PM

      Thanks sweet friend! 🙂

      Reply
  3. Sandy says

    October 15, 2013 at 1:48 PM

    Love the picket fence mantel. Favorite movie is Grease. Vanessa, you struck grease lightning!

    Reply
  4. debbiedoos says

    October 15, 2013 at 4:03 PM

    That is just adorable…and simple too! Even I can do this. Thanks for sharing.

    Reply
    • At The Picket Fence says

      October 15, 2013 at 7:25 PM

      Thanks Debbie! 🙂

      Reply
  5. Courtney says

    October 15, 2013 at 4:50 PM

    So cute Vanessa- love the fence and your post! 🙂

    Reply
    • At The Picket Fence says

      October 15, 2013 at 7:24 PM

      Thanks friend! 🙂

      Reply
  6. Richella @ Imparting Grace says

    October 15, 2013 at 5:28 PM

    You rebel, you! Watch out, world; the next thing you know, Vanessa (Sandy) will painting her picket fence some wild and crazy color and then what will we do?? 🙂

    Reply
    • At The Picket Fence says

      October 15, 2013 at 7:24 PM

      LOL Richella!! I’m not sure I’m ready to go that far…yet! 😉

      Reply
  7. Martina says

    October 15, 2013 at 5:51 PM

    I am so copying this!! Love it Vanessa!

    Reply
    • At The Picket Fence says

      October 15, 2013 at 7:24 PM

      Thanks Martina!

      Reply
  8. Shirley@Housepitality Designs says

    October 16, 2013 at 7:22 PM

    Just love, love it…I love its simplicity…I need simplicity with my mantel with the wood and iron shutters basically taking over the entire space…you gave me some great inspiration…as always!

    Reply
    • At The Picket Fence says

      October 16, 2013 at 8:21 PM

      Thanks so much sweet friend! 🙂

      Reply
  9. Heather - Chickabug says

    October 17, 2013 at 8:42 AM

    I love the way that looks. Very quaint and comforting. Great post! : )

    Reply
  10. Emily says

    October 19, 2013 at 6:43 AM

    This is fabulous! I can’t wait to make one!!

    Reply
  11. Brenda says

    July 2, 2014 at 5:05 AM

    this is so pretty. I was looking for ideas to hutch out a potting bench and I’m going to use the picket fence for that. thank you

    Reply
  12. Rose says

    September 18, 2014 at 10:23 AM

    Looks beautiful!
    Could you tell me brand of gray stain you used? Was it semi transparent stain? Is the color called “weathered gray?” And finally was the white you brushed on top also a white stain?

    Reply

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