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. 😉

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! 😉

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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! 😉