{TUTORIAL} DIY Wood Shutters

Today's project evolved when I tagged along with hubby to Lowe's.  As he searched through the bins of nuts and bolts, I gathered the supplies needed to make wood shutters for our fireplace mantel.  This project has been on my lengthy "to do" list for a long time and today I decided to just do it.

This is another frugal project and, if you already have the boards in your stash, it's a "free" project!

Unfortunately, we didn't have any boards in the right lengths in cedar, so I had to buy all the materials.  But, fortunately cedar pickets are super inexpensive and the total cost was under $12 to make 3 shutters.

The materials I used:

• 6 cedar pickets (5/8" x 3-1/2" x 6 ft.)
• 1 cedar furring strip (1" x 2" x 8 ft.) 

These materials will make 3 shutters that are 15" wide x 33" tall.   I only needed 2 shutters for my mantel and now have an extra to use elsewhere.

To get started, I had my skilled assistant cut the pickets for me and was able to get two 33" pieces from each picket.  The only unused portion of each picket was the dog eared ends (don't be alarmed ...  they won't go to waste - new project alert!):

The cedar furring was cut to six 15" lengths.

Next, I laid 4 of the picket boards side by side with a slight space between each picket.  Yes, I did the assembly indoors on our tile floor.  It was way too hot out to do this in the garage.  Wimpy, I know!

Using a cordless brad nailer (best invention ever!) I secured the furring strip horizontally across the pickets and 5-1/2" from the edge of each end of the pickets.   This is the brad nailer I used:



Ryobi AirStrike 18GA Cordless Brad Nailer

If you don't have a brad nailer, a hammer and nails work just as well.

This is the furring strip with brads securing it to the pickets:

And, that's it!  This was a very easy project and after the pickets were cut, didn't take much time at all to assemble. 



Am undecided on whether or not to stain them.  Think I'll live with them a while before I decide.  For now, we're really enjoying this new focal point in our living room!

(Burlap wreath how to will be featured in a future post.)

Thank you to Cozy Little House for graciously featuring this post!



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