How To Make Your Own Letter Board

Have you ever wanted a place to display fun little messages for your family to read while in the kitchen or bathroom? 

Leave cute sayings around your home with your very own DIY wooden letter board!

Write “Flush Please” behind your toilet in letters so cute, no one can get mad, or spell out motivational phrases like “If you smile, I smile” to bolster family spirits!

Before we get into the nitty-gritty, let’s run through some of the materials you’ll need to get started!

First thing’s first, let’s figure out what size we want our wooden letter board to be! 

The one I’ll be making is 10 inches long, but if you feel like you’ve got a lot to say, these plans work for any size, so make it as large as you want. (Provided it can fit through the door, of course!)

Measure and mark your desired length onto a piece of 1” x 8” x 4’ pine board, then cut along the line with a miter saw. 

Now let’s make a frame!

Measure and mark two pieces of 1” x 2” x 6’ pine board to the same length as your wooden letter board backing.

Cut them to size.

Place the two pieces of wood you just cut along the left and right side of your letter board backing, then measure the width of the board including the two frame pieces.

Mark that measurement onto two more pieces of 1” x 2” x 6’ pine board, use a speed square to make a straight line, then cut using your miter saw. 

Set the four frame pieces aside. 

Now let's make our little letter shelves! 

Using ⅜” x ⅜” x 36” square dowels, measure and mark each shelf to be the same width as the pine board, not including the frame.

Though I’m only making four shelves, you can make however many you want! The number of shelves is entirely dependent on personal preference and how large your letter tiles are.

Begin by laying your dowel shelves onto the letter board backing, then space them out as evenly as you can by eyeballing it. 

Now, measure the distance between the top shelf and the top of the pine board. 

Working from the top shelf down, use that same measurement to determine where to place the other dowels.

Once the shelves are in position, use wood glue and a pin nailer to secure them to the board.

Once the glue is fully dried, use 220 grit sandpaper to get rid of any roughness, then dust off the surface. 

Working in a well-ventilated area, spray paint your wooden letter board with a color of your choosing. I’m using Rustoleum’s White Satin and making sure I get an even coat of paint over the whole surface.

Collecting the wooden frame pieces you set aside earlier, use a small rag to apply an even coat of stain to the wood, then let it dry for an hour.

I opted for a lovely gray-brown stain color from Rustoleum, but the color you choose is entirely up to you!

Starting with the two longer sides, position the frame, then use wood glue and a pin nailer to secure them to the board. 

Once all sides are secured, set the letter board down and allow the glue to dry completely.

And that’s it, your letter board is complete! Find an empty section of wall in your kitchen, grab your letter tiles, and get writing!

Let your family know you love them by leaving little messages to discover every time they enter the kitchen.

Make your own DIY letter board now and let us know how it went! What clever sayings can you come up with?