So I’ve gotta tell you guys about this wild home makeover thing I stumbled into last year with wood slats. I’m seriously NOT one of those fancy interior design people or anything close to it. Before this whole adventure started, my idea of “home decor” was basically making sure all my mismatched furniture was at least facing the same direction! *laughs*
For context, I’m a 34-year-old freelance graphic designer living in Manila. Been renting this same depressing apartment in Quezon City for like 6 years now. You know the type – those generic white walls with mystery stains from previous tenants, fluorescent lighting that makes everyone look half-dead, and a layout designed by someone who clearly hated humans. My landlord’s idea of “renovation” is slapping on another coat of the same cheap white paint every 3 years.
My turning point came after this super awkward Zoom call with a potential client. They kept getting distracted, looking behind me at my sad, empty wall. I could literally see them losing interest not in my portfolio, but because my background screamed “this person has given up on life.” Lost that project, and honestly, it was kinda the wake-up call I needed.
So after that embarrassing call, I went on this crazy Pinterest spiral. HOURS of looking at home offices and accent walls. My cousin Mia (who’s way better at adulting than me) suggested wallpaper. “Just stick it on and you’re done!” she said. But have you SEEN how expensive decent wallpaper is here in the Philippines?? Plus, with our humidity, I’d probably wake up one morning with it all peeled off and wrapped around my electric fan.
Then I stumbled across this photo of a restaurant in BGC with these gorgeous wood slats on the wall. It looked SO GOOD – modern but still warm and inviting. Not like those sterile, could-be-an-operating-room minimalist designs that are everywhere now. And the best part? The caption said it was a DIY project!
I’m not gonna lie – I immediately messaged my uncle who works in construction to ask if this was something a design-challenged person could actually pull off. He laughed (rude) but then said wood slats were actually pretty forgiving for beginners. “Even YOU probably couldn’t mess it up too badly,” were his exact words. Challenge accepted, I guess?
The biggest selling point for me was how these wood slats would work in our Filipino climate. My apartment is BRUTALLY hot from March to June. Like “considering sleeping in the refrigerator” hot. Uncle explained that wood slats actually help with airflow and wouldn’t trap heat like solid panels would. That honestly sealed the deal for me.
Okay, so I made my first MASSIVE mistake by going to this fancy home improvement store in Makati. The sales guy literally laughed when I told him my budget. Apparently, imported teak wood slats were NOT going to happen on my freelancer salary.
So plan B: I asked my driver friend Paolo to take me to this lumber yard in Quezon City that his contractor buddy recommended. Guys. I was SO out of place. It was just me – in my city girl clothes and completely impractical shoes – surrounded by construction workers and serious contractors who clearly knew what they were doing.
I must have looked totally lost because this older man (who I later found out owned the place) came over and asked if I was waiting for someone. When I explained my wood slat wall dreams, he didn’t laugh! Instead, he showed me these beautiful pieces of local Philippine mahogany that would work perfectly AND cost about 60% less than the fancy imported wood at the other place.
He even helped me calculate how much I needed (with extra because “you WILL make mistakes”), arranged delivery, and recommended what tools to buy. Shoutout to Mang Elmer at QC Lumber – you’re the real MVP of this story!
Listen, the internet makes DIY look SO EASY. Those time-lapse videos are LIES. What took some influencer “just a weekend” took me two full weekends, three trips back to the hardware store, one minor injury, and approximately 500 stress snacks.
First problem: My walls weren’t straight! Like, not even close. Who builds apartments with wavy walls?? Apparently everyone in Manila, based on my subsequent conversations with friends. So I had to figure out how to create a level surface for the wood slats.
I ended up installing these thin wooden furring strips first (after watching about 20 YouTube tutorials). That part alone took an entire day, mostly because I kept second-guessing myself. Also discovered my apartment has some mystery material behind the drywall that DESTROYED my first drill bit. Fun times.
The actual wood slats installation was both easier and harder than expected. Easier because once I had the furring strips level, I just had to attach the slats with the right spacing. Harder because cutting the wood precisely is apparently a skill normal humans aren’t born with?? My first few cuts looked like they were done by a blindfolded toddler.
There was this moment on Sunday night, surrounded by wood scraps, with dust EVERYWHERE, sweaty, frustrated, and with a cut on my thumb from the saw, that I seriously considered just moving to a new apartment rather than finishing the project. But then I looked at the one wall I’d completed, and even unfinished, it looked… kinda amazing?
By the following weekend, I had finished installing all the wood slats on my main living room wall. I chose to leave some space between each slat (about 1 inch) which created this cool shadow effect when the light hits it. The natural color of the Philippine mahogany warmed up my entire apartment – it went from “depressing hospital room” to “actual human living space” overnight.
The first thing I noticed was how different the SOUND was in my apartment. The wood slats somehow absorbed the echo I didn’t even realize was there. My neighbor’s karaoke sessions were still audible (because nothing short of soundproof bunker walls would fix that), but the general acoustics were so much better.
But the biggest surprise? MY APARTMENT WAS COOLER. Like, noticeably cooler during the day. Uncle was right about the airflow thing – somehow having that wood slat wall improved the circulation in my living room. I even found myself using the air con less during the day, which was a nice bonus for my electricity bill!
The next Zoom call I had? The client actually COMMENTED on how nice my background looked! She asked if I had moved to a new place or gone to a co-working space. When I proudly told her I’d done it myself, I could tell she was impressed. Booked that project on the spot. My wood slat wall literally paid for itself within a week!
So it’s been about 8 months since my wood slat adventure, and honestly? It triggered this whole chain reaction in my life that I NEVER expected. After the living room wall success, I got brave and did a smaller wood slat feature in my bedroom. Then I built this simple wood slat coffee table that people ACTUALLY THINK I bought from a fancy store!
I’ve noticed I invite friends over WAY more often now. Before, I was always making excuses to meet at cafes or at their places because I was embarrassed about my apartment. Now I’m hosting movie nights and even had a small dinner party last month! Who am I even??
But the weirdest change? I feel more… professional? Like somehow having a proper grown-up background for my video calls has made clients take me more seriously. I’ve literally raised my rates 20% since the renovation and no one has blinked an eye.
Oh, and when my landlord came by for his annual inspection? He was SO impressed with the wood slat wall that he asked if I’d be willing to leave it when I eventually move out. He even offered me a discount on next year’s rent increase if I’d do a similar feature in the hallway! Not gonna lie, felt pretty smug about that conversation.
If you’re sitting there thinking about trying wood slats in your own Filipino home, let me save you from some of my dumber mistakes:
After my DIY success story, I’ve become that annoying person who works “wood slats” into every conversation. “Oh, you’re feeling tired? You know what helped my energy levels? My wood slat wall improving air circulation!” My friends are probably sick of it, tbh.
But what really blew me away were the reactions from people I never expected. My super traditional dad – who has NEVER commented positively on any of my life choices – actually took pictures of my wall to show his friends. My dad! Taking photos! Of something I did!
My building maintenance guy asked for tips because he wants to do something similar in his own house. And my boss, who normally notices NOTHING, commented during a video meeting about how professional my home office looked.
The funniest reaction though? My 9-year-old nephew said my apartment “doesn’t look poor anymore.” KIDS, man. Brutal honesty right there.
100% YES. Wood slats are honestly the perfect interior design element for Filipino homes, and I’m not just saying that because I’m now emotionally and financially invested in this opinion.
They’re practical for our climate – they don’t trap heat, they allow for better airflow, and when sealed properly, they stand up to our humidity. They’re versatile – you can use them on walls, ceilings, as room dividers, or in furniture. They’re affordable – especially if you use local woods (PLEASE use local woods, they’re gorgeous AND sustainable).
But most importantly? They just FEEL right in Philippine spaces. There’s something about the natural warmth of wood that complements our culture and lifestyle. It’s modern without being cold, stylish without trying too hard.
Look, I’m not saying wood slats will change your life like they changed mine. But also… maybe they will? At the very least, they’ll make your space look way cooler, possibly help with your electric bill, and give you serious bragging rights when people ask where you got that amazing wall.
Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to go stare lovingly at my wall again and plan my next wood slat project. I’m thinking ceiling feature? Is that too ambitious? Probably. Will that stop me? Absolutely not. Wish me luck! 😂
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