How to Make a Rustic-Chic Nail Art Address Plaque
Greet guests in style (and ensure the mailman never gets lost) with a DIY address sign you can make for less than $20.
DIY House Number Plaque 01:10
Create a rustic chic address plate for your home using nails and a wood plank.
Creating a sign to show off your house numbers can seem like a daunting task. Not only does it have to be legible from the street, but it also has to match your outdoor decor. If your style is slightly rustic with touches of modern elegance (think DIY Network Ultimate Retreat 2018), then this DIY wood-and-nails address plaque is for you. The best part? You can snag all the materials from the hardware store for less than twenty bucks.
Robert Peterson/Rustic White Photography
What You'll Need
- 20" x 8" cedar wood plank
- 1/2 pint red oak stain
- 1/2 pink cherry stain
- printed number template
- box of 1" x 3/8" flathead drywall nails
- tack hammer
- painter's tape
- needle nose pliers
- old rags or stain cloths
- scissors
- wood skewer
Stain Wood
Jalynn Baker
Jalynn Baker
Dip a lint-free cloth into both stain colors and rub onto the wood plank. Continue dipping and rubbing until all sides of the wood are covered. Wipe off excess stain with a dry cloth and let dry according to manufacturer instructions.
Pro tip: Don't have a saw? Most local hardware stores will cut wood to desired measurements at no extra cost.
Print + Tape House Numbers
Choose a font you love and a letter size that fits your plank. Print the address numbers in black ink on plain printer paper and cut out, leaving about an inch of white border around the edge of each number for taping. Attach printed numbers to the right-hand side of the board using painter's tape along the white borders, careful not to tape the black printed areas. Leave a space on the left-hand side to hang a small planter later.
Nail It
Jalynn Baker
Jalynn Baker
Using a tack hammer, tap nails into the board, following the printed template. Nails should protrude from the board about 3/4 of an inch and be placed as close together as possible without overlapping. Occasionally check your work from the side to make sure nails are the same height.
Remove Template
Jalynn Baker
Jalynn Baker
Peel off the tape and paper template as much as you can with your hands, then use needle nose pliers and a wood skewer to remove paper from the hard-to-reach inner spaces.
Decorate
Jalynn Baker
Robert Peterson/Rustic White Photography
Drill drainage holes in the bottom of a small galvanized container (we got ours at the craft store), then hang it in the empty space on the left side of the sign using a finishing nail. Fill with real or faux flowers and plants, like succulents or seasonal blooms for rustic-chic style that looks great year-round.
Tour the Front Yard
See All PhotosThese house numbers look great on the porch at DIY Network Ultimate Retreat 2018.
