DIY Wooden World Map Art
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Decorate your walls with this beautiful DIY Wooden World Map for a fraction of store bought price.
Last week while perusing the web I came across an amazing Wooden World Map on Vivaterra (no longer available). I thought that it would be a gorgeous addition to my son Jack’s room-he is very much a little geography nut. The price tag however-a whopping $475-was not going to work. I knew I could make my own knock-off.
If you like this DIY tutorial you should also check out how to hang curtains with command hooks!
How to Make a Wood World Map
I started by creating a wood base with scraps left over from my DIY Headboard build a while back. I simply nailed the planks to the scrap wood on the back to stabilize them.
I then printed off a map template online and began the painstaking process of tracing it onto the wood-the easiest way to do this is using carbon paper between the printed map and the wood. The stain you use later will cover the traced lines.
Below you can see the map traced onto the wood. After I traced the map I prepared the wood with a wood conditioner and sanded it with a fine grain sandpaper. (DO NOT SKIP THIS STEP-YOUR STAIN WILL BLEED IF YOU DO NOT CONDITION YOUR WOOD!!)
I then used the leftover Mission Oak stain from my headboard project and a small paintbrush to paint the map design onto the wood. Use very fine paint brushes to outline sections at a time then fill in with a wider brush. Updated to add: I used a variety pack of inexpensive brushes like this when I made these maps to sell years ago because the stain pretty much ruins the brushes.
And here it is! I love it! I like that it has a rustic, distressed look to it. It was quite the process to make but I am just tickled at how it turned out-so much so that I decided to make them to order through my Etsy shop as well! (Update: I am not currently selling these maps.)
Now I need your opinion-I had originally planned to hang this on the wall in my son’s room but one of the other projects I started this weekend was making him a headboard-my husband had the idea of framing this out and making it into his headboard…what do you think? I think it could look pretty cool but I’m not 100% convinced yet. Your thoughts?
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Other map projects:
Hey!
This diy certainly turned out amazing! I have a question: where I’m from (the Netherlands) blue carbon paper is easier to get and cheaper, is there a reason to go for black carbon paper to trace the map or will blue work also?
I’m not staining the map but cutting it out of plywood and burning in the countries borders into the wood. I’m hoping to make it into a massive statement piece 🙂
Thanks in advance!
As long as you think the wood burning would cover the blue I don’t see why it would be an issue Marissa!
Do you use the wood conditioner before or after sanding?
I think it is cool that you made this for yourself, but not so cool to be selling it since it was someone else’s original idea. Just sayin’
Ok, or wood is EXTREMELY cheap in America. Or I am missing something here. 6 + 2 planks for the back (but lets say one cut in half for the back if you are lucky) planks of that size thickness. Here that would costs you a 250€ or 279$ for the wood alone. And that’s with thinner wooden planks then the planks shown here =/
The wood planks I used are not finished, they are very rough and used for outdoor projects-they cost under $3 a board here in the States. I made these for multiple years to sell online and would search through the wood for the best/straightest pieces. I could get the entire thing made with 4 boards (The boards were 6 feet long and I cut into 30 inch pieces), so it cost under $12 for the wood. I then sanded the wood down myself to smooth it prior to staining so it looks like a nicer plank than I started with.
You’ve probably answered this question before, I’m sorry if so! When you conditioned the wood before staining it, which part of the board did you condition and sand? The whole thing? Only the part where you were going to add the stain? Or in the parts where you didn’t want the stain to touch?
Never mind, I found my answer in the comments! 🙂
I saw this idea and had to try it, or at least a version of it. I made a headboard using 8 inch wide boards, 40 inches wide. I found a map 24 x 30 inches and traced the outline of the continents on craft paper by taping the map to a well lit glass door, cut out the continents and spaced out on the headboard. The cutting out did take quite a while- about 5 hours and the staining of the landforms took another 5 hours. All in all, about a 20 hour project to complete; but WELL WORTH THE RESULTS.
This looks awesome! What are the dimensions of the wood panel you used?
It ended up being 21″ by 31″
I’ve been searching high and low for a nice world map that I can mark all the places I’ve been, my husband has been, and we’ve both been together. This is it! Iive always wanted to frame a world map but never did because I was never thrilled about the looks of a traditional world map. I just doesn’t go nicely with our homes style. I think this will be a great way to do it. Looks beautiful!
I’m so glad you found it Andrea! I hope it works out for you and if you make your own I’d love to see a picture of the finished product!
Thanks so much for sharing this. It was super helpful!! My boyfriend and I made one of these maps (using your post) over a year ago, and now we’re using it to mark all the places we’re traveling to – I’ve posted a photo of our map here.
Thanks again!
Diana Southern
North to South, A Full Time Travel Blog
Thanks so much for sharing it, yours looks gorgeous!
How much did this cost you make including all materials?
It was under $25 if I remember correctly.
But a pretty decent time investment!
Awesome work! I would attempt this, but any thoughts on how i could make the map in different colors?
Thanks!
This is awesome! I really want to make this for my own home <3
I just found this out and instantly fell in love!
I was thinking of making one of these and fit some tube lights on the back, giving it a dual function..room decor during the day and night light during the night
Just one question though, after you traced the map did you sand the entire surface area of the wood or just the area within the map lines?
I sanded the entire piece and primed it before tracing the map!
Hello Melissa, do you cover the entire top with the conditioner or just where the stain will be? And do you trace after of before you apply the conditioner ?
-Jen
Hi Jen! I condition the entire piece and then trace the design after it’s dried at least 2 hours. I’d love to see how yours turns out when you finish! Have a great weekend, Melissa
How exactly did you trace the map onto the wood? It looks so great, I’d love to try it myself.
Carbon paper Carrie!
This is beautiful! I want to use stain with a vinyl stencil. Do you think the wood conditioner would prevent the stain from leaking under the stencil?
Hello, I am in love with this project idea. I was wondering about the carbon paper transferring idea. Brilliant makeshift with the penciling!
Beautiful work!
Thanks so much Nina!
How did you trace the map onto your wood?
You can use carbon paper to transfer the design but I just rub pencil on the back of my printed map then trace-sort of makeshift carbon paper I guess!
I love this idea! I am attempting to make it for my best friend for a wedding gift. I had one question for you, the Minewax pre-stain conditioner’s directions said that the stain must be applied between 15 min-2 hours after being conditioned. Do you have to finish the painting of the stain within two hours of conditioning the wood?
This has such a great design!!! I am doing an adventurer big boy room for my growing toddler and will be attempting to make this! May I ask what kind of wood you used? 🙂
Hi Alyssa! I just use regular white wood in the lumber section at Lowes. It costs under $3 for a 6′ section.