Slatwall, Gridwall & Today's Retail Store Fixtures

Wood Slatwall trim stained with Varathane #266197 Black Cherry wood stain and installed on Mahogany Slatwall Panels #MMSW

There are a variety of trim options available to install around the edges and corners of slatwall to give your installation a professional and finished appearance! These trim pieces are cost effective and easily installed to complete your slatwall project. Exposed side edges and inside corners are the most common areas for trim, that you will encounter, when installing slatwall. Lets explore some of the best wood and metal trim options to conceal exposed unfinised side edges, top edges, and corners of slatwall panels!


Wood Slatwall Edge Trim

Wood trim is an especially good option for use with woodgrain slatwall finishes, as the real wood edge pieces will give your slatwall an authentic wooden look. Wood trim may be stained or painted to a variety of colors to match any design and decor style!

Wood Slatwall Edge Trim Home Depot #927-171

1 1/8" x 1 1/8" Outside Corner wood trim, made from solid pine, is a great option for use on slatwall. The inside profile of the trim is approximately 3/4" to match the thickness of slatwall panels. Pine wood trim cuts and nails easily, accepts oil stain and gel stain well, and can also be painted, making it simple to match any slatwall!

This is a common trim style available at Home Depot (SKU #927-171) or from other home improvement stores. Wood slatwall trim is usually sold by the foot, making it easier to cover long edges with a single piece to avoid unnecessary seams.

Unfinished wood trim is also a great option for use with our Hardrock Maple or Soumi Birch Slatwall Panels. The natural wood matches the color of these finishes beatifully!

Unfinished Wood Slatwall Edge Trim installed on Hardrock Maple Slatwall

To install wood edge trim, just cut the pieces to size with a miter saw, or by hand using a miter box and hand saw. Unlike aluminum trim, wood trim must be nailed into place using 1 1/4" long finish nails through the trim and into the side edge of the slatwall panel.

If you're nailing the trim in by hand, it's best to first mark and then pre-drill a 1/16" hole at each nail location to prevent the trim from splitting. To conceal nail holes, avoid nailing on the front edge of the trim and only nail into the side of the slatwall. After installation, fill all nail holes with color matched wood filler or putty.

Aluminum Slatwall Edge Trim

Aluminum 3/4 inch U-Shaped Channel is one of the best options for concealing an exposed edge on slatwall. It may be left unfinished in its natural aluminum color or painted to compliment any slatwall finish.

If your slatwall has reinforced aluminum grooves, the aluminum color trim will add a nice matching detail to your slatwall display. The aluminum trim will also protect the edge of your slatwall by providing a solid metal piece around the perimeter of your display. This is a great option for high traffic areas that may be prone to damage by customer foot traffic, shopping carts or equipment.

Alumium U-Channel Edge Trim for Slatwall

Aluminum trim may be cut with a miter saw using a blade suitable for soft metals, or by hand with a hacksaw and miter box to make straight and angled cuts. The slatwall edge will fit snugly into the U-shaped aluminum channel trim and may not need any additional fasteners. The pressure between the slatwall panel and the wall will keep the trim securely in place.

Alumium U-Channel Edge Trim for Slatwall Lowes Item #55981

Aluminum U-Channel trim is available at Lowes home improvement stores in both 4 foot and 8 foot lengths. At around $15 per 8 foot piece, aluminum trim is a budget friendly way to protect edges of your slatwall and give it a professional looking installation!

Slatwall Corners can have gaps and uneven joints

Inside slatwall corners, where two panels meet, are another area that often requires trim. Since walls are never perfectly square or straight, and panel cuts can often be inaccurate, gaps between panels can sometimes be visible at inside corner joints. These corners can be easily covered with trim to make any installation look professional and finished!

Two common trim pieces ideal for slatwall corners

Lets look at two wood trim options that can be quickly installed in the corner of any slatwall display and conceal gaps up to 11/16" wide. For a subtle low profile look, Wood Cove Molding is a great option. Cove trim has an attractive concave profile and will mate nicely against wood edge trim that is installed on the top or bottom of a slatwall panel. Cove trim is sold at Home Depot, SKU #927-090, or available from most home improvement stores.

Quarter Round Molding is another readily available trim option, with a sleek rounded profile. It works great for covering gaps at slatwall corners or ends against a wall. Like Cove trim, it is also available at Home Depot, SKU #927-104 or other home improvement stores.

Either style of wood trim may be cut to size with a miter saw, hand saw or circular saw and is nailed in place using 1 1/4" finish nails. Both cove trim and quarter round may stained or painted to match a variety of design styles and colors.

Aluminum Trim for inside slatwall corners - Home Depot #797-162 or Lowes #55965

For an aluminum corner trim to match aluminum edge trim or aluminum groove inserts on slatwall, 1/2" angle aluminum is a great option. It's available in 8 foot lengths from most Lowes (Item #55965) or Home Depot stores (SKU #797-162). To install the trim first cut the piece to length, then mark several screw locations, and drill 1/8" screw holes into the aluminum piece. The trim can then be secured to the slatwall with 1/2" long screws, but be aware the small screw heads will be visible on the trim after it is installed.

Slatwall edge trim is the important final step to finish a professional and attractive display for your retail space. Take these easy steps to complete an installation that you can be proud of. We'd love to hear about your experiences and see photos of your slatwall installation!