Crafting the Perfect Wedding Ambiance with MDO Plywood
MDO, or medium density overlay, is sold as an “industrial ” plywood product, and it has a wide range of uses, from painted signs to storage racks to siding. In fact, when a Roseburg team member was coming up with the vision & décor for her wedding, she turned to Roseburg’s MDO to make a statement without breaking the bank.
Challenge: If you’ve ever planned a wedding, then you know just how challenging it can be to stick to your budget and to have everything ready by the big day. When choosing the décor for her wedding, Devin had some criteria in mind: she wanted something she could make herself out of affordable products using common woodworking tools. With the wedding taking place in what was once a working sheep ranch in the late 1800s, Devin also wanted to avoid the event feeling too much like a rustic farmhouse wedding.
Solution: Devin got to work scouring the internet (read: Pinterest) for wedding décor inspiration that fit the bill, eventually settling on designs for two different displays. Both painted, one would be used as an accent piece and one as a backdrop for the marriage ceremony to elevate the space. With examples in hand, Devin and her father, Steve drew up plans to bring the vision to life. After discussing the requirements for the pieces: freestanding, durable enough to travel, and paintable; the two decided MDO softwood plywood was the answer.
Devin was interested in a DIY project because (1) this tends to be cheaper, (2) you can make it look exactly as you want, and (3) it is not always easy to find someone to make something to your exact specifications. MDO was perfect for this application because it is dimensionally stable, has a high strength-to-weight ratio, and is a great project panel for the DIYer with an idea and common woodworking tools.
Simple design and clean lines fit Devin’s style, but that look isn’t always easy to accomplish. Devin and Steve needed something they could complete on a tight timeline. Once the two displays were cut and ready, they painted the panels varying shades between dusty rose and burgundy. The paper overlay on the panels provided the perfect substrate for painting because, unlike regular softwood plywood, MDO does not need sanding after priming or between coats for a smooth finish, saving precious time in the weeks leading up to the big day.
Results: The painted MDO panels brought the space to life, supplying a pop of color and adding structure and brightness to the interior of the space. Plenty of greenery; clean, white tablecloths; sharp lines; and avoiding mason jars altogether completed the look.
Since the big day, Devin has let friends borrow the displays for their weddings, and she has future plans to repurpose the pieces into home décor to create a headboard and wall art.
