Board and Batten Wall Tutorial

Creating a beautiful board and batten wall is a quick and easy way to update your home and make it unique and beautiful. Here is a board and batten wall tutorial so you will have the confidence to do it yourself.

Installing a board and batten accent wall is a great way to add interest and texture to a room.

Steps to Create a Board and Batten Wall

1. Measure the wall: Measure the height and width of the wall where you want to install the board and batten accent wall. This will help you determine how many boards and battens you need.

2. Choose the wood: Select the wood for your project. You can choose any type of wood that fits your style and budget. Common options include pine, cedar, and MDF.  If you're planning to paint the boards use the cheaper MDF. 

3. Cut the wood: Cut the wood to the correct length for your wall. Use a saw to cut the boards to the correct length and a miter saw to cut the battens at a 45-degree angle for the corners.

4. Install the boards: Start by installing the boards, the horizontal pieces.  Use a level to make sure they are straight, and use a nail gun to attach them to the wall.

5. Install the battens: After the boards are installed, add the battens.  Use the nail gun to attach them to the wall.  If you don't have studs use liquid nails.

6. Fill nail holes: Once all the boards and battens are installed, use wood filler to fill in any nail holes or gaps.

7. Sand and paint: After the wood filler has dried, sand the boards and battens smooth. Then, paint or stain the boards and battens to your desired color.

Overall, installing a board and batten accent wall is a relatively simple project that can be completed in a day or two with the right tools and materials.

Measure the Wall to Decide the Style

The shape and size of the room will dictate the board and batten you want to install.  There are a few options but a grid board and batten always looks nice.  You can also get creative in your installation.

In our home we have a simple board and batten in our entry and kitchen.  Then we've created a more elegant install in our office.  Then a different design in our guest bedroom, creating a beautiful space for the queen bed. 

Measuring the wall will help you decide on the batten you are going to make.  If you have a large room having larger batten will work.  If the room is smaller you may want to have a more dramatic look with the smaller grids.

Remove the Baseboards

If your home has small baseboards then remove them first, then install new ones matching the shape and size of the boards you'll be installing.  Luckily for us we have large baseboards so it worked to keep the baseboards, they are the same size and shape as the boards we will be installing.

Cut and Install the Wall Frame 

Framing the wall makes the installation much easier.  We first run the horizontal top and bottom boards then fill in the ends with the side boards.

Having a seam free installation looks much better so be sure to buy boards long enough for the entire wall.  If the wall is too big for the seamless install you can join them and fill the cracks with wood filler.  If your room is smaller and you can purchase the boards in long enough lengths be sure to go that route when framing the walls.     

Adding the Battens (vertical boards)

This is the fun part, when the accent wall starts coming together.  Figuring out the spacing of the battens can be a little tricky but you can do it.  Here's a great formulation.

Length of the opening (minus -) width of boards you'll be using (divided) by the number of spaces you want = the spacing.

If you cut a scrap piece of wood equal to the space it will make a simpler install.  Especially if you're putting in smaller spaces.  

Be sure to use a level so the batten run straight.  

         

You can stop here if you want but you can also get creative and make it even more. 

Uplevel the Board and Batten

If you want to make your space more special you can add horizontal boards to the batten to create designs.  You can get creative by adding horizontal pieces.  In our office it created a elevated look and in our guest bedroom we created a perfect backdrop to for the queen sized guest bedroom.

              

Fill the Nail Holes and Edges

To get a professional look you will want to fill the nail holes and caulk the edges where the boards meet the wall.  You can use caulk to fill the nail holes and edges.  If you have any joints where wood meets wood use wood filler.  

    

Fill the nail holes let it sit for a minute then use a wet paper towel or baby wipe to wipe off the excess.  Do the same thing with the edges.  Use your finger to smooth out the edges.  Sometimes I use a baby wipe of wet paper towel if there is a lot of excess.

If you need to use wood filler on a wood joint let it dry and then sand.  The seams will disappear, ready for paint.

Paint and Enjoy

After your caulk and wood filler dries you are ready to paint.  This is fun step that pulls it all together.  Use a brush along the edges of all the boards then roll the wall and surface of the boards.

You will need a couple coats of paint so be sure to let the first coat dry before adding the second coat then stand back and enjoy your work.  

    

Motivational DIY T-shirts

My husband and I have been doing a lot of projects and I was always ruining my every day clothes.  So I decided to create a line of motivational diy t-shirts, making project more fun because the shirts are so cute and comfortable.  They are also perfect for quick trips to the store for supplies.  

 There are so many styles, colors and all sizes available.  You can find the cute shirts at Decor to the Door.  

    

 

Here are the links to get the caulk and wood filler.  I promise it will make your project look like you've hired a professional.