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Simple and Inexpensive DIY Board and Batten Wall

CREATE A SIMPLE AND INEXPENSIVE DIY BOARD AND BATTEN WALL.  THIS EASY PROJECT WILL GIVE SOME BEAUTIFUL CHARACTER TO AN ORDINARY SPACE!

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Welcome back to week 2 of the $100 Room Challenge, hosted by Erin from Lemon’s, Lavender, and Laundry. I am updating my dark, boring foyer into a space with bright welcoming space with character and style. If you are following my progress on Instagram stories, you have seen a glimpse of some of my progress.

This challenge has been created by Erin from Lemons, Laundry, and Lavender. You may have seen Erin talk about this challenge on the Rachael Ray Show. This happens twice a year, in January and September. Bloggers have one month to completely transform a space with a budget of $100. I love this challenge because of all of the creative inspiration you will find here. You can definitely create a beautiful home on a budget!

As a part of my $100 Room Challenge, my foyer is receiving a board and batten wall. Today I am sharing how this simple DIY project made a large impact in a small space!

Planning and Shopping for the Board and Batten Wall

I first checked out a variety of tutorials and there are so many ideas out there! I combined the ideas to come up with a plan that would work best for my space and budget.

My husband, Andy, and I decided to just make one focus wall, using the existing wall and baseboard. This is our first attempt at a project like this, and to be honest, we wanted to keep it easy and uncomplicated. Since our walls are smooth, there was no need to add a “board” in the board and batten. We chose lattice as the battens. We decided on these strips of wood because they have some depth, but are thin enough to sit right on top of the baseboard.

I had some left over 1 1/2 inch poplar lattice that I thought I would use to save some money. However, I quickly realized that I did not have enough to complete the job and took a trip to my local Home Depot. When we got to Home Depot, we discovered that the lattice in stock was not only a different size, but also a completely different material. Even though it is such a slight difference, we opted to go ahead and get enough for the entire project and not mix the two types. We were able to do most of our cutting right at the Home Depot, which made this project even easier. However, this spending means that I am now at risk of going over-budget and have to get creative in other departments.

Supplies Needed:

  • Lattice strips for boards
  • Casing with ledge for top rail (1 1/16 inch by 3 3/8 inch)
  • pencil
  • Staple/Brad Nail Gun
  • 5/8 inch brads
  • Level
  • Measuring tape
  • Miter box and saw
  • Sandpaper
  • Finishing nails
  • Hammer
  • Spackle or wood filler
  • Putty knife
  • White paintable caulk and caulk gun
  • Primer
  • Paint:  I used leftover paint from other projects.  The board and batten, as well as the trim was painted Extra White by Sherwin Williams in Extra White.  The walls received two coats of Revere Pewter, mixed at 50% in Matte.
  • Paint Supplies: brushes, small roller, roller cover, and paint tray

https://myfamilythyme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/board-and-batten-process.jpg

(I snapped a few pictures during the process with my phone…they’re not great photos, but they give you an idea of the process.)

How to Install DIY Board and Batten

  1. We measured 48 inches from the top of our baseboard.  Using a level and a pencil, we marked a horizontal line on the wall.
  2. Before we began, we cut the vertical strips so that they would all reach the same height (We had the stair, baseboard, and heater to work around).  Using painter’s tape, we set them out on the wall, 12 inches apart, to be sure it worked according to our plan.
  3. We began with our vertical lattice strips.  We worked left to right, leveling and attaching the strips to the wall with brads, using the nail gun.  I only snapped a few pictures with my phone because it was a 2 person job!
  4. Once we had two vertical lattice pieces attached, we measured 12 inches down from the top and inserted a horizontal piece to create a square.  Measure, level and remeasure before attaching.  We repeated this process until it was finished.
  5. Add the top piece.  We decided to use a piece of casing with a ledge top. I love the character it adds! Again, we double and triple checked that it was level before attaching with finishing nails.
  6. Next, I used white paintable caulk to caulk the seams where the casing met the wall and lattice boards.
  7. Using a putty knife, I filled the nail marks with spackle and then lightly sanded.
  8. Lastly, I primed all of the wood and then painted it using semi gloss enamel paint.

Now, every time I walk by this space, I smile. I love the character and brightness that this wall treatment adds to this space. Had I realized how easy this project was, I would have done it years ago!

https://myfamilythyme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/foyer-5.jpg

Materials Cost:

As I mentioned, the cost for this project was a little higher than I had planned, but still very inexpensive. I think I got a lot of bang for my buck! I was fortunate that I had many of the necessary items on hand from other projects. The cost of this project is:

  • Pine lattice 1 5/8 inch $51.00
  • Pine casing with ledge for top rail (1 1/16 inch by 3 3/8 inch) $23.41
  • DAP white paintable caulk $1.99

Andy has already joked that we can save the extra lattice I purchased because he is sure I will want to add more board and batten somewhere else.  He knows me well!  Where would you add this wall treatment in your home?

https://myfamilythyme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/foyer-4.jpg

If you would like to save this for later, pin it here!

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34 Comments

  1. This turned out beautifully Lynne! And it totally changes the space! I am excited to see how the rest of it comes together.

    1. Thank you so much, Kristine! I appreciate your kind words. I’m so excited with how it came out. Looking forward to a few more fun projects! Have a wonderful week ahead!

  2. LOVE this Lynne! It looks so high end! I love that you got this look for under $100. Thanks for sharing the tutorial. I’d love to do this in my home too 🙂

    1. Thank you so much! It was so much fun and so much easier than I thought it would be. Please let me know if you do it in your home. I would love to see it!

  3. Lynne I love how it turned out. It really changed the look of your space. I have always wanted to try this, not I just might have to give it a go. Pinning for later.

    1. Thank you so much, Sonya! I had been wanting to try it for a long time and now I can’t wait to add it to other places in my home. Hope you’re having a great week!

  4. Love the wall. We have one by our front door and it brightens up any room. Great job!

    1. I appreciate your kind words, Susan! It is amazing how it can change the look of a room. Wishing you a wonderful week!

    1. Thank you so much, Vicki and Jenn! It’s a project that I had been wanting to do for a long time. I can’t wait to see how your home office is coming along! Hope you’re having a great week!

  5. It looks so great! I always love adding trim to entryways to make them look extra special and welcoming. That bench looks beautiful too

  6. It looks amazing! I’ve been pondering that in one of my spaces, too, so I’ve pinned the instructions to use for later. Thanks so much!

    1. Thanks so much, Rita! It really was so much easier than I had thought it would be. Please let me know if you try this project too! 🙂

  7. I absolutely love a board & batten wall! It looks so amazing so far!

  8. Wow Lynne, that is such a huge undertaking. I give you tons of credit. However, it also looks like it was worth every bit of time and effort because your room is looking gorgeous. What a difference it makes. Hmmm I wonder if I can get my husband to help me do this somewhere in our house. Very inspirational.

    1. Thank you, Patti! Your kind words brought a smile to my face! It was so much easier than I thought it would be. I am so happy to be part of this challenge with you!

  9. Julie Briones says:

    Now I’m super interested to see what the budget ends up being… It looks WONDERFUL, Lynne! Pinned!

    1. Thanks so much, Julie! The budget is tight…It’s making me really go through all of my supplies and use what I have! 🙂

  10. I love this Lynne, it looks amazing. I have always wanted to do this in my long hallway and now I think I might give it a try. Thanks for the inspiration.

    1. Thank you, Sonya! It would look great in a hallway. I started with a small area before committing to a larger one, and now I’m hooked. Please let me know if you try this project. I would love to see it.

  11. Great job on the board and batten, Lynne! I can’t believe this was your first time doing this! You and your hubby did a terrific job. I can’t wait to see the whole challenge unfold.

    1. Thank you so much, Crissy! I appreciate your kind words. It was such a fun project and so much easier than I thought it would be. Now, I’m hooked and already thinking about where else I can add this! Hope you’re having a great start to the week!

  12. Hi, this was so helpful! I’m shopping for lattice strips and I’m so happy to know that they fit right on top of the baseboard. I do have a question however: depending on the age of your home, did you find that the baseboard help to level out your home so you didn’t have to measure each lattice separately? My home was built in the 1940s and has settled, but like you I’m opting to use the lattice strip on top of the existing baseboard. I’m hoping the baseboard helps to curate the measurements uniformly for me so I could have them cut right at Home Depot rather than having to cut them myself.

    Kim

    1. Hi Kim! Thank you so much for your question. I found that it worked well for us to measure from the top of our baseboard. Then using a level and a pencil, we marked a horizontal line on the wall. You can make a pencil mark or use painter’s tape to be sure of the measurement of the vertical lattice before having it cut. It is true that older homes tend to settle, but they are lovely with their beautiful character! Please let me know how your project works out. I will be cheering you on!

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