With our newest dining room makeover, I thought I would share the tutorial for easy DIY board and batten. I planned it out so there was hardly any cutting or measuring of wood involved. There are so many tutorials on Pinterest and other blogs on how to do this, but as I mentioned, I wanted to do it the easiest way! (post contains affiliate links, see disclosure)
Originally posted in July of 2017 and updated in January of 2021.
EASY DIY BOARD AND BATTEN
SUPPLIES
- 1 x 3 x 6 common board
- nail gun
- nails
- measuring tape
- level
- wood filler
- caulk
- painting supplies
- paint color of choice, I used my favorite white
STEPS
- Using a measuring tape, decide how far apart each board will be and mark with a pencil. I did mine at 23″ apart. Also you might notice I’m not using any “board” covering for the walls. I decided to create the illusion of board and batten using common boards and our existing walls. Our walls are slightly textured, but you can’t really see it and it doesn’t bother me. The common boards are 1″ (actual size 0.75) thick just like our baseboards, so they rest on top of our baseboards.
- Use a level and a nail gun to attach boards to each wall. Because I used lightweight common boards, I didn’t worry about nailing each board into a stud. Instead, I nailed at an angle for each nail into the drywall. And because I used 6-foot boards, I didn’t have to cut any to height.
- Attach top railing across all boards to complete the board and batten look. Here you can use a thicker or thinner board for added interest or character. I used the same size boards to create a more modern look.
- Lastly, fill all nail holes with wood filler. Then, use caulk to finish off the edges of each board for a more clean and professional look.
Because I removed the shiplap from our previous dining design, I had a few more spots to fill on the wall. Then, I painted the walls and boards all a bright white. The caulking of each board was the longest part of the whole project. But, it was all worth it in the end.
This easy DIY board and batten has completely transformed the look of our dining room. I love that it adds character and feels decorated without needing to have anything on the walls. It’s timeless, classic, and something we can live with for years.
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Hi! Just curious if our walls are textured. I have been wanting to add board & batten to my dining room…but my walls are textured. I would prefer not to have to add a thin overlay on the walls (more $$ & work)…but wondering how it will look?! Thanks!
Yes, my walls are textured! You can’t even really tell or notice it until you get up close. I say go for it! 🙂