Our entryway is just about ready to be styled, but before we get to that I wanted to share the details for our DIY board and batten accent wall.
The entry to our home is somewhat narrow, so I knew I wanted to do something attention-getting in this space to define the area. A board and batten accent wall ended up being the perfect solution.
There are so many variations of the “board and batten” style to choose from. Traditional, grid, half-wall, three-quarter wall, abstract, and mid-century just to name a few. It’s such an easy and (comparatively) inexpensive way to make your home feel more custom.
The floor-to-ceiling vertical slats were definitely what I was leaning toward. This draws the eye up and makes the room feel larger. But I wanted to do something to give this traditional style a fresh take. This is why I decided to use two thinner wood slats for every batten. Or a look more commonly known as double board and batten.
I love the way it turned out! Keeping reading to see what trick made this project so easy and the cost details to make it happen.
Create a DIY Board and Batten Accent Wall
…or in our case, a double board and batten accent wall 😉
First, measure the wall and cut your wood pieces.
The exact trim boards we used are linked / here /. We used THIN pine pieces to avoid any overhang on our existing upper and lower trim.
Next, level and attach the first board to the wall using a nail gun (some say to use wood glue, but it’s not necessary).
We started with straight nails directly in the bottom, middle, and top. This allows you to pull the wood piece back out of the wall should you need to reposition it.
After double-checking the level, we further secured each piece with 2 additional nails inserted at an angle. As a general rule, you should have a nail every 10-12 inches.
Then, here is the fun trick– use a pre-measured wood piece as a guide/template for consistently spacing the remaining boards.
We quickly worked our way from top to bottom with one person sliding the wood template down while the other applied the nails.
Finally, caulk the boards and apply wood filler to the nail holes. Don’t skip this step! It makes all the difference in making the wall look finished and professional.
Finish with paint!
DIY Board and Batten Accent Wall Cost
Another thing to consider before jumping into this project is the cost. The good news is- you’ve already saved yourself some money by going the DIY route 👏🏼 …And we’ll assume you already have the DIY-er essentials like a level, tape measure, miter saw, and nail gun.
You will just need to budget for trim boards, caulk, wood filler, and paint. Just to give you an idea, we spent about $130 on wood and around $40 on paint materials. We already had caulk and wood filler from our last project. (Also keep in mind the date of this post. Costs could change depending on when you read this 🥴 Inflation is real.)
We saved time and money by not using board paneling. If your walls already have a smooth finish, then it’s something you can get away with.
