DIY Board & Batten Wall

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I walked into my dining room one day, and it just felt empty. I’ve wanted the “all white and neutral” look for a while, but I’ve come to realize that dark neutrals will always be my go to. This board and batten wall was just what my dining room needed to feel just a little more like home!

What you will need:

• 1×4 MDF Moulding
• 1×3 MDF Moulding
• 1×2 MDF Moulding
• Caulk
• Wood Filler
• Sand Paper
• Nail Gun
• Liquid Nails (if you plan to do this project alone)
• Laser Level and Laser Stand (optional)
• Level

Step by Step:

• Measure your wall to see how much of the MDF you will need
• Our wall is a little over 14ft wide. At the time, all I could find were 12ft and 8ft pieces of the 1×4. We bought a 1x4x12 and a 1x4x8 and cut to fit. FUN FACT: they have them in 1x4x16 at Home Depot!! *Don’t be impatient and research more options* (Lesson Learned) The 1×4 will be your top/widest piece of the board and batten wall.
• I used one 1×2 directly on top of the trim. Our trim has a slight curve on top, so placing the 1×2 on top of the trim allowed us to place the vertical MDF flush above it.
• The second 1×2, was placed on top of the 1×4 to give it a slight shelf look
• The 1×3’s is what you will use for the vertical pieces of your board and batten wall. I didn’t want to move my art that was already on the wall, so to leave around 4 inches between the artwork and the board and batten wall, we cut our 1×3’s into 3ft pieces.
• Decide how tall you want your board and batten wall to be. I used my laser level to line up exactly how high I wanted to go, and also marking 5 inches below that line (to count for the 1×4 and 1×2 that will be placed on top).
• Place your 1×2 on top of your trim first. If you are doing this project alone, using liquid nails will keep the board in place long enough for you to nail it in.
• Measure from your bottom 1×2 to the second laser line (where the bottom of your 1×4 will be), to determine the length of your 1×3’s.
• Place a 1×3 on each end of the wall, and measure how far it is in between the two to determine how many 1×3’s you will need. (ours are 18 inches apart, and we used 9 1×3’s total)
• Remember, everyones measurements will be different depending on the size of your wall
• Be sure to use a level or a laser level to make sure they are perfectly straight.
• After nailing in your 1×3’s, place your 1×4 on top
• The second 1×2 is then placed flat on top of your 1×4, giving it a slight shelf look
• After your MDF is level and nailed in, you will use wood filler for any gaps, and caulk around each board to finish off your flush look.
• Sand each board until they are all smooth, prime, and paint!

**I have had a lot of questions about my Pendant Lights above my artwork. They are WIRELESS and controlled by a handy little remote! The perfect icing on the cake for the “home feel” in our dining room!**

TIPS:

I painted the wall before placing the boards to make the painting of the board and batten wall a little easier. I also had help when nailing them in, so I personally did not need the liquid nails. Be sure to vacuum and wipe down the wall before applying paint!