Board and Batten Reveal

Board and batten is a great way to add character to your home, and it also has the added benefit of easy fingerprint clean-up if you have kids.  I love it to this day, and I think it just makes everything look crisp and custom.
 
I gave you a preview to the late night insanity in starting our board and batten project just two days before Christmas.  Well, we have one project that is done.  The hallway as you enter our house from the garage was every mother’s nightmare.  It was painted in flat paint.  Flat paint.  Who paints walls in flat paint?!?  Perhaps someone with no children…
 
So, since this hallway is a magnet for fingerprints and scuff marks, I figured it would be a good place to start our board and batten journey.  Mind you, we decided to take the red-eye on this trip and started working on it at about 11:30 PM on December 23rd.  Yes, insanity rules.
 
Here is the photo montage – sorry for the before pictures – I was in a hurry to capture a few since I don’t typically take pictures of hallways just for kicks.

 

Kind of a before picture – I was actually taking a picture of my new rug.  Isn’t it pretty?

 

A picture from the opposite direction – at the beginning of the insanity.
how-to-install-board-and-batten
The hubby measuring out the distance between the boards with a trusty paint stick!
Boards are up!

 

board-and-batten-tutorial
AFTER – A crisp and clean space.
board-and-batten
AFTER – View from the garage door
board-and-batten-tutorial
Another view – added another piece at the top to give it a more finished look

 

Board-and-batten
And another view in case you haven’t seen enough

Our hallway has gone through a few more makeovers as the years have gone by, but the board and batten has stayed the same.  I still love it!

board and batten DIY

board and batten tutorial

And here it is now –

Board and batten

 
Material Details
I have received a lot of questions about the board sizes and the measurements I used.  Here are the details:
 
The wood we used was primed MDF.  The sizes are as follows:
  • Vertical boards: 1 x 2 1/2″ mdf
  • Large horizontal board: 1 x 7 1/2″ mdf
  • Top “trim” pies 1 x 1/2″ mdc
Additional tools needed:

The spacing in between the boards was about 12 inches.  We used a paint stick as a guide.  You’ll want to measure your wall to make sure that the boards are able to be evenly spaced, and reflective of one another so that it is aesthetically pleasing.

TIP:  Cut the bottom of your vertical boards at an angle so that they “taper” towards the trim (assuming you’re not going to replace your baseboards).  That really helps give it a more seamless look overall.

As for the height, that’s a matter of personal preference.  Ours are about 65″ high, from the floor to the top of the trim piece.  But, you can eyeball it and see what works best for your space.  We have 9′ ceilings , so that height worked best for us.

We caulked around all of the mdf pieces and the paint that we used was an antique white (Porter Paints) in a latex semi-gloss that matched our trim paint.

Jenny

87 Comments

  • Reply
    2munckinsmom
    January 29, 2011 at 1:55 pm

    Awesome! What is the color on your hallway walls?

  • Reply
    Heather B
    January 31, 2011 at 8:23 pm

    Could you share some details? Did you buy the boards already white or paint them before installation? What size boards did you use? How did you decide your height and spacing? Did you paint in between or install something? Did you caulk? Why size board is in top? I love this and would love to try it but I need more guidance or I'm sure to screw it up! Thanks!

    • Reply
      Jenny
      February 26, 2012 at 4:13 pm

      The wood that we used was primed MDF. Here are the sizes:

      Vertical boards – 1 x 2 1/2" mdf
      Large horizontal board – 1 x 7 1/2" mdf
      Top "trim" piece – 1 x 1 1/2"

      The space in between the boards was about 12 inches I believe. I
      think I used a paint stick as my guide! 🙂

      One tip that I can give is to cut the bottom of your vertical boards
      at an angle so that they "taper" towards the trim (assuming you're not
      going to replace your baseboards). That really helps give it a more
      seamless look overall.

      As for the height, that's a matter of personal preference. I think
      ours ended up being around 65" high, from the floor to the top of the
      trim piece. But, you can eyeball it and see what works best for you.
      We have 9" ceilings, so that height seemed to work best for us.

      • Reply
        Megan
        November 19, 2017 at 11:21 am

        We just found your blog! Love the B&B! We are gearing up to do this in our back entry and have a question. Did you nail the verticle boards into studs or just the drywall? Did you use any glue to secure them?

        Thanks!

        • Reply
          Jenny
          November 19, 2017 at 5:45 pm

          We used glue and a nail gun to secure them – didn’t go by the studs. Worked for us, but if we ever decide to take it down, I think we’re going to have a mess on our hands! Thankfully, I still love it as much as I did when we installed it. 🙂

  • Reply
    danielle
    February 5, 2011 at 2:18 am

    I'm in the middle of doing this for my kids bathroom. How did you attach your boards to the wall if they are not in studs?

  • Reply
    My Cottage Charm
    February 19, 2011 at 9:41 pm

    What is the final height of your board and batton? I am contemplating doing this in a couple of places and like the taller version, but I'm unsure of the height. 🙂
    Yours looks lovely!
    thanks
    Missy

  • Reply
    Kathy
    March 25, 2011 at 4:45 pm

    This is SO good!

  • Reply
    The Rustic Victorian
    March 26, 2011 at 12:28 pm

    This B&B is awesome, I have never heard of it before! Your home is beautiful!

    Marcie

  • Reply
    Anonymous
    May 20, 2011 at 4:00 am

    Did you use an eggshell or semi-gloss finish for the white paint? Also was it the same finish as the paint color above the board? I'm taking on this same project in my home and semi-gloss seems like a good idea for the ease of clean up. Thanks!

  • Reply
    Anonymous
    October 12, 2011 at 6:25 pm

    Hi Jenny! I LOVE this board and batten in your hallway! Can you please give me the board sizes you used for the entire project? I am dying to do this in my hallway too! Thanks

  • Reply
    Anonymous
    October 24, 2011 at 12:41 am

    Hi- Can you please tell me if you used 1×4 mdf boards on vertical and what size horizontal? I love the look and want to do this in the babys rrom due feb. and thought that I had to take off the baseboards and replace but I see you didnt and it looks amazing? I just want it to be perfect. Thanks a bunch. Erin.

  • Reply
    Anonymous
    October 25, 2011 at 2:06 am

    Can you share what the white/cream color is on the board and batten and on the molding on the bottom of room, is it the same color on the moding? semigloss?

  • Reply
    Crystal @ Ordinary Days
    December 28, 2011 at 3:35 am

    This is gorgeous! I am wanting my husband to do board and batten in my hallway and then in my kitchen. Did you all just paint between the boards? Also, my husband was wondering if you know how he attached the boards to the baseboard. Thanks!

  • Reply
    Anonymous
    January 25, 2012 at 1:42 am

    Love this board and batten!!! can you please tell me the exact sizes of boards you used for the entire project? also, did you use a gloss paint? Thanks so much.

  • Reply
    Karen @ THEBUZYBUG
    February 1, 2012 at 8:35 am

    Hi Jenny, love that space. It turned out beautiful! What paint color is that green in your home? I just love it!

    • Reply
      Jenny
      February 5, 2012 at 4:13 am

      The green that was there when we did the board and batten is called Burlap by Sherwin Williams.

  • Reply
    Karen @ THEBUZYBUG
    February 1, 2012 at 8:35 am

    Hi Jenny, love that space. It turned out beautiful! What paint color is that green in your home? I just love it!

  • Reply
    Anonymous
    February 5, 2012 at 3:38 am

    Jenny, did you answer the questions privately? I have questions, but they have all been asked. My most important question is, where the rug came from?

    • Reply
      Jenny
      February 5, 2012 at 4:12 am

      Some questions I did answer privately (before I had the ability to reply here in the comments!). I got the rug from the Ballard Designs Outlet. Even though I have repainted since doing this project, I haven't yet found a new rug (and still love this one). It will eventually find a new home somewhere in the house. 🙂

  • Reply
    Michelle
    February 16, 2012 at 5:31 pm

    Just stumbled accross this post thanks to Pinterest… I was getting ready to do something like this and THIS is my new inspiration! Thank you!!!!!

  • Reply
    Anonymous
    February 25, 2012 at 12:49 am

    Please could you answer the questions posted from Heather B. Thanks

  • Reply
    Marianne
    February 27, 2012 at 9:25 pm

    Looks beautiful.One question….if the vertical boards are only 12 inches apart, you wouldn't be able to hit studs with each one. did you use a liquid nails to attach them to the wall?

  • Reply
    Cheryl
    March 5, 2012 at 4:36 am

    I really like this Board & Batten. I really like the height & want this in our new home. Thanks for the pictures!

  • Reply
    Diane
    March 5, 2012 at 1:42 pm

    I have redone my entire house…except the hallway…couldn't figure out what I wanted to do with it. Now I know! Thanks so much for this!

  • Reply
    Anonymous
    May 5, 2012 at 3:17 am

    This is so gorgeous. Can you tell please please please tell me where you got that rug?

    • Reply
      Jenny
      May 5, 2012 at 1:55 pm

      The rug is from the Ballard Designs outlet store. It's a Safavieh brand rug though, and I just bought another (similar) one from Overstock.com.

  • Reply
    Lynn @ UpCountry Olio
    August 24, 2012 at 4:13 am

    I am digging back into your archives a bit but I just had to comment on your hallway treatment. It is beautiful! I love how it brightens up your hallway. Thanks for stopping by and commenting on my board and batten treatment. Looks like we both love the look.

    I'm so happy to find your blog, there is just so much inspiration here! Can't wait until I have a bit more time to check it all out!

    Lynn

  • Reply
    Rachael
    November 8, 2013 at 8:21 pm

    Love love love! I've done a ton of B&B in my house too, it makes such a difference. Great work! Would love to have you share on my weekend linky party http:/www.lovelycraftyhome.com

  • Reply
    Levelhead
    November 21, 2013 at 5:32 pm

    Exactly what I was looking for. Bee-U-Ti-ful result. Thank you so much for including what paint shade and type you used! – so frustrating when this is not referenced.

  • Reply
    Levelhead
    November 21, 2013 at 5:34 pm

    Exactly what I was looking for. Bee-U-Ti-ful result. Thank you so much for including what paint shade and type you used! – so frustrating when this is not referenced.

  • Reply
    Marmot L.
    January 13, 2014 at 4:32 am

    Love this wall treatment can you give an idea of the cost involved? Well done! It'sgorgeous!

  • Reply
    Marmot L.
    January 13, 2014 at 4:32 am

    Love this wall treatment can you give an idea of the cost involved? Well done! It'sgorgeous!

  • Reply
    Linda Weeks
    September 18, 2014 at 12:42 pm

    very clever use of materials!

  • Reply
    b74c17a8-5849-11e4-8326-9f10064c2068
    October 20, 2014 at 11:10 am

    You still loving that rug? I'd be happy to buy it from you if you tire of it. Can't find anything like it, and the colors are perfect for my space.

  • Reply
    Michael Marshall
    July 27, 2015 at 6:41 pm

    Looks great! Working on the same project now. Is there a width difference between your baseboards and your top horizontal board(7 1/2)? It looks like the top board is wider and I kind it so I'm going to try and keep it proportional but know the angles of the picture can affect perception.

    Thanks!

  • Reply
    Marcia Lakin
    December 4, 2017 at 11:29 am

    Hi Jenny! I have followed your blog for years and appreciate your talents so much! On this post the last photo of the hallway door is beautiful (board and batten photo project). It went from white to black to what I believe is your current door color, a grayish modern taupe???? Can you please tell me the color of the door? I believe the hallway walls are Revere Pewter. Yes, my all time fav color as well!! Thanks a bunch!

  • Reply
    Kathy H
    April 20, 2018 at 5:24 am

    Absolutely love this. I have been been planning this in our home but didn’t get the chance. We have now bought another, and this is one of the first projects I want to complete! First in dining room, then in other rooms! We have Stickley furniture…what could be a better fit?i just can’t wat!

  • Reply
    Tony M
    October 28, 2018 at 10:29 am

    I really like this idea, and was thinking of putting a lip on the top trim so I can rest pictures on it. My head is spinning with ideas now !

  • Reply
    Mari
    March 29, 2019 at 3:11 pm

    My husband is in the process of imstalling board and batten in our halfways and stairway. The paint he brought home is enamel satin. It shows every brushstroke. What paint type and finish do you recommend?

    • Reply
      Jenny
      April 1, 2019 at 5:30 pm

      I’m not sure what kind of paint it is, but perhaps you need to use a different mini roller for the board and batten. It varies, depending upon the paint you’re using, but when I used Benjamin Moore Advance, I had a lot of success with a mohair mini roller.

  • Reply
    Kelli
    July 15, 2020 at 8:48 am

    Hi Jenny, it looks beautiful! What type of paint finish did you use? I’m doing something similar and in the past I’ve used semi-gloss but that was wainscoting below the chair rail and I wonder if semi-gloss would be too shiny so far up the wall. Yours looks great and I’d love to know what you used, thanks!

    • Reply
      Jenny
      July 23, 2020 at 4:13 pm

      I always opt for a satin finish – not too shiny, since that brings to light every flaw!

  • Reply
    Melanie
    April 12, 2021 at 1:33 am

    I love your finished space! I’d really love to know the color of the paint above the board and batten. It’s so light and airy!

    • Reply
      Jenny
      April 12, 2021 at 8:04 am

      The latest version of the paint color on the walls is Revere Pewter – a Ben Moore color (one of my favorites).

  • Reply
    Allison Hawks Walters
    December 17, 2021 at 2:23 pm

    It is beautiful. How about the color of your door? I love everything about this!!!!!

    • Reply
      Jenny
      December 18, 2021 at 3:34 pm

      Thanks so much. I believe the last color we painted in this picture was Chelsea Gray (Ben Moore color).

    1 2

    Leave a Reply

    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.