We created a DIY board and batten entryway in our new home! This added some much needed storage space in our small entry. This DIY project is such a budget friendly way to add some character in any space!
When we moved into our new home last year I had so many home projects spinning around in my head – including a DIY board and batten entryway near our front door. We don’t have a dedicated entry space, only a small area behind our front door.
As a family of 6 we needed a spot to hang our coats, bags, and backpacks. We also needed a space for people to sit and put on their shoes. After scouring Pinterest for some inspiration I found some ideas for adding vertical storage on the wall, as well as adding some visual interest with a wall treatment. I was so excited to try this board and batten DIY!
DIY Board And Batten Entryway
We have completed board and batten a few times already, most recently in our laundry room when I used only $90 to give the room a makeover! This wall treatment adds dimension and interest to any space. It is also the perfect spot to add hooks for functional storage!
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I received some paint from Behr to make this makeover happen, and I’m loving how it turned out! I used the color Old Celadon from Behr to transform the look of the board and batten after it was installed. This color is amazing – because it changes so much in different lighting! It is a grey/green color that can almost look blue at times.
We chose to add our board and batten on textured walls. By using paint with a flat sheen it hides the wall texture and it’s hardly visible (and makes installation so much easier!).
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Measuring Your Space
The first step for creating this board and batten wall was to measure out my space, and decide how high I wanted the top horizontal board to be on the wall. I marked off some possible measurements for the height, and stood back to visualize how it would look. After I settled on a height, I used a long metal ruler and a level to draw a level line across the entire wall.
Next I measured out my wall and determined how far apart I wanted the vertical battens to be. I landed on 17 inches apart, with the first batten being flush against the right wall. Then I marked off my spacing and also marked how wide each board would be.
My first mark every 17 inches is where the middle of the board would sit, and then I measured out the total width of the board (3.5 inches) and made marks on either side to show the spacing of where each board would go.
Cutting & Installing The Boards
Next Nic started measuring and cutting our boards. He first installed the horizontal top and bottom 1×4 common boards (we put a board on top of our baseboard, because we didn’t want to hassle with removing our existing baseboards as they wrap around the room). He made sure the boards were level before nailing them in, and then added a 1×2 common board on top to create a ledge.
Then he started measuring and cutting the 1×4 vertical boards. Each batten board will not be exactly the same length, so he made sure to measure each one before cutting. It took a few tries to get the angle correct for the pieces going up the stairs, but once he got it things went quickly! After making all of the cuts we nailed them into the wall using the level again as well.
After all the boards were nailed to the wall, I added caulk to the places where the wood met the wall. This creates a seamless look after the paint is applied. I also added wood filler to the nail holes in the wood, and to any knots to smooth the surface. After the wood filler was dry I sanded it down with a fine grit sandpaper until the surface felt smooth to the touch and even with the surface of the wood.
Painting & Adding Storage
Lastly I painted the boards and the wall space between them with the color Old Celadon by Behr. This beautiful color was perfect for this space – it is a great neutral color that looks grey/green at different times of the day! Then I added some black metal hooks for some much needed storage space! This added some much needed functional storage on this batten wall!
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I also added some artwork with some family photos and digital downloads from Etsy. I used Frame It Easy to print and frame the artwork and they made the process SO simple and easy!
A small cushioned bench was also a necessary addition for our family, and contrasts against the paint color perfectly. This is the perfect size for our small entryway. It can be tucked behind the door and still provide a landing place for all the things! I’m loving how this board and batten interior project turned out.
What do you think of our small entry solution? This board and batten accent wall has helped our large family immensely! I’m so glad I took the leap and created this DIY board and batten wall in our new home! This feature wall creates so much character in our home.
Stay tuned for some more board and batten wall ideas as we add more to our home!
Follow along on Instagram, Pinterest & Facebook for more DIY projects and home decor ideas!
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