I’m tackling a makeover of my small guest bedroom. The first phase is a minimalist board and batten accent wall. Since this a small room, I want to keep the design simple.
Look at the transformation with the before and after!
Supplies
- Primed 1×4″ MDF boards
- I used 12 foot to prevent having a seam in the middle, but you can also use 8 ft boards
- Cordless Brad nailer
- My favourite Mitre saw
- 2” brad nails
- Level
- Measuring Tape
- Laser Measurer
- Drywall spackle
- P220 grit sandpaper
- Caulk
- Caulking gun
- Baby wipes
- Paint
Plan your grid board and batten design
Determine the wall dimensions
Measure the height and width of the wall using your laser measuring tape. If you’re working by yourself, it’s really hard to use a standard measuring tape to get an accurate measurement. A laser measurer makes this easy by shooting a laser across the room and capturing the measurement.
Look for any obstructions in your grid
Take a note of any outlets, electrical switches and wall vents. Make sure to incorporate them into your design. I’ve learned from past accent walls that you need to incorporate them into your design. Otherwise, you may end up with a janky cut on a board to accommodate for the trim! Try to place these outside the trim as much as possible.
Draw your design
Draw a rough idea of your design. Fill in the dimensions you know. If you aren’t sure of the size of the boxes, don’t fret. We can figure that out as we go.
Cut and Install your boards
I started by installing the top board along the ceiling first. The best part of this accent wall is that it is all simple straight cuts. I cut this board to length and attached it with my brad nailer. It was awkward to install, so I got my husband to help me.
I used tape to figure out the size of the grid. Painter’s tape is an inexpensive tool that I always use to visualize my design. I knew I wanted rectangles (not squares). I played around with it until I found the right size
I cut and install the rest of my boards. I made sure to use a level for each piece, and measured them as I installed them.
I installed the vertical battens last
What to do about baseboard overhang?
Chances are that the trim and existing baseboards in your space will not be the exact same thickness. There’s a few ways to tackle it.
You can remove your baseboards and replace them. I didn’t want to do this as I have the same baseboards in my entire house.
You can bevel the battens to make the transition seamless
I opted to do nothing. The overhang isn’t noticeable from far away.
Finishing Touches
Now that the main part of building the wall is complete, you can move on to the finishing work. This is what really makes the accent wall shine!
Fill nail holes
Use spackle to fill any visible nail holes
Caulk
Since the walls or the boards are not perfectly level, I like to caulk the seams where the board meets the wall. This is a simple step that makes a professional finish. See the gap in the image below?
Cut a small tip on the caulk and load it into the caulking gun. Apply a thin bead.
To remove excess caulk, run a baby wipe along the edge.
Spackle gaps where the boards meet
Inevitably, there will be gaps where the 2 boards meet. Apply spackle with a putty knife. Wait until it’s dry and then sand and smooth any rough edges or surfaces.
If the gap is big, you may need to cut a sliver of trim in the gap to close it off.
Paint
Since I am going for a light and bright accent wall, I used the same white paint to the boards that is already on the walls. Apply the final coat of paint. I used 2 coats of paint on the boards for good coverage
Reveal!
This is a simple board and batten accent wall that anyone can tackle in a weekend! It’s the perfect project for beginners. If you love it, Pin it!
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