Taryn Whiteaker

Taryn Whiteaker - Lifestyle and Design Blog

My Board & Batten Wainscoting Reveal and How To

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This blog post has been a long time in the making! Last summer I started making some big updates to our family room and dining area. Our house isn’t huge, so the two spaces actually feel like one. I wish I could say I’ve gotten more done than I have, but I did complete one major part of it. And that means it’s reveal time (of this project at least).

I’m happy to finally say I’ve completed the board & batten wainscoting in our dining area. I’m not done with the room yet, I still have a big piece of artwork I’m doing for the far wall along with some smaller details.  But I couldn’t wait any longer and I wanted to give you an update. (And no, my Xmas decor is not up still, these were taken before the holidays were over!)

DIY board and batten wainscoting

Board and Batten Tutorial by Design, Dining + Diapers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I just realized that when I kicked off the family room update, I never showed you a before picture of this space, so here is a quick before and after picture. Although, this isn’t an accurate ‘before & after’. The ‘before’ below is already a huge transformation from  when I first started updating the house. But that was pre-blogging years and I never took a picture of it. Just imagine blue/gray carpet, light wood trim, stained white walls, and an outdated white chandelier (the house was built in ’97 if that gives you an idea). I’m on a mission to find the photos of our house when it was listed so I can show all of you how much work we have already done.

The project was actually not that difficult. But since I couldn’t be hammering nails into the walls during nap time or night time, I was limited to only working during the weekends when my husband could watch Baby E. SOOO it took much longer than anticipated.

I started out using this great tutorial from Amy over at The Idea Room. Her tutorial really helped me figure out what I need for the project and how to get started. Once I dove, in I discovered my own technique. So here is my ‘how-to’ on installing board and batten wainscoting.

What you need:

– 1/4″ Birch plywood board cut into 3″ strips (UPDATE: I originally thought it was MDF board because that’s what I asked for, but it turns out I bought Birch plywood. I’m learning as I go :P)

– Finishing nails (and hammer, unless you have really strong fingers)

– Wood filler

– Caulking

– Sandpaper

– Skill saw

– Primer/Paint

I started by getting pieces of 1/4′ Birch plywood at my local hardwood store. The 1/4″ boards only came in 2′ X 4′ pieces so I asked the gentlemen in the lumber department if they would cut it for me and because of the adorable baby sitting in my cart they agreed to cut ALL my lumber for FREE. Pretty sure I did a little happy dance down the aisle when told me it would cost be nada.

 

I started by nailing the boards on top of the current molding. Love that I didn’t have to use a leveler for this part, it was nice to just rest the plywood on the molding and hammer away!

Next, I measured 37″ from the top of the molding and marked the height the wainscoting. Using a measuring tape and leveler I nailed the MDF board at the 37″ mark.

Naturally, there will always be pieces that don’t fit perfectly and some sawing is involved. This was the only part of the project that asked my husband to help with ( I was determined to do it on my own, I can be a little stubborn sometimes). To make it easy, I marked numbers on the wall and then the corresponding number on the piece of wood that fit the space. This way, I could measure multiple pieces at once and then take everything out to the garage at the same time. Huge time saver.

Once the border was complete I measured the vertical pieces and placed then on all of the corners.

 

It was at this point that I realized I wanted to do a grid pattern and not basic vertical design. So I changed my game plan. I decided to do another line of horizontal boards and then cut vertical pieces and place them every 14″ to create 14″ squares.

Now let me just take a moment and remind you that I am NOT perfect nor a professional. Therefore, I had some extra spaces in-between the boards. And that’s where my handy dandy wood filler comes in. I used Elmer’s Wood Filler to fill in the gaps between the boards and fill in the nail holes (I should mention that I used a finishing tool before filling the holes).

Here is what my pattern looked like before I filled the nail holes. After all of the wood filler is dry, sand each spot until smooth.

Next step. Caulking. I caulked around every edge: the top of the wainscoting, between every square and between the MDF and the molding at the bottom.

And at this point all of the tedious work is over. Now it’s jus time to prime and paint!

After all of that, here is another look at my finished look.

Board and Batten Tutorial by Design, Dining + Diapers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

and once again…

The project is also extremely inexpensive. All of the lumber cost me $70 (I used a coupon too) and I only used about a quarter of the lumber for this space. The rest will be used for the family room, but I won’t reveal that until later.

So what do you think? Moving in the right direction?

About 

Taryn Whiteaker is the voice of style behind TarynWhiteaker.com (formerly Design, Dining and Diapers) ! Taryn is a previous PR/Marketing professional who got back to her creative roots after becoming a mom and now shares her passion for home decor and design for the world to see. Taryn lives in the greater Seattle area with her husband and three kids and loves coffee, the outdoors, and exploring with her family.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  2. Ashley says

    I love this! I’m might explore doing something like this for our bathroom overhaul.

    Also, I’m “stubborn” like you. I like to do things myself and not ask for help!

    Reply

  6. Milla says

    Visiting from Addicted to Decorating, this is gorgeous! The difference in the before and after is amazing. Thanks so much for the how to pics. If I didn’t live in an apartment I would so try this. Great job!!

    Reply

  9. Valerie says

    Gre at job Taryn, you’re giving Martha Stewart a run for the money! Maybe you could give me some ideas for redoing my livingroom one of these days. Meanwhile keep posting your awesome projects :)

    Reply

  11. thistlewoodfarm says

    Thank you for this awesome tutorial! I love the board and batten and the difference it makes in your home. Seriously, though….what is that bit of fabulousness on your walls?

    Simply put, you rock!

    Reply

  12. Abbie (Five days...5 ways) says

    This turned out SOOOOOO great! Amazing what a difference it makes! Your space was lovely before, but now it REALLY pops1

    Thanks SO much for linking up your awesome posts @ Feature Friday Free-for-All!

    P.S,. I’m your newest subscriber! : )

    ~Abbie (www.fivedaysfiveways.com)

    Reply

  13. BeeGee says

    Your dining room looks darling! I love the wall treatment. In case it’s helpful for your readers…the product you used wasn’t MDF. Clearly it still worked, but MDF stands for Medium Density Fiberboard which is a fancy way of saying it’s particle board. It’s brown in color and has NO wood grain what so ever. It looks like this: http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1v/R-202089069/h_d2/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053

    The wood grain in the stuff you used looks like maybe it’s a maple plywood?

    Your job looks great!

    Reply

    • Taryn says

      Thanks for the tip! So funny because when I went to the store I asked specifically for 1/4″ MDF and this is what they showed me. Oh well! It still worked the same!

      Reply

  15. Amy @ All In A Day says

    I love it! It looks so great. I’ve been going back and forth on whether to do board and batten or faux wainscotting in my dining room! I think you maybe just sold me on the board and batten! It looks great! xoxo

    Reply

  16. Cathy@My1929Charmer says

    I’ve been wanting to do some board and batten in my home, but have hesitated. So I was happy when I stumbled upon your site. I think you have given me the confidence to to it. It adds such architectural interest and charm for so little. Wishing you might consider posting this at Sunday’s Best party going on now. thanks!

    Reply

  17. Janny says

    I’m loving this! Definitely in the right direction! I’m planning to do this to our dining room soon (maybe in a month) so I’m trying to see as many examples as I can to get an idea of what I want. How long did this take?

    Reply

    • Taryn says

      Thanks, Janny! It wasn’t that hard at all and it could easily be done in a weekend. It took me longer because I could only work on it for a few hours at a time. I say go for it!

      Reply

  18. Little Bit says

    Hi, Very nice. I’ve done, well had a carpenter do, similar treatments on client’s homes, and they always wonder, when I initially try to explain to them what I want to have done, if I’m crazy. But then when it’s done, it’s gorgeous. You did a great job by yourself! Congrats! Little Bit from DecorateWithaLittleBit.com

    Reply

    • Taryn says

      That’s so funny you say that because when my friend and family would ask what I was doing I would try and explain and just end up saying, “you’ll just have to see it when it’s done”. Thanks for the note!

      Reply

  23. Songbird Sweets (Sarah) says

    hi!! i just came across your blog from a to zebra celebration’s tuesday link party and i LOVE this tutorial! my husband and i have been wanting to do some work around our house for awhile now and you make it look so easy:) great post!
    ~sarah

    Reply

  32. Cinthya Travis says

    I love the wainscoting!!! This is similar to what I want to do in the kids rooms in my house. We’ve been living here one year and there is a half-a**ed wainscoting on the walls in their rooms which consist of basically a divider b/n the two colors. See this post: http://snifflesandgiggles.blogspot.com/2012/01/lumpy-scares-crap-outta-me.html So the pink is from the previous owner as the current occupant is an extremely energetic one year old. See how they added…I don’t know…a base board…and when I say they I mean previous owners. Anyways, I want to do real wainscoting. It’s so beautiful.

    I would love if you linked to: http://www.eyeheart.ca/2012/01/anything-goes-at-eye-heart-8.html

    I also have a giveaway at: http://www.eyeheart.ca/2012/01/celebration-giveaway.html

    take care

    cinthya

    Reply

  33. jeannie says

    Looks GREAT! I always admire board and batten tutorials because I know they are hard work. It looks beautiful.

    maxwellhouseinteriors.blogspot.com

    Reply

  37. nancy says

    LOVE! I’ve been looking to do something like this in the mudroom. i showed it to the guy at the lumber store and he didn’t have 1/4″ MDF. he suggested it appeared to be luan boards rather than MDF. Is it possible it was luan rather than MDF? I love the way it looks and want to do it myself. thanks.

    Reply

    • Taryn says

      Hi! I had another reader ask the same question and I went back to the lumber store and it’s actually 1/4″ birch plywood! I need to update the post. Thanks for leaving a note, I hope yours turns out great!

      Reply

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