Easy DIY Board and Batten Wall with a Twist

This post is sponsored by Dovoh Laser Level. All opinions and designs are my own.

Have you ever wanted to create a DIY board and batten wall but thought it’s too complicated?

Well, think again!

We’re going to show you the absolute easiest way to create a stunning accent wall with moulding using the DOVOH Laser Level 360.

If you’ve been following along, you know that my boys wanted to switch bedrooms, which meant each would get a makeover on a budget.

We finished Aiden’s Star Wars bedroom a couple of weeks ago and stayed under our $500 budget.

Now it’s time to jump into Gavin’s room and create a space that’s more grown up.

Gavin has been very specific about what he’d like to see in his room.

He wants a nature inspired room with a dark green accent wall, light wood furniture with a modern, minimalist feel.

And we’ll start this room makeover with a diy board and batten wall with a twist.

Because of the small size of this bedroom our first priority is to make the room feel larger.

In order to make it feel larger, we’re going to use a couple of designer tricks.

We’ll carry the board and batten wall feature around each side wall about 16″, giving the illusion that the wall is recessed.

The other designer trick is using a dark color on the accent wall.

This dark color will make the wall recede, once again making the room feel larger.

Now let’s get started with this DIY board and batten wall and we’ll show you how easy it is using a high quality laser level.

With this tool, anyone can do it quickly with professional results.

In this post . . .

Prepping the Wall

In most cases, with any project there’s always a little prep work.

Bedroom wall with samples of green paint, testing colors in room.

First we filled in all the nail holes and sanded them smooth.

Then we wiped all the dust away with a damp cloth to prepare for the wall for paint.

Next we painted the room white and sampled three different dark green paint colors on each side of the wall.

Sampling the paint in more than one location will give you a better idea what it will look like in more than one lighting situation.

Plan Board and Batten Design

Sketch of DIY board and batten wall on graph paper.

The next thing you’ll need to do is sketch out your design for the board and batten accent wall.

You can easily plot your wall to size using graph paper.

Then I simply shaded in the design so it would stand out a little more.

Having the sketch scaled to size will help you know how much wood to buy and give you a good idea what the finished design will look like.

Also before heading to the home improvement store I looked online to see what sizes of trim boards were available and was able to calculate exactly what I needed.

DIY Board and Batten Wall Supplies

To make this project as easy as possible we’ll use 1×4 primed common MDF boards.

Here’s a breakdown of supplies to give you an idea how much we spent.

Keep in mind that I have 9’ ceilings which are a little taller than normal.

1 MDF primed trim board 1” x 4” x 12’
1 MDF primed trim board 1” x 4” x 6’
9 MDF primed trim boards 1” x 4” x 10’
1 gallon paint
2 liquid nails
caulk

My total was a little under $200.

You’ll also need:

painters tape
tape measure
brad nailer
accurate self leveling laser level

This post may contain Amazon or other affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. If you purchase something through any link, we may receive a small commission, at no extra charge to you. Where possible, the exact product has been linked. If that product isn’t available to link, We’ve linked something similar. See our full disclosure here.

Are you enjoying this post?! Please Pin it, save it for later and share it with a friend.

Sharing is caring!

Mark Wall for Paint

First we’re going to use the laser level to mark out where the design will be on the walls.

Green laser beam marks placement for paint before install the board and batten wall.

Not only will the board and batten design be on the back wall, but it will also wrap around on the two side walls and the ceiling.

Overall this will give the illusion that the room is deeper and wider than it actually is.

Let me tell you, we love the fact that this laser level can be mounted on a tripod.

It frees up your hands so you can actually focus on what you’re doing.

In the past, other levels we’ve used have been handheld so you have to recruit another set of hands to help out and the beam was not very bright.

Plus it’s super easy to use!

View of the Dovoh laser level showing power switch.

Just flip the switch on the side to turn it on and press the function keys located on the top.

In our situation, we’ve activated both the horizontal and vertical lasers.

Laser level in the foreground with the laser beam projected on a white wall. Woman is placing painters tape along the laster beam.

The high visibility laser is placed 15″ out and gives us the exact placement line for our paint lines on both walls and ceiling.

One of the first things we noticed about using this new laser level is how bright it is!

Woman aligns painters tape along green laser line.

Clearly it’s more visible than any other laser levels we’ve used in the past.

We even had a good chuckle when we realized it was shooting out of the room clear down the hall.

So just imagine how much better this laser level will work in outdoor situations as well!

I wish we would have had this tool when we were installing the paver patio!

And if you use a laser receiver it can extend the working range in some situations.

Additionally, Dovoh is offering our viewers a special discount, scroll down to claim yours today.

Over the years we’ve found it much easier to paint the new accent color before installing the moulding.

Painted forest green wall in a small bedroom.

It’s much quicker to paint the whole wall rather than inside each individual box once the design is up.

Install Vertical Trim Boards

Once the paint is dry, measure the height of each of the vertical trim board pieces.

With all 6 measurements in hand, we can quickly cut each and install the vertical boards.

First dry fit each trim board and make any adjustments as needed.

Green laser beam showing board placement on DIY board and batten wall.

Then align the laser level 16″ out from the wall, so the trim board will cover the edge of the paint line.

Construction adhesive is applied to the back of a MDF board.

Then add construction adhesive to the back side of each board.

Arrows point to green laser beam along first installed vertical board for DIY board and batten wall.

With the adhesive applied to the board, you can now press it into place using the laser line as your guide.

With the level in this position, we installed the two side boards, one on the left and one on the right.

And for those of you who may not have a pneumatic brad nailer, we’re using the painters tape to hold the boards in place while the adhesive dries.

This worked well for the vertical boards.

However, we did have to break out the brad nailer for the horizontal boards because they slid down the wall.

But if you’re using thinner boards than we are, you may be able to get away without using a brad nailer.

Let’s stay connected! Follow us on social media!

Next we installed each of the vertical boards in both corners.

Finally, we moved the laser level to align the placement for the two remaining vertical boards which are 30 inches in from the corner boards.

Another thing we love about this laser level is its high accuracy.

It’s built with a durable pendulum which is guaranteed to remain accurate for many years and even has a 5-year accuracy warranty.

The level will beep as you’re positioning it, and will stop after it has self leveled.

So there’s NO guess work if it’s level or not.

If for any reason, the laser level falls short of its accuracy standards due to normal use within 5 years, DOVOH will repair or replace the item free of charge.

And they’re so committed to providing high-precision tools that they also offer a two-year warranty for any quality issues resulting from normal use.

Install Horizontal Trim Boards

With all 6 vertical pieces in place we measured the length of the horizontal board that will go across the ceiling.

After cutting the board to size and doing a dry fit, we marked the placement of each ceiling rafter with a piece of tape.

Then apply the construction adhesive on the back of the board.

Two women placing board at ceiling and securing with a brad nailer.

Due to the weight of the board and the fact that it was overhead, we used the brad nailer to secure it into place in each ceiling rafter.

We simply transferred the tape onto the board and placed the brad directly through the painters tape.

Later in this post, we’ll share a new tip we tried with painters tape and wood filler.

It’s a game changer!

With that ceiling board in place now we can measure the distance from this board to the wall for the remaining ceiling pieces.

This will carry that vertical line up onto the ceiling.

Once cut to size, dry fit and secure them in place with construction adhesive and the brad nailer.

Then measure the distance between each of the three sections on the main wall at the ceiling.

Next cut each horizontal board to size, dry fit and secure in place with construction adhesive and brad nails.

Laser level projecting onto a painted green wall for placement of horizontal boards for a DIY board and batten wall.

For the two remaining horizontal rows, once again we’ll use the laser level to quickly help us precisely position each board into place.

Woman's hand aligning board along green laser line for a DIY board and batten wall.

The laser level is set 30″ down from the ceiling to create the first section.

Woman's hand securing board to a green painted wall with a brad nailer.

And is then lowered another 30 inches to create the middle section.

White primed MDF trim boards installed completing DIY board and batten wall. Arrow points to the laser beam along one of the horizontal boards.

Features of the Laser Level

With its user-friendly design, the DOVOH Laser Level 360 provides a stress-free installation experience.

Its mounting base fits on my camera tripod and keeps hands free for easy adjustments and measurements.

Plus, its compact size and portability allows you to easily carry it from one project to another.

In addition, it comes in a handy carrying case with two rechargeable batteries and charger, glasses to enhance the beam when outdoors, magnetic bracket and target plate.

Whether you’re a seasoned DIYer or a beginner looking to create a professional finish, the DOVOH Laser Level 360 is your secret weapon for achieving professional results.

This high visibility laser level can emit up to 12 beams.

Elevate your space with confidence and precision, impressing friends and family with your impeccable craftsmanship.

Wood Filler, Caulk, Paint

Now to finish off our DIY board and batten wall, we caulked in all the seams and used wood filler on all of the nail holes.

Do you remember we told you to pay attention to all of that excess painters tape on these boards?

Well, we’re all about trying new hacks to make our projects quicker and be more efficient!

So we thought we’d give this one a try on this project.

Not only is it helpful to place painters tape to mark the ceiling rafters and wall studs, but your mind is going to be blown with this next benefit!

Place the brad nailer directly over the painters tape and insert the nail.

Woman holding a putty knife pressing wood filler over a piece of painters tape filling the nail hole with wood putty.

Apply the wood filler directly over the painters tape and allow to dry.

Woman's hand pulls back the painters tape once the wood filler is dry.

Then pull back the tape and you’ll have very minimal amount of sanding to conceal the nail holes.

Woman's hand holding a piece of sandpaper, sanding the wood filler areas on a white trim board.

This hack drastically reduced the amount of time we’d normally spend applying the filler and sanding away the excess.

We’d love to know if you’ve seen this hack before or if you have any other hacks you like to use during the finish work.

And finally paint the boards with the same accent color, sit back and enjoy your new accent wall!

Completed DIY board and batten wall painted forest green.

Board and Batten Accent Wall

Just take a look at our beautiful board and batten accent wall!

It really elevates the look in this small bedroom.

Forest green board and DIY batten wall with the illusion of a recessed wall, white leather slipper chairs, brass lamp, brass round metal table, plants and pillows.

And a special thanks to Dovoh for providing us with this high visibility and accurate laser level.

Not only did this laser level make installing this board and batten wall a breeze, but we also used it a few weeks ago to hang art in Aiden’s bedroom.

It’s really a versatile tool that we wished we would have had tiling my laundry room floor or installing the wallpaper.

Forest green board and batten wall with the illusion of a recessed wall, white leather slipper chairs, brass lamp, brass round metal table, plants and pillows.

As you can see we don’t have a bed for Gavin yet, it arrived damaged.

For days we’ve been frantically looking for a replacement, but with no luck.

So for now, we’ve staged the room with a pair of chairs.

To see more projects in Gavin’s bedroom makeover check out the posts below:

We hope you’ve been inspired to create a beautiful accent wall in your home.

And don’t forget to claim your Amazon discount code: 38LWUOKL to save 15% through 30 June, 2023.

Are you enjoying this tutorial?! Please Pin it, save it for later and share it with a friend.

Sharing is caring!

Thanks for spending some time with us today, we hope you’ve been inspired!

What are your thoughts, would you like to see this laser level in your toolbox?

Drop us a comment, we love to hear from you.

If you’re new here, WELCOME! We love having new readers and friends!

You can learn more about us here.

Let’s stay connected! Join our DIY community of doers so you won’t miss any of our weekly updates.

Please PIN and save for later, and share with your friends! Sharing helps grow our following!

Thanks for stopping by and as always here at Sunny Side Design

WE HOPE TO BRING YOUR HOME TO THE SUNNY SIDE OF THE STREET!

PINTEREST IMAGE FOREST GREEN BOARD & BATTEN WALL WITH 2 WHITE LEATHER CHAIRS, GOLD ACCENT TABLE AND BRASS FLOOR LAMP. STAGED WITH PLANTS AND PILLOWS.

Retailers We Love

Be sure to follow us on Pinterest for even more home decor and DIY ideas.

To see what we are working on before it’s on our blog, follow us on Instagram.

You will also find our video tutorials on our YouTube channel.