How to Install Board and Batten in Small Spaces

We’ve got 90 sq ft for a guest bath, laundry room and mudroom. It’s small; but it must be hard-working. That space must provide us coat hooks, towel hooks and hanging space for laundered clothes — plus ample storage. Oh, and I’d like it to be pretty.

That is why the most important detail — in both the Laundry Room and Bathroom renovations — is the Board and Batten. The trim work defines the space, adds character and creates a perfect spot for oh-so-functional wall hooks.

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I have to inject — my husband and I aren’t major DIYers. We didn’t grow up with parents who were handymen {they hired handymen, instead}. But, we are willing to learn new things, save money, and challenge ourselves.

Sometimes, you learn via baby steps. This window seat is the biggest trim work project that we had tackled; but it allowed us to practice the basics of cutting mitered corners and caulking trim. It was solid baby step, that we could build upon.

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How to Install Board and Batten

#1 Determine board sizes – we chose 6″ baseboards, 6″ top boards and 4″ battens

#2 Determine the distance between each batten – we chose 12″

Almost every wall in this space is short — at less than 4′ long — so each wall was measured separately. We DID NOT start in one corner and simply measure every 12 inches. This would have placed some battens directly up against door trim and most of it would have looked off-centered. Therefore, each section of wall is based on centering the battens.

Here are some examples:

24″ Wall

32″ Wall

46″ Wall

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#3 Mark the batten locations directly on the wall with pencil

#4 Count the number of battens and measure the total length of baseboard and trim

#5 Purchase wood planks according to measurements, quantity and board widths

#6 Prep the walls with primer and paint {use a semi-gloss sheen to match the trim}

#7 Cut boards to length

#8 Prep the boards with primer and paint {semi-gloss}

#9 Attach the boards to the wall using a nail gun {our Hitachi Brad Nailer has been great, SOOO much easier and quicker than a hammer}

#10 Fill nail holes with wood filler

#11 Sand wood filler

#12 Caulk along all of the edges to create a smooth, seamless look and hide any imperfections

#13 Finish with a final coat of paint, or more as needed

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The most difficult part of this job is finalizing all of the measurements — figuring out the puzzle. After the measurements are done; you just need patience to complete the painting, sanding and finishing. It’s worth it — because this small, 90 sq ft space, is now making a big impact in our daily life.

Have you ever installed Board and Batten? In your experience, what was most difficult about it — and what was simplest? Would you do it again?

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