Easy DIY Board and Batten Wall for a Nursery

Step-by-step tutorial showing you how to make a board and batten accent wall for a nursery.

When I got pregnant with my son, I knew I wanted to a do a board and batten accent wall in our nursery.

The classic board and batten is a really beginner friendly DIY that doesn’t take a lot of tools but makes a huge statement in a room!

My husband and I’s love of sports made pretty easy going with a sports themed room.

I built this board and batten wall in a long weekend and painted it this beautiful dark blue in Behr Inked color.

There are so many different variations of board and batten that I plan to use in other rooms in our house.

It really is a timeless statement in your house!

Below I outlined the tools and steps you need to complete your own accent wall!

Can you believe the total cost was only $115?!

Let’s get started…

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Tools Needed

• Utility Knife
• Trim Puller
• Hammer
• Miter Saw
• Level
• Pencil
• Brad nailer
• Measuring tape
• Paint brush + roller

Material List

• 12 1×4 – 8 ft.
• 1 ¼ “ brad nails
• Paintable caulk
• Wood filler
• 4” paint roller and tray
• Primer
• Paint

Step by Step Instructions to Follow

1. Measure your wall height and width

Determine the spacing and style you like.

This will help you determine how many boards your will need.

You can use this board and batten layout calculator if you are unsure.

2. Remove your current trim (if desired)

To remove the baseboard, using a utility knife, score the top and the corners of the trim (between the wall and the baseboard) to break the existing caulk.

Using the trim puller and hammer, tap the trim puller behind the baseboard with the hammer to pull the existing nails and baseboard away from the wall.

Depending on the length of the wall, you may need to work in a few spots at a time.

Depending on the style of your current trim, you can leave it has is or add additional molding to connect the board and batten on the wall. In this room I decided to keep the existing trim but I have done both options.

It really is your personal preference!

3. Installing the new trim

If you decide to replace your trim, measure the length of your wall with a measuring tape.

Depending the trim you removed, you will need to miter cut the ends at a 45 degree angle to connect to the outside walls.

4. Paint your wall

I deceived to paint the wall before I installed the boards. This is completely your preference. I liked doing it this way because than I only have to paint the wood areas after.

5. Install your batten boards

I installed all of the vertical boards first, starting on the left side of the room.

Using a level and a brad nailer, install nails on the board at the top and every 6-8 inches all the way to the bottom of the board.

Then move to the next one, and repeat the step from left to right.

Pro Tip: I cut a wood space to the exact dimension the gap would be between batten boards. It helped speed up the process of installing the board. This can also be repeated for the horizontal boards in the next step.

Note: There are recommendations for liquid nails in addition to the nails on the boards, but I find this step unnecessary.

If you decide to change your design in the future, when pulling away the boards with liquid nails it will cause damage to your drywall that will need to fixed.

6. Install horizontal boards

Using the spacer for your horizontal battens, use your brad nailer to install these boards for you desired board and batten design.

7. Caulk and wood fill

Using wood filler, fill all of the holes where you used your brad nailer.

Once dry, use a hand sander to smooth the excess filler away.

Then using a caulk gun, fill the seams with a paintable caulk.

You will also use caulk on your corners, then wipe away extra caulk away using your finger or a baby wipe to get a smooth finish.

Note: Caulk cannot be sanded. It is important to wipe away the excess for a smooth finish before it dries to give it a professional look.

8. Prime and Paint

If you’re wood is not primed, you will need to use a true primer (not a prime and paint)on the wood.

Do not skip this step, trust me!

Once the primer is dry, paint the boards. I like to use a roller for the paint to get a consistent texture from my walls.

Final Words on This DIY Accent Wall

Now it’s time to go enjoy your new accent wall!

This DIY project is an easy way to bring character in your baby’s new nursery.

Complete it in a weekend and enjoy it for years to come!