I would always read home magazines and fall in love with all the textured walls I would see. Feeling like it was above me (lol) I would flip the page. Quarantine has brought on a host of home projects and tasked to paint our master bedroom became one. After seeing more random picks of walls I adored, I decided to jump up and go for it. Pictured above are the gorgeous results! I received dozens of questions regarding making this happen so I’m sharing right here and now!
The steps to creating this wall are simple enough to tackle (yet can be difficult if your prep isn’t on point; which is what we’re discussing first! See, Guru’s for you!). This is a rewarding weekend project you should definitely give a go!
Materials:
Saw (I used a circular saw but you can use a miter or hand saw if you’re willing to add extra elbow grease and ate your spinach, lol.)
Patching Putty
Sander
Rubber Mallet
Brad Nailer and finishing nails
Paint of choice
Trim Caulk
Caulk Gun
Measure tape
Leveler
Drop cloth (for painting)
2x1 wood or pvc planks (I chose the precut 8ft, already primed ones.)
Damp Cloth
Paint brush, roller, tray and sponge
Pencil
Plastic putty knife
First things first! Preparation/Measurement
Patch any holes and imperfections your walls may have. Sand them down. (If you have textured walls, you will need to use backer boar to create a smooth surface.)
You will now measure your walls. This is the MOST important part of the entire project!
1) Measure the overall width (wall to wall)
2) Measure the overall height (baseboard to ceiling)
3) Use a stud finder to find the studs behind the wall. This will help you determine your desired width of your squares (batten). My studs were about 24’ apart, so I chose that to be the width of each square. You want to get as many boards on studs as possible to create structural lasting.
While these measurements will be covered with paint, marking your measurements will give you a great idea of how your wall will come together. You will be taking an additional set of measurements later. You will refer to these measurements frequently during this project. Note: When you measure, be sure to do so from outside to outside, including the new boards that are being added.
Ex: I chose 2”x1”x8’ primed wood boards for this project. Being that I planned to do 24” (inside measure) squares, I added an additional 4” (2” boards, measured from board to board). Essentially meaning, every 28” was the installation of a vertical board. Once you have your basic measurements, it’s time to get start on painting the wall!
Paint your wall the desired color. Mark lightly, using pencil, where you intend to place boards (for me, every 28” was the outside edge for each new board) at eye level.
Vertical
Install your top and bottom trim (your first boards). Secure your board with a brad nailer into the studs. Once you have installed your trim, measure the height of the wall from bottom of trim to the top of the trim above the baseboard. Measure at each marked area. YOU MUST MEASURE EVERY PIECE as 99.9% of walls are uneven; whether from construction or your home settling over time. If you have windows of the wall, be sure to measure those smaller pieces individually also; ensuring equal width. Once you have measured your vertical boards, install them using a brad nailer.
Horizontal
Now comes the fun part…horizontal boards! All your measurements should be from the bottom of the previous board to the bottom of the new board. Measure each piece as you go. If you desire to cut more pieces at a time, be sure to create a numbering system to keep them organized or an easy match to the wall. Some pieces (if cut perfectly will need a gentle nudging to pop into place. Use your rubber mallet to gently tap into place. Utilize your leveler to ensure and establish the proper horizontal plane. Secure pieces with a brad nailer.
Look how far we’ve come! It’s time for the finishing details!
Once you have assembled all your boards on the wall, you are going to fill the nail hones (from the brad nailer) with patch putty. Let it dry and sand it smooth. Now, caulk the seams between the wall and boards. Allow it to dry. Note: if you find that you have clumping areas of caulk as you go along, use a damp towel to wipe off excess.
The final step is to paint the boards to match the wall! Start in the nook and crannies first and then what’s front facing. Voila!! A beautiful wall treatment has emerged and YOU (well, we because I’m rooting you on!) did it!!! Go the extra mile and refresh baseboard and windows (if you have them) with a fresh coat of white paint for a cherry on top! Take your time and trust the process. It will be assembled before you know it!
I do hope this will inspire you to give more amazing home projects the green light! Be sure to follow along on IG as I often do DIY projects in my stories! I’m here for questions, so if you have one, drop it below the post! -xo
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