Okay, so I’ve been wanting to add some visual interest to my living room wall, and I thought some batten detailing would look pretty sharp. I decided to go with pine because it’s affordable and easy to work with. Here’s how the whole project went down:

Planning and Prep

First, I measured the wall where I wanted the batten. Got the height and width, and then figured out how far apart I wanted the vertical pieces. I went with a simple, evenly spaced design.

Next, I headed to the local hardware store. Picked up the pine timber – I think it was 1×3 inch boards. I also grabbed some wood filler, sandpaper (various grits), primer, paint, and some construction adhesive. Oh, and nails, of course! Can’t forget those.

Cutting and Sanding

Back home, I got to work cutting the pine to the right lengths. I used a miter saw, which made nice, clean cuts. If you don’t have one, a regular hand saw will work, it’ll just take a bit more elbow grease.

After cutting, I sanded all the pieces. Started with a coarser grit to get rid of any rough edges and splinters, then moved to a finer grit to get everything smooth and ready for primer.

Priming and Painting

Once everything was sanded, I wiped the boards down with a damp cloth to remove any dust. Then, I applied a coat of primer. This helps the paint adhere better and gives a more even finish. Let that dry completely – usually overnight.

After priming, I painted them using a small roller.

Attaching the Batten

Now for the fun part – putting it all up! I used a level to make sure my first vertical piece was perfectly straight. Then, I applied construction adhesive to the back of the batten and pressed it firmly against the wall. I also added a few nails to hold it in place while the adhesive dried. Just used a nail gun – made things super quick.

For the spacing, I used another batten piece, so easy.

I repeated this process for all the vertical pieces, making sure everything was level and evenly spaced. Once the vertical pieces were up, I measured, cut, and installed the horizontal pieces at the top and bottom, creating a frame.

Finishing Touches

After the adhesive was fully dry (I waited about 24 hours), I went back and filled any nail holes or gaps with wood filler. Let that dry, then sanded it smooth.

Finally, I touched up the paint where needed, and that was it! It completely changed to look good.

Honestly, it was a pretty straightforward project. Took me a weekend, working at a relaxed pace. The hardest part was probably just making sure everything was level and spaced correctly. But the end result? Totally worth it! My living room looks so much more stylish now.