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Inexpensive DIY Batten Wall Using Lattice Strips

ByLauren
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Tutorial: How to use lattice strips as an easy, inexpensive alternative to install a DIY batten wall for adding vintage character to plain walls.

Lattice strips are the MVP of this DIY batten wall project!

I mean they really are the unsung hero of a lot of little DIYs and crafts around here. (Remember that shower curtain art we framed with lattice strips a while back?) This time it needed a spotlight in the breakfast nook.

A DIY batten wall behind brass vintage sconces above a green banquette bench

Since we kind of have an addiction to intricate wall molding around here, it’s absolutely no surprise at all that after we finished installing and painting our Facebook Marketplace banquette find in the breakfast nook, Robert and I looked at each other and said, “Something’s missing.”

Those smooth walls needed character! And lattice could do the job inexpensively. Because molding is one of my favorite ways to make a house look luxurious.

A breakfast nook with olive green banquette, herringbone floors, white walls, and black bifold French door

What is Lattice?

Lattice is made of thin strips of wood most commonly used in a criss-cross structure for trellises to support climbing plants in gardens or to serve as porch skirting.

But it’s perfect for simple wall molding projects too. (Kind of like Sharpie shiplap but way more legit.)

The price of molding has skyrocketed lately (along with every other home improvement supply), so we figured out a way to add pricey looking batten wall molding for the fraction of the price using handy dandy lattice strips at $1.28 per linear foot.

If you’ve never installed any type of molding before, it’s the perfect beginner version to try since it requires no miter cuts and lattice can sit flush right on top of your existing baseboards since they’re thinner than regular 1×2 boards.

a stack of lattice strips

How to Make a Batten Wall Using Lattice Strips

You could add this vertical batten wall all around the room, as wainscoting, or just as a board and batten accent wall. You could leave your walls plain without any wall decor for a minimalist approach or layer it with art for even more character.

It would be perfect for adding onto a plain kitchen island too. Keep in mind though, if you have a textured wall, the process won’t be as simple, since you will need to add these MDF panels to your textured walls using Liquid Nails and brad nails first.

Supplies

Steps to Make a Batten Lattice Wall

measuring a wall to place lattice strips for a DIY batten wall

Step 1 – Measure and Decide on a Layout

Measure your entire wall first, decide how far apart you want your batten (vertical lattice strips) to be, and mark their placement on the wall with a pencil.

Remember that lattice strips are 1 1/2″ wide, so factor that into your layout plan. We set our battens to have an 8 1/2″ gap between.

Step 2 – Cut Lattice Length

Measure the height of your wall from baseboard to crown and cut the first lattice strip to the needed length with a jigsaw. (Not all walls will be perfectly the same height all the way across, so don’t cut all of your lattice based on that first measurement.)

checking with a level to make sure lattice strips are perpendicular

Step 3 – Use a Level to Check Lattice Placement

“Dry fit” the first lattice strip and use a level to make sure it’s perfectly straight.

Step 4 – Nail Lattice

Once you’re happy with the lattice strip placement, nail it to the wall with the brad nailer (or a hammer).

You can use construction adhesive here as well, if you choose, but because the lattice is so lightweight, it’s completely optional. (The batten wall will also be easier to remove without adhesive later if one day you change your mind.)

installing lattice strips for wall molding by dry fitting

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Step 5 – Repeat

Repeat Steps 2-4 until you’ve placed all lattice strips along the wall.

nailing lattice strips to a wall for DIY batten wall molding

Step 6 – Caulk Cracks and Wood Fill Nail Holes

Caulk all of the edges of the lattice strips to fill all of the cracks, and fill all of the nail holes with wood filler.

caulking and wood filling lattice strips

Step 7 – Sand Wood Filler

Once the wood filler is fully dry, sand smooth with fine grit sandpaper (we use an orbital sander to make the process go faster). Brush away any sanding dust after.

batten wall after caulking, wood filling, and sanding smooth before painting

Step 8 – Paint

Give everything a fresh coat of paint and you’re done! (We painted the wall first with the same color we planned to use on the lattice strips so that we wouldn’t have to work around all of the details afterwards.)

batten wall painted white with brass vintage style sconces and green banquette

The Finished Batten Wall

Don’t you think these two batten walls add so much to this little breakfast nook corner? I love it so much!

We added these vintage style sconces to bring more light into this windowless space. What do you think?!

They work so well with this linear chandelier that adds a touch of modern, and the brass pops against that batten wall we painted Benjamin Moore Chantilly Lace.

breakfast nook with green banquette bench, white batten wall made of lattice strips, and brass lighting

Wrapping Up Breakfast Nook Details

I still plan to paint the air vent and add knobs to the banquette cabinet doors.

(Now that it’s dry, I have to admit, don’t love the paint I had to use on the banquette thanks to supply chain issues causing my favorite cabinet paints to be sold out. But oh well. If that’s our biggest challenge, I’ll take it.)

I just got the call this week that the newly reupholstered cushions are finished! So it will all be coming together in here soon.

These DIY herringbone LVP floors still look absolutely amazing since we installed them a few weeks ago! Next on the list is building a table, refinishing some secondhand dining chairs for the other side, and adding some vintage art and decor finds.

It will be so charming as we wrap up the final details.

olive green banquette bench in a breakfast nook with white batten, herringbone floors, and black door

Have you ever done a DIY batten wall before? Or found a new use for lattice strips? They’re the best for so many things!

More Project Ideas Using Lattice Strips

If you want more wall molding ideas, here are a few more too.

More DIY Wall Molding Ideas

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14 Comments

  1. What a great idea! Thanks for sharing your tutorial.

    I read that you didn’t like the paint, so I’m wondering how you feel about the banquet paint color? Currently it seems like the door color and banquette color are competing instead of working harmoniously. But I’m interested to see where it goes and how it ties in once you add artwork and cushions. >Everything< you do is beautiful!

    Reply

    1. In the “big picture” the paint color will make more sense. Once the other details come together 😉 It flows well with our existing kitchen cabinet color adjacent to this room too. How our home flows room to room is something I always try to consider.

      Reply

  2. Lauren,
    I’ve been racking my brain trying to figure out what to do with my powder room. Your lattice batten wall is the perfect solution. I will do wainscoat with the bottom portion and paint alone above.

    The only problem is the black floral wallpaper the previous owners put in there. I’ve heard you can paint over wallpaper, but not sure how. It’s a foil type so I think it would be difficult to remove. Any advice would be appreciated.

    I love your blog! Your home is lovely!
    God bless!
    Margaret

    Reply

    1. Hi Margaret, This is Elaine, Lauren’s mom. I’m going to take on this question because Lauren has never removed wallpaper. Well, unless you count when she, at age three years old, pealed off a hunk of hideous wallpaper (left by the previous owners) in our powder room (she was practicing her decorating chops even then 🙂 ). To remove wallpaper I use a wallpaper scoring tool (Paper Tiger is good) to score the wallpaper all over. Then mix up a batch of Dif Wallpaper stripper with water. The trick is to keep the mixture as hot as you can stand it (use gloves). I put a small batch of the mixture in a small plastic bucket or bowl and pop it back in the microwave whenever it cools too much. Obviously, don’t heat it so much that it melts the container. Work with a manageable section of wall at a time, apply the hot mixture with a sponge and let it set a few minutes. Then douse it again with the hot stripper (well, there’s a phrase I wouldn’t think I would ever type) and use a wallpaper scraper to remove the paper. Use the hot mixture again to remove any leftover glue, then go over it one more time with plain water. I would definitely remove the old paper, especially if it is foil as the shiny might show through after a while if you just painted over it. A powder room is usually a small space and a good place to practice. I know this from the experience of having a 3 year old decorator in my house 😉 Take care.

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  4. can’t wait to see the finished project! I am wondering if knobs will be awkward and get bumped by your legs when you are sitting there? Are you going to keep the color if you don’t like it? You guys are so brilliant with your remodels!

    Reply