If your walls feel flat, board-and-batten adds architecture without moving a single stud. Map your spacing with painter’s tape first; the mockup saves headaches later. Rip MDF or buy precut lattice, then glue and pin it in a grid that fits your room’s rhythm (wider spacing for calm, tighter for energy). Caulk the edges, spackle nail holes, and sand smooth; then paint the whole field one color so the battens read as built-in. Go half-height for entryways, full height for drama in dining rooms, or wrap a headboard wall for a boutique-hotel vibe.
Tools & materials checklist:
MDF/lattice strips, construction adhesive, brad nailer.
Caulk + spackle, sanding block, level/laser.
High-quality enamel or satin paint.
