Farmhouse Bedroom Makeover | Easy Board & Batten Tutorial

Revamping My Bedroom on a Budget: A Step-by-Step DIY Modern Farmhouse Makeover with Easy Board & Batten Tutorial!

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My bedroom needed a makeover badly. I moved in a year ago and never did anything to spruce it up. It was just so boring, plain and gloomy. I spend a lot of time in there so I really wanted it to be a place that brought me joy and inspiration. I wanted it to feel like I lived in the farmhouse of my dreams, even though I (currently) live in the suburbs. I’m SO IN LOVE with the cozy retreat I’ve created, and I did it all without breaking the bank. Plus, I picked up some handy DIY skills along the way!

Part One: Modern Farmhouse Bedroom

First, let’s talk about the bed area. As you can see from the before photo, it was pretty dull. It literally made me sad just looking at it. But now, it’s a total dream come true and a constant source of joy! It’s hard to believe that all it took was a basic board and batten wall, some green paint, homemade rattan side tables (you can find the tutorial here), and a vintage-style rug to give it a complete modern farmhouse makeover. Waking up to this room every morning will never get old.

Easy Board & Batten Tutorial

A quick and easy project like this can completely transform your space and its atmosphere, turning a plain white wall into a cozy farmhouse in just a few simple steps.

And yes, this is beginner friendly! I’m really not the DIY type, and I’d never attempted something like this before. If I can do it, you definitely can too.

Supplies Needed:

• Wooden Planks
• Finishing Nails
• Caulking
• Paint
• Saw (Optional)

Process Overview:

1. Take Measurements
2. Cut Wooden Planks
3. Nail Wood to Wall
4. Caulk Seams
5. Add Paint

Board & Batten: Step By Step Tutorial

Step One: Take Measurements

Before you start cutting, the first step is to figure out the length of your wooden planks. I’ll explain my process below, but keep in mind that the measurements will vary depending on the size of your wall.

Firstly, decide how high up you’d like the horizontal wooden plank to be. Mine was 140cm.

Some Basic Math

Now work out how wide the gap between each vertical plank is going to be. This is going to look a little complicated, but it’s not, I promise.

1. Measure the total width of your wall. Mine was 354cm.
2. Then measure the width of your wooden planks. Mine were 8.9cm.
3. Take the width of those wooden planks and multiply it by the total amount vertical planks you’ll be using. I used 8, so 8 planks x 8.9cm = 71.2cm
4. Subtract the total width of your wall by total width of wooden planks. 354cm – 71.2cm = 282.8cm
5. Now, take that total and divide it by the number of gaps you’ll have. I had 8 total planks, which means 7 gaps. So 282.8 divided by 7 gaps = 40.4cm.
6. And there you go! That’s the width between each plank.

Sketch It Out

Once you’ve determined those initial measurements, sketch it all out on your wall. Begin with the horizontal top line, ensuring it’s level by using a leveler. Then mark the spots for the vertical planks as well. This step confirms the accuracy of your calculations and simplifies the process of adding the wood later because you’ll have a clear guide for where each piece goes.

Measure Vertical Planks

With the horizontal and vertical plank marks serving as your guide, you can now determine the length of each vertical plank. Due to the inherent unevenness or lack of symmetry in many homes, you might discover that each plank requires slight adjustments in length. I noticed mine had variations of a few centimetres. It’s a good idea to label each plank on the wall and match it with the corresponding wooden plank for a smoother installation.

Step 2: Cut Wooden Planks

With all the boring stuff out of the way, it’s time to start building this easy board & batten wall!

Trim each wooden plank to match your measurements. You can do this at home using a saw, or you can visit your local home depot where they offer free cutting services. Sand down the edges and surfaces of the wood afterwards to get a smooth finish.

Step 3: Nail Wood To Wall

This is where it all starts to come together! Now, it’s time to attach the wooden planks to your wall. Start with the horizontal plank and then add each of the vertical pieces.

You can opt for finishing nails if you prefer a neat look where the nails are hidden when done. However, I went with regular long screws, which gave the wall a more rustic touch. Either option will do the job!

Step 4: Caulk Seams

Take regular caulking and use it to fill in all the gaps between the wooden planks and wall.

Step 5: Add Paint

Now, it’s time for the final step! Paint your wall in the colour of your choice. I personally went with BEHR Cottage Hill because its name perfectly captured the vibe I wanted, and it looks fantastic. I’m even thinking about using this paint in other areas of my home—it’s that good!

What about the baseboards?

Deciding how to handle the baseboards is pretty straightforward. You have two options: you can take the simpler approach, which is what I chose, and leave them as they are. This still results in a beautiful board & batten wall and is nice and easy, perfect for beginners like myself. Alternatively, if you prefer a more intricate look, you can remove the baseboards and then install an additional horizontal wooden beam along the lower part of the wall, using the same method described above.

Easy Board & Batten Video Tutorial

If you’d rather see this easy board & batten tutorial in action, take a look at my video below:

Farmhouse Bedroom Finishing Touches

The board and batten made a huge difference in this area, but a few more finishing touches were needed to perfect the space.

1. Black wall lamps on either side of the bed with Edison bulbs for an extra touch of rustic charm. What’s great about these lamps is they can be plugged in without the need for an electrician, unlike many sconces.
2. Black Bed Frame from IKEA.
3. DIY Black Rattan Side Tables (check out the tutorial here; it’s beginner-friendly).
4. Thrifted black books on both side tables, along with some greenery.
5. Above the bed, I hung simple black frames with graphics I downloaded from Etsy.
6. Soft chunky knit blanket.
7. A vintage-style rug, which is incredibly soft, was the finishing touch that really brought the space together.

And there you have it! An easy, budget-friendly transformation that gave my bedroom a charming farmhouse feel.

Part Two: Farmhouse Dresser Wall

After completely transforming the bed area, it didn’t take me long to get the itch to refresh the dresser wall in my bedroom too. It was all white and SO boring. It really needed a pop of colour and some character, but I didn’t want to break the bank. So instead of buying a new dresser, I decided to paint it black, which instantly transformed its look. I then added some artwork and a faux olive tree in rattan basket. And just like that, the space came to life! It complements the bed area perfectly, creating a modern farmhouse / cozy grandma vibe that I adore.

How To Paint An IKEA Dresser

Turns out, painting this dresser was crazy simple! All you need to do is lightly sand the surfaces, wipe it clean and then add 1-2 layers of paint. Finish with a clear polyurethane top coat to prevent stains and chips and voila – a brand new dresser!

Easy Vintage Gallery Wall

This vintage-inspired gallery wall took the space to a whole new level. I purchased eight gold frames, with four in one style and four in another. Inside, I added botanical art prints that I downloaded from Etsy. Since the frames were only 8×10″, I could print the art at home, which saved a ton of money!

DIY Textured Cream Vase

I found this vase at a thrift store for $8, and turned it into something that could easily be sold at CB2 for over $100! All it took was a mixture of cream paint and baking soda, applied to the vase. The baking soda added a beautiful texture that breathed new life into this piece. I’m even considering experimenting with adding dirt or sand to the paint for my next project.

Getting Creative with My Existing Decor

The only thing I didn’t change in my room was the linen curtains, gold floor mirror and this cute black rattan chair.

Farm Life, No Matter Where You Live

I hope this post inspires you to make the most of your spaces and create beauty everywhere you look. Living in a house that truly feels like “home” brings so much joy, peace and inspiration. It’s also a wonderful reminder that while I’m working towards my dream farmhouse, suburban living isn’t all that bad after all. Plus, the sense of accomplishment that comes from learning new DIY skills and bringing a creative vision to life can’t be beat!

If you try out any of these DIYs or this post inspires your next room makeover, I’d love to see it! Tag me on Instagram @gwenthemilkmaid.

And if you have any questions, just leave a comment below. I’m happy to help!

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