We officially have a playroom update! I’m excited this year to start sharing with you the whole process of flipping spaces in our home versus waiting for one entire room reveal. All the fun takes place as we create and decorate spaces in our home over time. So, why not share more of that as we start with our playroom.

A few weeks ago we started the process of adding new paint color to the walls and decided that wasn’t enough for this space. We want to make this a fun place to play, learn, and grow. In other words, a place to escape for Oliver to have a little fun! I mentioned to Ryan installing board and batten on the walls and he was up for the challenge! After doing a little a lot of research, we realized this project can get pricey very fast! Especially since we were covering a large amount of area. 

So today’s post isn’t a tutorial on how to install board and batten, but how to cut cost when purchasing materials to install. We saved a lot of money but that also means we did a lot of the work ourselves to create the board and batten. We’re always trying our best to stay within a budget which also means things may take a little longer. So keep that in mind! Here are the ways we cut cost:

Sanded the walls: We opted for sanding the walls versus purchasing hardboard panels. Why did we even sand to begin with? Our walls are textured and we wanted the smooth look once everything was completed and painted. If you’re walls aren’t textured, you don’t even have to sand! I think placing the boards on the wall is a personal preference if you want semi-smooth walls versus ultra smooth walls. 

Used plywood for the batten: The batten pieces can add up in cost quickly depending on how many you need. We needed 28 strips of batten and wanted them at least 3 inches in width. We spent $25 on a nice piece of plywood and cut our batten pieces. And wouldn’t you know it, one sheet of plywood gave us the 28 pieces we needed! Keep in mind, this was another long process. We had to measure, cut, and sand each individual wooden piece before we even attached them to the wall. 

Kept existing baseboards:Usually when you install board and batten, you’ll also replace the baseboard so that everything matches. This can get very pricey and we were okay with the current baseboards. Plus, it saved time not having to replace them. Since the plywood pieces for the batten are thicker than the baseboards, we had to cut the bottom of the batten pieces at a 45 degree angle to create a smooth transition from the batten to the baseboard. 

So, with those cost saving tips, here’s a breakdown of saving money versus saving time. These price comparisons are for the size of our playroom (you’ll have to adjust cost for your space). Also, the items we crossed out in the third comparison are items we already had which saved us more money. But so you’ll know the total investment, I’m breaking down the cost to save money by doing a lot of the work yourself, the cost to save time by having ready made materials, and my actual cost with the materials I already had versus what I had to purchase.

Board and Batten Price Comparison with Materials: How to Cut Cost

**These price comparisons are for materials only. This doesn’t include the tools needed to complete the board and batten project. Also, keep in mind this if for our size room. The price could go up or down depending on the size of the area you’re attaching the board and batten.

Saving Time: Buying Materials That Are Ready to Go.

Hardboard panels for a smooth finish on wall: $50
Liquid nails x 3 for the hardboard panels and batten pieces: $7.50
6—1 x 2 pieces for the ledge at the top: $17
38 – 1 x 3 Batten Pieces: $65
6 – 1 x 4 pieces for the top: $36
Nails for nail gun: $12
White Paint: $25
Caulk x 2: $12
New baseboards: $80+

Total: $303.50

Budget Friendly: Doing A Lot of the Work Yourself

Sanding the walls: $0
Liquid nails x 1 for the batten pieces: $2.50
Plywood for batten pieces: $25
6 – 1 x 4 pieces for the top: $36
No ledge at the top: $0
Nails for nail gun (won’t need as many): $12
White Paint: $25
Caulk x 2: $12
Keep existing baseboards: $0

Total: $109.50

Our Actual Cost: 

I crossed out the materials we already had which help cut cost for this project. Check to see what you have before buying materials to help with the cost.

Sanding the walls: $0
Liquid nails x 1 for the batten pieces: $2.50
No ledge at the top: $0
6 – 1 x 4 pieces for the top: $36
Plywood for batten pieces: $25
Nails for nail gun (won’t need as many): $12
White semi-gloss paint: $25
Caulk x 2: $12
Keep existing baseboards: $0

Our total cost: $73

By looking for materials we already had and willing to put in extra time to get this project done, we saved 75% compared to buying ready made materials with a quick turn around!! So, you tell me. Would you want to spend over $300 or under $75 to complete the same project? The only difference is investing a little more time and possibly borrowing tools from your neighbor.

This took us almost three weeks to complete with having a busy 16 month old and having only an hour or two in the evenings during the week and a few hours a day during the weekends. This can easily be completed within a weekend if you’re able to give more uninterrupted time. There’s also one thing to keep in mind! If you’re only doing the board and batten on one wall, purchase the 1 x 3 pieces versus the plywood. 

Up next we’ll be adding decor to the walls, Ryan is finishing up Oliver’s playroom table, and we’ll be building a few more pieces for this space. You can also check out our design board we recently shared.  I can’t wait to share another update of this space. Let me know if this has motivated you to try board and batten in your home!  

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