Our upstairs hallway recently received wainscoting, and it feels like a more polished relative of the DIY board-and-batten we installed in our last house. It’s a blend of board & batten and picture-frame molding—think a refined English cousin to the more casual version we did before.
The Easy Approach To Installing DIY Wainscoting
This project began as a quick weekend plan: replicate the board & batten look we loved in our previous home. That earlier project was straightforward and satisfying—lots of nail gun quality time and a clean finished look. For the basics, we used vertical lattice pieces spaced where the studs are (about 16″ on center) and ran a horizontal 1×3 pine board across the top to act as a rail. After caulking seams, priming, and painting, the transformation was complete.
We stocked up on materials, charged the compressor, and even installed crown molding with a baseboard beneath to create a chunkier profile that matches the rest of the house.
When the initial installation was finished, the result felt a little underwhelming. It looked fine, but it didn’t sing the way the original version did in our old home.
Upgrading The Board & Batten
After sleeping on it, we made two simple changes:
- We doubled the thickness of the vertical battens by adding a second layer of lattice.
- We added a cap rail by nailing a 1×2 pine board on top of the 1×3 top rail, giving the whole assembly more visual weight.
Those tweaks improved the look, but we still hesitated. The crisp, minimalist lines that matched the slab doors of our previous mid-century house clashed a bit with the more detailed six-panel doors in this colonial. The solution was to add decorative molding for a more traditional, cohesive look.
We picked up decorative shoe molding and used it to frame the interior of each panel. Each strip was measured, marked, and miter-cut at 45 degrees so the corners fit together like a picture frame. We installed the pieces with finishing nails; the lightweight trim held well without adhesive. We also added cove molding beneath the cap rail to reinforce a traditional profile.
Note: apart from the top rail and cap rail, the trim we used is light, so finishing nails were sufficient to secure everything to drywall. For the top rails we did confirm placement with a stud finder to ensure secure anchoring.
The Final Result
The work itself was simple but somewhat tedious because our hallway is long. For smaller areas—bathrooms, dining rooms, or short corridors—the same job could easily be completed in a day or two. After the miter cuts, nailing, caulking seams, filling nail holes, priming, and painting, the space felt refreshed and more finished.
We also swapped all the house lights to warm LED bulbs for consistent, natural illumination and energy savings—those bulbs are what you see in the photos.
Before the makeover, the hallway felt disconnected from the rest of the house. Now the updated trim and the chunkier moldings help the space read as intentional and connected to the home’s traditional style.
We’re still experimenting with art placement—too many pieces can make the hallway feel busy, so we’ve temporarily hung a few frames to test locations before committing. A brass bird accent has been a favorite contender so far.
Other elements—like a drum stool used as a placeholder and a potential runner for the floor—are still in flux. The baby gate we use for the stairs tucks in neatly when we remove it for photos and fits the look well when in place.
Overall, taking our time and making small adjustments moved the hallway from “meh” to something we genuinely enjoy. The finished wainscoting feels right for this house’s traditional character, and it’s a change that improves the flow of the whole upstairs.
We’re considering additional traditional touches, like picture-frame molding in other rooms, and plan to share more updates as we finalize decor decisions and seasonal decorations.
Paint colors used in the space include a warm neutral on the walls and crisp white on the trim and wainscoting, which together highlight the new profiles and details without overwhelming the hallway.