$200 DIY Board and Batten Mudroom

by | Jan 11, 2022

By Melissa Moyles

Happy New Year! Wow December was a whirlwind! I am So happy to get back to routines and good habits this January. One of my goals for 2022 is a monthly DIY home project and I’m kicking off the year with my “mudroom”.

I say “mudroom” because it’s really only a 4ft by 6ft hallway off my garage. For the past 3 years, I’ve hung this handmade hook sign made by a friend. It did the job but I wanted something a bit more permanent.

garage hallway

A cordless Ryobi brad nailer Christmas present from the hubs was enough reason to give board and batten a try! If you’ve been around a while, you may remember when I did B&B in my daughters room. For that project, my dad helped but this time I wanted to go solo!

What you’ll need:

  • 1×3 board
  • 1×2 board
  • Brad nails
  • Wood glue
  • Wood filler
  • Caulk
  • White paint
  • Decorative Hooks
  • Brad nailer
  • Stud finder
  • Drill
  • Level

For this project, I wanted the look of cubbies so went with higher battens with cross boards. Lumber is crazy expensive so I chose to use PVC boards from Home Depot. They were already white so also helped as a paint base. I first added wood glue to the horizontal boards running across the baseboards and then nailed them on with the Brad nailer. matching sized horizontal battens cut super quick on the miter saw and were spaced using a 14 inch wood template. Make sure you use a level while your nailing!

So this is where I made a mistake. I should have used one solid piece of wood at the mid horizontal level. This way it could be screwed into multiple studs prior to adding hooks. Since I didn’t do this. I had to add hunt for studs in each middle piece. Lesson learned!

mud room img1

After all the wood was up and the cross beams were anchored, time for wood filler, caulk, sanding. I am in no means an expert at this but I do have a few tricks. Firstly, I overfill my wood filler and then once it’s dry, wipe off the excess with a baby wipe. Then I use a circular sander and sand until I can’t feel the filler or seems in the wood. Lastly, caulking is a nightmare and you just have to grin and bear it!

Once the paneling was complete, time for paint! I used Richards bright white and it took 3 coats. While I was in paint mode, I put a fresh coat to the baseboards and door trim. at this point the room was looking too white so I painted the doors Richards Black Licorice. Don’t they look great?!

DIY mudroom

Last step is hooks! I used these Amazon hooks in my daughters room and I love their size. They’re also very sturdy and easy to install with just a drill.

mud room with hooks for coats and hats

This entire project with paint, boards, and hooks cost under $200. It would have easily cost $1000+ if I hired it out. I hope you try it too. If you do, tag @3daughtersdiy on Instagram.

Cheers to 2022! Melissa and girls

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Melissa Moyles

Hi! I'm Melissa

In the borders of being a full time Marketing VP and a full time wife and mom, I strive to build a beautiful home for my family… 1 DIY Project at a time. Join us on this journey!