Beadboard vs. Board and Batten

When I realized it was time to learn to love where I lived, I decided a good start would be our entry wall. I wanted to add character to this (flipped) home -character that reminded me of the historic home we left. I think honestly, this house is just lacking personality. It looks like every other average home out there, and I wanted it to be more than that. ​To spruce it up, I played around with a bunch of ideas.

Beadboard

The first thing that came to mind was beadboard. We had beadboard in our main level powder room at Dresden, as well as in our dining room there. In this house, it's in our mudroom and main level bathroom. It's fairly easy to find at both Home Depot and Lowes, and I'm sure in any other big box hardware store as well, and is fairly inexpensive. However, the panels aren't quite as big as I would have liked them to be. ​

Image credit: diydecormom.com

If you read my last post, Board and Batten DIY, then you read how much I miss our 9ft ceilings. For this house and it's standard 8ft ceilings, I'm determined to draw the eye up and help our ceilings to look taller. So for the entry way, it was important to me to bring the trim all the way up. And while I'm sure it's possible to stack many beadboard panels on top of one another, I was afraid of a constant horizontal seam at right about eye level. 

Image credit: francoisetmoi.com

I also thought about the scale of beadboard on my wall. It just seemed so busy on our long wall, I couldn't talk myself into it. It just felt too much and too casual for the space I had envisioned for us. Not that we're not casual. ..because we totally are. I mean, can you be fancy with 4 dogs? Never too fancy, anyway. 

Board and Batten

So then my mind wondered over to a Board and Batten entryway. Still a nice addition to an entry wall, and definitely has the character factor going on. I think what I like most about this option is that it's 100% customizable and also super cheap. The 'sections' created are totally up to you on both placement and scale. I would also be able to stack boards on top of one another without an obvious seam the full length of the wall. 

Image credit: thehandmadehome.net

This option, contrary to beadboard, felt like it could lend itself to a few different design styles. It's definitely a traditional design, but pairs well with others. It has a casual look to it, but also has a feel of formalness. Might I add that this option was CHEAP?! Like, super cheap. So cheap, the hubs didn't bat an eye when I asked him if I could tackle this project. 

Image credit: thriftyandchic.com

If you want to read up on how I did our board and batten DIY, head on over to that post by clicking here. It was so cheap (I spent less than $50, including paint) and so easy, I did it all in a weekend. And honestly, I probably could've had it done in a day if I also wasn't watching Lenna every waking moment, but we all know how that goes. Just getting as much done during nap times and after bed time! 

Anyway, thanks so much for stopping by! See ya next time!

​XO Heather