Battens & slats How to use wood accents inside and outside your home

• Published date: 17 April 2024
• Publication title: Kapiti News

While wood battens and panels offer excellent functionality for things like privacy, draft prevention and noise absorption, they can also add architectural interest to an otherwise plain space. Paint them in vibrant Resene colours and you have the makings of an eye-catching visual feature, that might have a practical function, or could simply be a work of art

Practical installation tips Resene Colour Expert Rebecca Long has some simple tips for ensuring your batten design looks its best:

●Start by drawing, either digitally or by hand, the type of look you want.

●Choose your wood. If you’re colouring your finished battens with Resene Colorwood wood stains, remember the colour of the wood will influence the finished result. Use testpots to experiment first. You’ll also need to decide on the width and thickness you want for your battens.

●Measure the length and height of the area where you would like to add the wood accents and work out what type of spacing you are after. Will the wood accents be close together or spaced out? This can also help you work out how many battens you need.

●To ensure you create a balance and symmetrical look, use a calculator to work out the spacing you will need between each accent to ensure it works cohesively in your space.

●Use a level and pencil to mark where you want to install your battens.

●Sand the wood to remove any rough edges or splinters or, if you’re recycling older wood, remove any old paint or stain.

●Always use a spirit level when installing to keep your battens straight

●Use a nail gun, screws or construction glue to attach the battens to the wall.

●If your battens will be a contrast colour to the wall, consider painting or staining them before attaching to the wall. It will help avoid any paint splashes on the wall, though, if you’re attaching the battens with screws or nails you will need to fill and touch up those areas with a topcoat.

Inside vs outside Wood accents like battens or slatted screens can work beautifully both inside and out, whether to create a design feature, or a more functional space. The important thing to remember, Rebecca says, is to treat the wood differently for outdoors, than you would for indoors to ensure the best finished result and a long-life for your project.

“Internal wood accents need to be protected for wear and tear such as scuff marks, knocks and dust,” she says. “If you’re looking for a painted finish, often wood accents are treated the same as the wall or joinery paint...