We are now halfway through the BHG One Room Challenge, and we are making progress on our primary bedroom one weekend at a time! This week we installed vertical v-groove paneling along the headboard wall in our room. It was a quick, beginner level project and even though it isn’t painted yet, it has already elevated our room. We are no strangers to paneling, we have board and batten in our mudroom, faux shiplap in our bathroom, and beadboard in our kitchen. I love the extra dimension it adds to a room and I think it will turn out stunning in our primary bedroom too.
Materials
- V-Groove Paneling
- Liquid Nails
- Nail gun & Nails
- Level
- Wood filler
- Sandpaper
How to install v-groove paneling
I started this process by determining how high the paneling would be. I like to use painters tape to mark the wall and gain an idea of how the scale will look with the rest of the room. The painters tape in the photo below is placed where the shelf will go and is similar in thickness to the actual shelf. This way I can judge if the height will look good with my furniture and other items in the room.
I decided to place the bottom of the shelf 64 inches from the floor (2/3 the distance from the floor to ceiling). To ensure the top of paneling is level across the wall, we measured 64 inches from the floor in several spots, then used a long (6 foot) level to draw a level line where the top of the paneling should sit. Our house is over 70 years old and nothing is square or level, so just measuring from the floor is a no-go. This would also be a great opportunity to use a laser level, which honestly, we would have, except Andrew left his a work and we didn’t have it all weekend. So manual leveling it was.
Starting the first board
We chose to start our first board at the left side of the wall. Because we will have furniture against this wall and a curtain hangs in one corner, it wasn’t pertinent that the paneling be exactly centered on the wall. And again, because our house is old, the walls are not necessarily square the entire way from the floor to ceiling. This means the first board needed to be scribed to the adjacent wall.
To do this, we used a compass. First, we placed the first board up against the wall. With the groove on the left side, we leveled the board with it as close to the corner of the wall as possible. We placed the point end of the compass on the edge of the wall and the pencil end of the compass on top of the wood plank, about an inch apart.
The photo above is from when we scribed the last panel in the row, but you can see the idea. Keeping the compass rigid, pull the compass down the wall, with the point end following the adjacent wall. This will mark the board with the curvature of your wall, if its not straight. Andrew used the table saw to cut this board along the line but a jigsaw would work too.
Then we started to attach the planks to the wall. We added liquid nails to the back of the plank, then used our brad nailer to nail the board to the wall. We used 3 nails per board, one at the top, one in the middle, and one at the bottom.
From there, we cut each board, measuring from our existing baseboard to the level line we drew 2/3 the way up the wall. The boards were mostly the same length but varied by 1/16 to 1/8 of an inch.
Cutting Around Outlets
We have three electrical boxes on this wall, so we had to cut the paneling to fit around the outlets. When we reached the board that needed to be modified, Andrew marked the board with the same size opening that is in the drywall.
To do this, he placed the board directly above the outlet. With the tongue and groove connected, he marked the left and right side of the opening on the bottom of the board. Then, he placed the board next to the outlet. With the bottom resting on the baseboard, he marked the top and bottom of the opening on the side of the board.
Next, Andrew extended the four points from the bottom and the side of the plank until they intersected to form a box, using a straightedge. To cut the rectangle out of the board, he used a large drill bit to drill a hole in one corner. Then inserted the blade of a jigsaw into the drilled hole and cut along the inside of the rectangle.
If unsure, err on the side of cutting the hole too small. You can always make the opening bigger, but you can’t make it smaller once you cut the hole.
From there, we carefully installed the panel, pulling the outlet through the hole so the board laid flush against the wall.
For one of the other electrical boxes, the edge of the panel lined up with the edge of the drywall opening. We only needed to cut a slit in the board, not a full hole. We used the same technique to mark the edges, then used the jigsaw to cut the three sides.
Ending with the final board
Other than cutting out the openings for the electrical boxes, the install was very straightforward. In all, this took less than 2 hours from start to finish. When we came to the right end of the wall, we used the same method to scribe the final board to the adjacent wall.
The gap between the wall and the second to last board was 2 inches at the top. So, Andrew measured 2 inches from the left side of the second to last board. This is where the pencil end of the compass will start. Then he placed the point end of the compass against the wall. Keeping the compass fixed, he drew a line down the board, as the point of the compass followed the curvature of the wall. We cut this board, then placed a new, full plank, as the second to last board. Finally, we installed the scribed board to complete the wall.
Here’s a little before and after for you:
Right now the raw cedar is giving off a country vibe but once its painted it will look more modern and sophisticated. You can check out my previous post with my design ideas and paint color choices. After we finished installing the paneling, I filled the nail holes with wood filler. Then after it dried I sanded it with 220 grit sandpaper. And Andrew added caulk where the paneling meets the adjacent wall.
Next week, we are hoping to prime the wood and paint the entire room! We’ve also started on the shelf that will sit above the paneling. To catch up on all of my one room challenge progress, check out these posts:
Have you or would you ever consider participating in the one room challenge? I’d love to hear your thoughts! Comment below or connect with me on instagram @elleandjaydesign. And you can find me here on Pinterest.
