Apart from brightening up the look of the fireplace, a while board and batten backdrop is a versatile choice for the mantel wall. It provides a neutral and textured canvas for both everyday and seasonal mantel décor like this vignette of frames, mirror, candles, and plants.
12 Board and Batten Fireplace Wall Designs as Your Accent Feature
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Published: January 21, 2022
Updated: October 30, 2023
While the fireplace is primarily considered as the focal point in the living room, this may not always be the case. One of the best ways to draw the eye to this part of your home is to give this space an interesting architectural feature. A board and batten fireplace wall, with its timeless look and versatile appeal, makes for a great option.
There are many approaches that you can take when designing your board and batten fireplace wall. Full-wall paneling is usually used in contemporary spaces although it can also look traditional, depending on your fireplace and décor aesthetic. Meanwhile, half-wall designs are typically seen in more classical and transitional-style spaces, especially those that are installed with carved headings.
A board and batten mantel wall is another possibility to look into. With its slightly raised texture and solid coloring, it can accentuate and highlight your fireplace surround material, especially if it’s made of a different material or a contrasting color. Additionally, the mantel ledge itself creates the right amount of transition between the paneling and the material that frames the fireplace, whether it’s brick, stone, or tile.
If you’re looking to update the look of your fireplace wall or are currently planning on building one, this curated list of 12 board and batten fireplace wall designs will give you the inspiration you need to boost its look and give it that ‘wow’ factor.
02 of Material Mix
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Draw attention to the focal point of your living room by using a combination of materials, colors, and finishes. This board and batten paneling on the upper part of the wall highlights the raw aesthetics of the faux concrete tile. Meanwhile, its clean white color gorgeously contrasts with the rustic dark gray fireplace surround.
03 of Soft Cream Board and Batten
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The transitional appeal and custom paint color of this board and batten fireplace wall beautifully complement the vintage charm of the dining room. Installed to almost a third of the wall height, the board and batten leaves just enough space for the sepia gallery wall. Its soft beige tone lends a dreamy contrast to the pure white upper wall and rustic wooden fireplace.
04 of Mantel to Ceiling Boarding
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With its tall and narrow board dimensions, this fireplace wall strategically guides your eyes to the stunning vaulted shiplap ceiling above. Painted in white with slim vertical battens, the paneling perfectly blends with the contemporary interior and subtly contrasts with the soft gray walls and tile surround.
06 of In the Mood for Taupe
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With just a few wood pieces and a touch of paint, these homeowners were able to transform the look of their fireplace wall. This taupe gray board and batten paneling gives the space a moody touch and accentuates the whitewashed brick surround.
07 of Narrow Grids
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Running throughout the fireplace and window wall, this paneling features battens that are closely spaced from each other. Its linear appeal adds a textured dimension to the soft gray wall and complements the concrete and perforated texture of the wood mantel and fireplace surround materials.
08 of Black with White Fireplace
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What’s the best way to create a focal point in a cool-toned interior? Add some drama to your board and batten fireplace wall by painting it black. This accent feature will immediately capture everyone’s attention with its dark tones, angular form, and linear grids that contrast the surrounding aspects of the living room.
09 of Half Vertical Panels with Distressed Shiplap
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For a refreshing coastal look in your living room, try pairing a vertical board and batten with horizontal accent shiplap on your fireplace wall. The white bard and batten panels work beautifully with the distressed shiplap textures and accentuate the soft blue walls. The hooks on the wall can be used to hang baskets, hats, and other items to give the space a shabby-chic, lived-in vibe.
10 of Visually Aligned
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Accentuate the intricate look of a traditional fireplace mantel by installing board and batten panels right below the mantel line. Here, the horizontal battens also simulate the transition between the mantel and the fireplace surround. This creates a framing effect that highlights the perforated material.
11 of Pair with Shelves
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Extend the linear appeal of a board and batten fireplace wall by pairing it with narrow ledges placed on either side of the protruding wall. This will visually widen the space and create a coherent look all throughout. Aside from its aesthetic impact, the wall shelves can also hold a variety of décor such as framed photographs and artwork.
12 of Full Board and Batten
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These board and batten panels flank around the gorgeous carved limestone surround, adding dimensional framing to the fireplace wall. The matte white finish blends beautifully with the calming space and provides a pristine backdrop for the mantel artwork and brass wall sconces.
