Board & Batten Hits the Farmhouse

Do you ever want to change things up around your home? Well, that’s me...pretty much all the time! The only problem is that change often comes with a price tag. When I'm on a tight budget, staying up-to-date can be difficult.

The farmhouse entryway has always been one of my favorite spots in our home. Most of the original character is still intact. It seems to say to me, "welcome home!" when I walk in. I really wanted to brighten up this special space and give it a little extra something.

Mr. Maple and I were brainstorming, and he thought he could create a board & batten look with two-by-fours from the barn. He used his table saw to cut the boards into 1 & 1/2 inch strips in the hallway and entryway to give it a fresh look.

He repeated the process in the dining room. For these panels, he went with 2 & 1/2 inch strips, and even popped in a shelf! The entire process took about a day.

If you haven't tried to replicate the board & batten look...try it! It's the perfect timeless, cheap solution to update your space for the new season.

Remember: decorating doesn’t have to break the bank.

Here are some tips to help cut additional costs:

1) "Shop your home" and see what you have on hand that you could update or repurpose before you go to the store.

2) Rearrange what you do have to give things a fresh perspective.

I save decor arrangements that I like on IG & Pinterest, and I pull out those pictures when I need some inspiration. Sometimes just changing the furniture will give the room a new look!

3) Never forget the power of paint.

Often you can bring a brand-new look to a space by painting a wall or a piece of furniture.

4) Be creative! Think outside the box! Decorate with confidence...and let it be a joyful process!

I think sometimes we (me especially!) tend to be too hard on ourselves when we decorate, write, draw, paint—whatever you love to do. We try to make our living room or kitchen look *just* like someone else's, and it can be frustrating when the budget or resources don't come together perfectly. But always remember to focus on YOUR outlook and YOUR gifts.

You were made for such a time as this! Esther 4:14.

Thanks for reading friends! Have you tried the board & batten look? If you do, be sure to share your thoughts & pictures with me on IG or in the comments! Are you excited for fall? What are you most looking forward to in this season?

Be a light & shine bright,

Ginny, @maplecreekmarket