9 Ways to Bring in Wooden Battens, Strips and Slats
Discover ways in which wooden strips can add warmth, texture and oodles of style to your home decor
Wood is an amazing medium that brings warmth and richness to a space. It can be integrated into the home in numerous ways – how about introducing it in small doses in the form of battens (square/rectangular sections of wood) or slats (narrow strips of wood)? You will be surprised to see how the repetitive pattern of wood strips in a matte, gloss or semi-gloss polish gives a sleek modern look and stylish appeal to a space.
Here are some ideas on how you can go about it.
Here are some ideas on how you can go about it.
Demarcate a zone
Here is a classic example where battens (on the left of the image) continue from the outdoors the indoors to frame an inside-outside connect. They also segregate the low ceiling from the double-height one, reinforcing different zones.
Find out how to amp up the design quotient with false ceilings
Here is a classic example where battens (on the left of the image) continue from the outdoors the indoors to frame an inside-outside connect. They also segregate the low ceiling from the double-height one, reinforcing different zones.
Find out how to amp up the design quotient with false ceilings
Hide the pipes
Wooden slats on a ceiling are a stylish solution for hiding pipes, ducts, electrical wiring or any such building material that may be visible.
Wooden slats on a ceiling are a stylish solution for hiding pipes, ducts, electrical wiring or any such building material that may be visible.
2. Make a movable wall
In this space, wooden battens combine with cement pillars to act as a wall. In this ingenious arrangement, the wooden slats can be opened and closed individually to enclose the living room or open it up, leaving the slim cement-pillar partitions to demarcate it from the rest of the space.
Part your home with quirky dividers
In this space, wooden battens combine with cement pillars to act as a wall. In this ingenious arrangement, the wooden slats can be opened and closed individually to enclose the living room or open it up, leaving the slim cement-pillar partitions to demarcate it from the rest of the space.
Part your home with quirky dividers
When used horizontally, battens can have a confining effect, making a room look smaller. But here, a single wall is brought into focus with horizontal wood battens that give a smart look to the room. The wide distance between each batten ensures a sense of lightness in the room.
3. Make a screen partition
In this living room, the vertical wooden battens work as a stylish semi-open partition to demarcate the public zone from the private areas of the home. Note that the battens are on rails, so their spacing can be reduced to create a dense partition for more privacy or increased to retain a visual connect and create openness.
Tip: Do maintain a minimum spacing of 1 inch between each wooden slat to alow proper cleaning and easier maintenance.
In this living room, the vertical wooden battens work as a stylish semi-open partition to demarcate the public zone from the private areas of the home. Note that the battens are on rails, so their spacing can be reduced to create a dense partition for more privacy or increased to retain a visual connect and create openness.
Tip: Do maintain a minimum spacing of 1 inch between each wooden slat to alow proper cleaning and easier maintenance.
4. Use it as a back panel
Consider using slats as a back panel for the TV or bed. In this space, the wood slats make a fascinating combination with narrow mirror strips. This addition brings depth and texture to an all-white living room.
Consider using slats as a back panel for the TV or bed. In this space, the wood slats make a fascinating combination with narrow mirror strips. This addition brings depth and texture to an all-white living room.
5. Create a stair railing
Make a style statement by replacing the traditional railings in the staircase with vertical strips of wood. Take a look at this staircase; the wooden battens form an attractive design feature that is carried further on from the stairs to the ceiling panel to the partition in the living room.
Make a style statement by replacing the traditional railings in the staircase with vertical strips of wood. Take a look at this staircase; the wooden battens form an attractive design feature that is carried further on from the stairs to the ceiling panel to the partition in the living room.
6. Insert lights
Battens lit with LEDs can bring an element of playfulness and vibrancy. On this terrace, the design is taken to a different level with cut-outs within the wood battens to hold the multi-coloured strips of LED lights.
Battens lit with LEDs can bring an element of playfulness and vibrancy. On this terrace, the design is taken to a different level with cut-outs within the wood battens to hold the multi-coloured strips of LED lights.
Here, battens are combined with patterned tiles and wooden up-and-down lights between each vertical wooden section. The golden glow of indirect light created within the gaps of the wood members looks glamorous and becomes a focal point in this living room.
7. Do up the bathroom
This contemporary powder room uses thin strips of matte-finish walnut wood to infuse a sense of luxury and create a rich textured effect. A similar colour is carried on to the floor tiles. Make sure that there is plenty of direct and indirect light to balance the darkness created by the wood.
Tip: Wood is a material that ‘breathes’; it expands or contracts, depending on the level of moisture present. For long-term durability, use weathered wood and treat it with proper sealants before installation in bathroom spaces.
This contemporary powder room uses thin strips of matte-finish walnut wood to infuse a sense of luxury and create a rich textured effect. A similar colour is carried on to the floor tiles. Make sure that there is plenty of direct and indirect light to balance the darkness created by the wood.
Tip: Wood is a material that ‘breathes’; it expands or contracts, depending on the level of moisture present. For long-term durability, use weathered wood and treat it with proper sealants before installation in bathroom spaces.
There is so much you can do with linear sections of wood. Fpr instance, in this powder room, wood battens of unequal sizes are installed on the wall and faux ceiling to form a dynamic piece of wall art.
8. Place it on the facade
In this bungalow, the battens make a good first impression as fencing. They allow partial views and privacy at the same time. Note how the soft lighting adds to the soothing and luxurious ambience. Don’t miss the visual rhythm created by the unequal lengths of wood.
In this bungalow, the battens make a good first impression as fencing. They allow partial views and privacy at the same time. Note how the soft lighting adds to the soothing and luxurious ambience. Don’t miss the visual rhythm created by the unequal lengths of wood.
Here, slats are used on the external facade of the building. The vertical wooden slats impart a modern look to the exteriors and team up nicely with other facade elements like the wood and stone cladding, glass railings, huge windows and wall paint.
9. use them in the terrace balcony or garden
A terrace, a gazebo or a garden space is a great place to introduce strips of wood. In this backyard, horizontal slats of wood are used as wall cladding; they complement the outdoors and naturally blend in with the foliage.
Read more:
9 Reasons to Bring Louvres Into Your Home
Why Restored Wood Is the New ‘It’ Material for Homes
Tell us:
Do you have other ways wood battens can be integrated within a home? Share in the Comments section below.
A terrace, a gazebo or a garden space is a great place to introduce strips of wood. In this backyard, horizontal slats of wood are used as wall cladding; they complement the outdoors and naturally blend in with the foliage.
Read more:
9 Reasons to Bring Louvres Into Your Home
Why Restored Wood Is the New ‘It’ Material for Homes
Tell us:
Do you have other ways wood battens can be integrated within a home? Share in the Comments section below.
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Introduce wooden battens on a high ceiling; they enhance the beauty of the space and can make the room seem more detailed and proportionate. In this rectangular room, wooden battens are fixed lengthwise to make the room seem longer visually.
Tip: Avoid using battens on low ceilings as it will make the space seem cramped.