Board and Batten Siding Ideas for a Timeless Home Exterior
Scroll through home inspiration lately, and you'll notice a common thread: board and batten siding is everywhere.
This distinctive vertical profile has become a favorite for homeowners looking to give their exterior clean lines, added dimension, and a little more personality. While board and batten may have surged back into the spotlight alongside modern farmhouse design, today's applications are proving that this centuries-old style has much more range.
Modern. Traditional. Transitional. Farmhouse. Full facade or carefully placed accent. Board and batten can take on a completely different personality depending on the colors, materials, and architectural details surrounding it.
And that versatility may be exactly why the look continues to grow.
Why Board and Batten Siding is Trending
Unlike traditional horizontal siding, board and batten draws the eye upward. Its strong vertical lines can create the illusion of height while adding dimension to otherwise simple exterior surfaces.
The result is a home that feels architecturally interesting without needing to feel busy.
For homeowners, that provides an opportunity to create an exterior that stands apart from the other homes on the block while still feeling approachable and timeless. And, because the profile works with such a wide variety of architectural styles, homeowners can interpret the trend in a way that feels like their home, not simply recreate a look they've seen elsewhere.
So, how are homeowners putting their own spin on it?
Go Bold with Board and Batten Across the Full Exterior
Sometimes, the simplest approach makes the biggest statement.
Using board and batten across an entire exterior allows its clean, vertical lines to become one of the home's defining architectural features. On simpler facades, the dimensional profile adds visual interest without requiring multiple colors or materials.
And a full board and batten exterior doesn't have to mean a white modern farmhouse.
Consider softer, nature-inspired neutrals, grays with warm or earthy undertones, muted greens, or deeper shades. These more nuanced colors can transform the same vertical profile into something that feels contemporary, traditional, or entirely unique to the home.
Use Board and Batten to Highlight the Architecture
You don't need to cover the entire house to make an impact.
Board and batten siding can also be used strategically to call attention to the parts of a home you want to emphasize. An entryway clad in vertical siding naturally draws the eye toward the front door. Using it around a garage can break up a large expanse of exterior wall. On multi-story homes, vertical lines can accentuate height or help distinguish different architectural sections.
Think of board and batten as another tool in your exterior-design toolbox: where you put it can be just as important as the color you choose.
Mix Siding Profiles for More Visual Texture
One of the most interesting evolutions of the board and batten trend is how homeowners and designers are pairing it with other siding profiles.
Board and batten can sit alongside traditional horizontal lap siding for an easy change in direction and texture. Or, for a more modern approach, pair its strong vertical lines with the clean, horizontal lines of shiplap.
You don't necessarily need different colors, either.
As color-drenched and monochromatic exteriors continue to influence home design, mixing siding profiles gives homeowners another way to create depth. Using one color, or several closely related tones, across different profiles can produce a cohesive exterior that still has plenty of architectural interest.
It's a subtle way to break up a facade without breaking up the color story.
Featured Home: Modern Design Meets Natural Warmth
This new-build home in Minot, ND shows just how far board and batten has moved beyond its farmhouse reputation.
The exterior features EDCO's Iron Gray board and batten paired with Hickory Perspectives shiplap as well as concrete architectural elements. Rather than relying on dramatic black-and-white contrast, the design layers different colors, directions, and textures to create visual interest.
The vertical lines of the Iron Gray board and batten establish a clean, modern foundation, while the horizontal Hickory woodgrain introduces natural warmth. Concrete adds another texture to the palette, and dark trim and roofing details help ground the overall design.
Even the color selection offers a lesson in creating a modern exterior with staying power. Iron Gray provides the depth of a darker neutral but carries and earthy green undertone that feels softer and more connected to the surrounding natural landscape than a stark black.
The finished exterior feels distinctly modern, but not dependent on a single design trend.
Is Board and Batten Siding Timeless?
Whenever a particular look becomes popular, there's a natural question: Will I still like this in 10 or 20 years?
Board and batten has an advantage that many trends don't: it isn't new.
The construction technique has been used for centuries. What's changing is how designers and homeowners interpret it. Today's board and batten may be associated with modern farmhouse design, but the profile itself can adapt to many different architectural styles.
The key to creating a board and batten exterior with longevity is to think beyond what's trending at this exact moment.
Choose a color that complements the home's architecture and surroundings rather than simply selecting the most popular color combination. Consider incorporating other siding profiles or materials to create balance. And pay attention to how the vertical lines interact with the home's windows, doors, rooflines, and other architectural features.
Done well, board and batten doesn't have to define the home as belonging to one particular design era. It simply becomes part of its architecture.
Choose a Material Made for the Long-Term Too
Once you've found a siding profile you love, the material behind the design matters.
EDCO's steel board and batten siding lets homeowners achieve the distinctive vertical look while adding the long-term benefits of steel. It's engineered to withstand harsh weather, resist pests, and eliminate the routine maintenance associated with many traditional siding materials, all backed by a limited lifetime warranty.
That means you can spend less time maintaining your exterior and more time simply enjoying the home you designed.
Because, while exterior styles may evolve, lasting performance never goes out of style.
See Board and Batten on Your Home
Full facade or accent? Dark and dramatic or soft and natural? One siding profile or a combination of several?
You don't have to imagine it.
With EDCO Instant Design, you can upload a photo of your own home and explore different siding profiles, colors, and combinations before making your final decision.