inspiration · Board and Batten
SW Passive Board and Batten Wall Molding
SW Passive Board and Batten Wall Molding: wall elevation, color data (LRV 60.1), living room layout for 12, 15, 18 ft walls, cut list, calculator and pre-cut
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Overview
SW Passive is a light gray with a neutral undertone and a calculated LRV of 60.1. Against white trim the contrast ratio is 1.45:1, which gives almost no contrast, so the molding reads through shadow alone (a tone-on-tone look); painted tone-on-tone, the board and batten pattern shows only through its shadow lines.
Board and Batten layout on a 15 ft living room wall
With battens every 16 in, a 15 ft wall takes 13 battens of 88 in plus a top rail: about 42.02 m of board including 10% waste. Center the layout on the sofa or TV rather than the wall when furniture is off-center.
Building the board and batten pattern
Fix the top rail level first, then hang the battens from it at 16 in spacing. Start from the center of the wall so the end gaps match.
Painting molding in SW Passive
Grays sit in the middle of the contrast range: white trim reads clearly, while same-color trim gives a quiet, architectural look.
Wall elevation
Color data
| Color | Brand | Code | Hex | Calculated LRV | Undertone | Depth | Contrast vs white trim | Contrast vs black trim |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SW Passive | Sherwin-Williams | #CBCCC9 | 60.1 | neutral | light | 1.45:1 | 10.22:1 |
Trim color pairings
| Pairing | Trim color | Hex | Contrast | Effect |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| tone-on-tone | SW Passive | #CBCCC9 | 1:1 | Trim painted the same color as the wall |
| matching white | SW Extra White | #EEEFEA | 1.4:1 | White with the closest undertone |
| contrast | Black | #1F1F1F | 10.22:1 | Dark trim for a graphic outline |
Living Room wall sizes: board and batten accent wall layout
| Wall width | Battens | Batten height | Board incl. waste | Spacing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 ft | 10 | 88 in | 32.63 m | 16 in |
| 15 ft | 13 | 88 in | 42.02 m | 16 in |
| 18 ft | 15 | 88 in | 48.95 m | 16 in |
Cut list for a 15 ft wall
| Piece | Quantity | Length |
|---|---|---|
| Vertical batten | 13 | 88 in |
| Top rail | 1 | 15 ft run |
| Mid rail | 1 | 15 ft run |
Pre-cut kits for this wall
Pre-cut kits that fit this project. Open a kit for photos, options and pricing.
01 / KITMDF Wall Panels, Shaker Paneling Kit 75 mm Boards | Pre-Cut Unprimed
From $307.00
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02 / KITDIY Hassle-Free Board & Batten Wall Makeovers | Pre-Cut MDF Panels for Easy Installation W:75mm x T:8mm
From $515.00
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03 / KITBedroom Board and Batten Picture Frame Wall Molding Set, Queen & King Size Molding Kit | Easy Installation
From $174.41
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04 / KITSquare Grid Board and Batten Accent Wall Kit | Pre-Cut MDF Easy Installation
From $252.41
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05 / KITDecorative Board and Batten Wall Accent Molding Kit | Pre-Cut & Ready to Assemble
From $775.00
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06 / KITBoard and Batten Half Wall Paneling Kit with Chair Rail | Pre-Cut MDF Easy Installation
From $31.42
View kitQuestions
How many battens for a 15 ft wall?
13 battens at 16 in spacing, plus a top rail across the 15 ft run.
Is SW Passive warm or cool?
SW Passive has a neutral undertone and reads as a light gray. Its calculated LRV is 60.1, so it reflects a lot of light and keeps molding shadows soft.
Should trim be the same color as SW Passive walls?
Painting the molding the same color gives a modern, tone-on-tone finish where only shadows show the pattern. White trim adds almost no contrast, so the molding reads through shadow alone (a tone-on-tone look) (1.45:1), and black trim gives 10.22:1.
How high should the chair rail be in a living room?
About one third of the ceiling height: 32 in on an 8 ft ceiling, 36 in on 9 ft and 40 in on 10 ft. Center the layout on the sofa or TV rather than the wall when furniture is off-center.
Trace the details
Sources & dates
Prices, options and photos come from our product catalog on the date shown. Layout tables are planning estimates; measure your wall before ordering.
- Paint color dataset (screen approximations; LRV calculated)Recorded November 11, 2026
- DecoMoldings product catalogRecorded November 11, 2026