Shiplap walls have quickly become a favorite for adding a touch of rustic charm or coastal flair to any room. Whether you’re renovating your entire home or just looking to freshen up a single space, shiplap is a stylish option that can mesh with almost any design. From classic white panels to bold, painted versions, shiplap can instantly transform a room, giving it texture and warmth. Ready to explore some fresh ideas? Let’s dive into the world of shiplap and see how you can make this timeless trend work in your space.
Shiplap Ceilings
Shiplap isn’t limited to walls—it can also transform a room’s atmosphere when applied to the ceiling. This unexpected placement creates a cozy, enveloping feel that’s perfect for bedrooms. As you lie in bed, the soothing lines of shiplap overhead can promote relaxation and add visual interest to an often overlooked surface. Use a light-colored shiplap on the ceiling to maintain an airy feel, or opt for a darker stain to create a more dramatic, intimate ambiance.
Shiplap ceilings can also be an excellent way to unify different design elements in the room for a cohesive and harmonious look. The continuity of the lines draws the eye upwards, making the entire space feel taller and more open.
Installation Detail: When installing shiplap on a ceiling, TOH general contractor Tom Silva recommends covering the surface with felt paper first. As he explained during a project install: “The reason I want to cover it with tar paper is so that if the boards shrink, we won’t see the insulation through the cracks.” For the first board, Tom rips the lower edge off so it sits in proper relationship to the wall, then holds the board in the corner flat and tight to the ceiling before securing it in place.
Why Shiplap? TOH plumbing and heating expert Tommy Silva notes that the shiplap joint itself is an ingenious, time-tested design: “Originally shiplap siding was used on the outside of barns, on ceilings, on walls. And it had a shiplap on it mainly because the boards were put up wet and over time they would dry out and that joint would open up. So you don’t see through the joint — they made a shiplap joint.” That same principle applies on interior ceilings, where seasonal wood movement is inevitable but the overlapping joint keeps the look seamless.
Shiplap Walls for a Bookshelf
If you’re hesitant about committing an entire room to shiplap, you can apply it to the back wall of built-in bookshelves for a subtle look. This lets you incorporate shiplap’s charm without overwhelming the space. The textured backdrop enhances your book display and decorative items, adding depth and visual interest to your shelving unit.
To maximize the effect, paint the shiplap in a contrasting color to your shelves. This can create a striking focal point in your living room or study. By experimenting with colors and finishes, you can find the perfect look to complement the surrounding architecture and furniture.
Shiplap Around a Fireplace
Installing shiplap around a fireplace can create a stunning focal point in any room—just make sure you use a non-combustible material for the fireplace surround and keep the opening 6 inches from the shiplap. Review the National Fire Protection Association’s code for more information.
Shiplap around the fireplace can complement various decor styles, from traditional to contemporary, making it a versatile choice for homeowners. The lines of shiplap can draw attention to the height and grandeur of a mantel, further enhancing the overall aesthetic appeal of the room.
Pro Tip: According to TOH Magazine, building code requires an incombustible material—such as tile or stone—at least 8 inches wide for the surround and 24 inches wide for the hearth. When pairing shiplap with a fireplace, consider using materials like bluestone or marble for the surround to meet code, then frame the rest of the wall in shiplap for a look that’s both safe and striking.
Shiplap as a Kitchen Backsplash
Shiplap can be used as a kitchen backsplash to make your cooking space unique. Proper sealing and maintenance will protect it against stains and water damage. Use a light-colored or whitewashed shiplap to brighten your kitchen space, or choose a darker stain to create a more dramatic contrast with light-colored cabinetry. A shiplap backsplash is easily customizable, as you can paint or stain it.
Technique Detail: On a recent TOH project, Tom Silva used reclaimed old pine for a kitchen backsplash. He sanded the board by hand with 80- to 120-grit sandpaper, filled all the holes with glue, wood, and hand-made pegs, and then applied four coats of wax. The wax finish protects the wood from splashback while keeping it easy to clean — a practical alternative to polyurethane for homeowners who want a more natural look.
Pro Tip: When specifying shiplap for a kitchen, wood selection and grain orientation matter. On a recent TOH project, kitchen designer Karen Swanson specified flat-sawn white oak for a kitchen shiplap wall, and woodworker Paul Grothouse noted that the shiplap boards should be installed with a small gap to allow for expansion — an important consideration in kitchens where heat and moisture levels fluctuate.
Pro Tip: Tom Silva explains why the shiplap joint is ideal for areas prone to moisture and temperature changes: “When it contracts, the joint is going to open up, but yet you can’t see through it.” That hidden overlap means your backsplash won’t reveal unsightly gaps even as the wood naturally moves with seasonal humidity shifts in the kitchen.
Shiplap for a Door
Barn doors are a statement all on their own, but you can take things a step further by incorporating shiplap. Shiplap barn doors can be used as room dividers, closet doors, or even as decorative elements in open floor plans. You can customize the finish to match your decor, whether you prefer a weathered look or a sleek, modern one. These doors can also be adorned with hardware that further enhances their charm.
Diagonal Shiplap Walls
Position the planks diagonally or in a chevron pattern for a truly eye-catching shiplap wall design. This unexpected orientation adds visual interest and can make a space feel larger. Diagonal shiplap is particularly effective on accent walls. This technique works well in entryways, living rooms, or even as a bedroom headboard, offering a fresh take on the classic shiplap look. By playing with the direction of the planks, you can achieve a design that is uniquely tailored to your style while still enjoying the timelessness of shiplap.
DIY Spotlight: Blogger Mandi Gubler applied her “fearless DIY” philosophy to a small hallway near her daughters’ bedrooms in southern Utah. “I had been noticing awesome planked walls floating around the Internet, but I wanted mine to be different, so I planked diagonally instead of horizontally,” she says. She bought ½-inch-thick, 4-by-8-foot sheets of Masonite, had the home center rip them into 5-inch-wide planks, and used a miter saw to make 45-degree cuts at the ends—proving that a diagonal shiplap wall is well within reach for a confident DIYer.
Stained Shiplap Walls
While white shiplap is classic, stained variations can take this style to new heights. Rich brown stains can enhance a rustic or traditional decor, while smoky blue or sage green hues add a whimsical touch to coastal or farmhouse-inspired interiors.
When choosing a stain, consider the wood’s natural grain and how it will interact with the color to create depth and character in your space. Stained shiplap can also be an excellent way to introduce a touch of luxury, as darker stains often provide a more sophisticated and elegant look. The grain patterns in stained wood can bring out the material’s natural beauty, adding visual interest and a sense of warmth to any room.
Textured Shiplap Boards
Adding texture to shiplap boards can elevate the visual interest of your walls. One way to add texture is by using reclaimed wood with its natural imperfections. You could also choose boards with a wire-brushed or hand-scraped finish. These textures catch light uniquely, creating subtle shadows that add depth to your walls. Textured shiplap works particularly well in spaces where you want to create a cozy, lived-in feel, such as family rooms or bedrooms.
Pro Tip: TOH master carpenter Norm Abram and carpenter CJ Brehio demonstrated how using random-width and random-length boards with staggered joints can make a freshly installed shiplap wall look like it belongs in an old barn. As Norm noted during the install: “We’ve got the random-width boards, random-length, and then the staggered joints we put in, the wall that we just installed looks like it could be the wall to an old barn.” That’s the kind of authentic, textured character you can achieve without relying on actual reclaimed lumber.
Our Conclusion
Shiplap doesn’t have to fit into the white, country-chic mold it’s most often associated with. It can suit several interior design styles and add a touch of flair to any room. Whether you prefer the simplicity of white shiplap or the richness of stained variants, there are endless ways to incorporate this unique design element into your home.
Pro Tip: Georgia-based designer Katie DeRario suggests sticking with 10-inch-wide planks when using shiplap and V-groove “so they look more like paneling and less like siding, which is typically narrower.” For beadboard, she prefers 3 to 4 inches between beads for a more modern look.
Design Insight: Massachusetts-based designer Jonathan Raith notes that plank orientation matters as much as color or finish: “It also depends on how you enter the room and what is in your line of sight.” As a general rule, running planks vertically adds height visually, while horizontal boards can make small rooms look more expansive—a typical hallway, for instance, can look extra-long when lined in horizontal planking.
