10 Ways to use Shiplap in Home
Shiplap is such a flexible design element that it can span the home and be used with different decor styles. Today, we are going to look at 10 ways to use shiplap in your home.
I’m not one to jump on any design trend simply because it is popular during the current time.
Since we have a limited budget for home renovations, I have to make sure the changes we make will be long lived.
One thing I love about shiplap is that it is pretty timeless.
You can look back centuries ago and see that it was used in some form or another.
When you step back and look at shiplap, you are just adding a simple line to your room.
It is understated, classy, yet it adds character and charm.
There are some areas that you will see shiplap used often and then some up and coming places that you might not see as much.
Different Types of Shiplap
Horizontal Shiplap
During the early days of the farmhouse shiplap, most people did horizontal shiplap.
In turn of the century homes, when the dry wall was removed it revealed horizontal shiplap or wooden planks, which is why most people hung their modern shiplap horizontally.
Vertical Shiplap
While vertical shiplap isn’t a new thing, it has only been recently that people have decided to hang their shiplap vertically. One reason is because vertical shiplap is seen as being a bit more difficult to execute.
Vertical shiplap draws the eye up and creates a different line for the room and may give the illusion that the room is wider and taller than it is! It also creates a very traditional look that can be maintained as the styles ebb and flow.
Tongue and Groove Shiplap
Tongue and groove shiplap typically costs a bit more because you are using heavier pieces of wood that have edges that lock together like puzzle pieces.
While shiplap is used to give a farmhouse feel, tongue and groove shiplap is often used to create the English cottage vibe.
Nickel Gap Shiplap
These days, shiplap is usually characterized by the farmhouse style. You see it in many modern farmhouses and even mid-century, modern homes.
Plywood is cut into 6″ or 8″ lengths and placed on the wall with a “nickel gap” between each board, giving the illusion of overlap by creating a shadow with the small gap.
Shiplap Backsplash in your Kitchen
The addition of our vertical kitchen shiplap backsplash has made such an impact in the style of our space.
It has held up great and we are rounding out our second year of having it up and starting year three with no trouble.
Here are some articles you might find interesting:
Wrapping Kitchen Island with Shiplap
This is a trend that has been around for a bit, but I still don’t see a lot of it, so I think it’s still growing.
Adding sheets of shiplap to the base of an island quickly gives either a farmhouse or coastal feel without much effort.
Shiplap Accent Wall
Accent walls are great in small spaces where you want a big impact, but you don’t have much room.
Adding shiplap in a small closet or even a mud room would add some detail without causing much work.
Sometimes, seeing a design element in an unlikely space makes the intentionality of it really show.
Taking Shiplap up the Stairway
This is a huge trend that is taking off.
Wainscoting and board and batten have been popular up stairwells for ages, but now people are taking the simple line up the stairs, too.
What a great way to add interest without a huge commitment or need for lots of tools.
Flanking Fireplace with Shiplap
In our previous home, we flanked our fireplace with a simple shiplap and it transformed the space.
Having the home improvement store rip down our underlayment made the job even easier.
It was a simple weekend project and added a ton of impact to our otherwise boring room.
I think a simple line next to a focal point like a fireplace adds just the right amount of cozy to go with the warm glow.
Laundry Room
Creating a charming laundry room is always a good idea.
You can use this space to create a shiplap accent wall or cover the entire room with shiplap or bead board to bring in some added cottage charm.
I think laundry rooms are often overlooked, but spending some extra time making them cute is a good idea.
Charming Shiplap Bathroom
Whether you wrap your entire bathroom in this look or just add in an accent wall like we did in our previous home, it makes a space come to life.
This bathroom has a midcentury modern feel to it, but you can also use it to create a colonial, coastal, or farmhouse feel.
Shiplap Ceiling
Dare I say that this is something I want to do. Don’t tell Mark. 😉
I love, love, love shiplapped ceilings.
The make the room feel so large and it’s even better if the walls and ceiling all have a line going on, if you ask me.
Behind a Master Bed
Bringing attention to the master bed is easily done by adding an accent wall behind the head board.
The best part about shiplap is that it isn’t a loud or busy pattern, so you can put it up and live with it for years to come.
If you’re wanting a warmer feel to your room, use a wood tone plank to keep the warm cozy.
Add Shiplap beneath a Chair rail
It seems like chair rail is a thing of the past, but I wish it would come back.
Chair rail going around the perimeter of a room used to be classic and standard.
Adding shiplap below a rail and going with either a fun wallpaper or simple paint color above the rail would be a great visual addition to any space.
