12 Ways to Use Shiplap in Every Room of Your Home

Shiplap or bust!

By: Erica Reitman

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Shiplap was originally used as an inexpensive exterior solution on barns and historical homes. However, because it’s so versatile and attractive, it’s now made its way into many interior spaces, too.

Since shiplap is such a flexible material, it can work in almost any room in your home. White shiplap is definitely the most common, but it also works in different wood textures and paint colors.

We’ve rounded up 12 of our favorite spots to use shiplap in your home:

1: Bathroom

Modern Farmhouse with Gray Shiplap Walls and Freestanding Tub

Shiplap gives a fresh spin on a farmhouse-style bathroom, like this one by design firm Cloth & Kind. These walls use 1-by-8 primed spruce, but you can use almost any species, and the thinner the wood, the cheaper per board, says Tyler Davis, owner of Athens Building Co. To further trim costs, he suggests cutting thin ⅛-inch sheets of finished plywood into strips and hanging them on the wall. Although those transoms were added, he says you can purchase fixed sidelights or transoms from a builder surplus store, or better yet from an old house or charity thrift shop, and add hinges and a chain to make them operable.

Photo by: Athens Building Co.

Athens Building Co.

This light gray bathroom uses shiplap on all of the walls, bringing a coastal look to the space. The light gray shiplap pairs well with the darker painted door, too.

2: Behind the Fireplace

White Wooden Fireplace Mantel Surrounded by Shiplap Accent Wall

The mantel and fireplace in the newly renovated living room was originally in the century-old building next door. It was salvaged, restored and repurposed for use in the carriage house.

From: Fixer Upper

This French country-style mantel features an accent wall of white shiplap. The whitewashed mantel and white shiplap provide a nice contrast within the space. The homeowners also successfully extended the shiplap beyond the mantel onto the two walls flanking the fireplace with built-in bookshelves to finish the look.

3: Sitting Room or Den

Gray, White And Yellow Eclectic Casual Sitting Room

Eclectic Gray And Yellow Sitting Room With Gray Shiplap Walls

Industrial style black window frames and galvanized metal vintage letters give this causal sitting room and urban edge. Yellow and gray accessories and gray shiplap walls soften industrial elements, giving the space a homey vibe.

From: Cornerstone Architects

Photo by: Bryant Hill Photography

Bryant Hill Photography

In this casual sitting room, the shiplap extends halfway up the wall, which works well since the room has high ceilings. You can also see that the shiplap serves as the perfect backdrop to art or decor, allowing them to really pop.

4: Kitchen

White Coastal Kitchen With White Cabinets, Dark Blue Barstools

Stunning Coastal Kitchen in White

The bright, white walls paired with the white cabinets and kitchen island gives the kitchen a fresh, coastal feel. Dark blue barstools and black countertops add lovely contrast to the design.

From: Chango and Co.

Photo by: Jacob Snavely

Jacob Snavely

In this chic and modern kitchen, the shiplap serves as an alternative to a more traditional backsplash. It’s an inexpensive solution that can often bring a lot of texture and interest to a space.

5: Dining Room

White Dining Room With Shiplap Walls, Large Buffet and Hutch and Country Lantern Chandelier

An archway leads into this bright, country dining room as seen on HGTV Fixer Upper. Shiplap adorns the walls and the sliding doors of large buffet and hutch. A large, white wooden table is perfect for entertaining. Black chairs compliment the hutch door track as well as the lantern-style chandelier.

From: Fixer Upper

In this adorable dining room, the family went all in on shiplap. Covering both the walls and the large buffet, the homeowners used shiplap to bring a bright, cohesive feel to the space. Sticking to a white palette for both allows the darker chairs to stand out.

6: Breakfast Nook

Country Breakfast Nook With Bench Seating, Natural Lighting and Simple Country Table Setting

This breakfast nook features bench seating that also has storage. A country chandelier illuminates the table while shiplap walls brighten the space, as seen on HGTV Fixer Upper. Dark wood chairs are seated at the open sides of the table. A metal basket with fresh yellow tulips creates a simple and stylish centerpiece for the space.

From: Fixer Upper

If you would like to use shiplap in a smaller space but don’t feel quite ready to use it throughout your kitchen, consider trying it in your breakfast nook. Here, white shiplap is used in a small corner of the room. Even though it’s right next to painted brick in the kitchen, it still brings a freshness to the space.

7: Bedroom

Farmhouse Inspired Master Bedroom

A shiplap wood wall serves as a headboard in this farmhouse inspired master bedroom. Custom side tables were welded to complement and not distract from the shiplap wall.

From: Rebecca Zajac

Photo by: Rebecca Zajac

Rebecca Zajac

In this farmhouse-inspired bedroom, shiplap is used on an accent wall behind the bed. The homeowners chose to leave it as a dark, natural wood rather than paint it, so it really warms up the space and almost serves as a headboard.

8: Stairwell

Coastal Stairs With White Shiplap Walls, Sisal Runner

Beach Home's Staircase

The staircase leading to the second level echoes the coastal design seen throughout the home, with white shiplap walls and a sisal stair runner.

From: Chango and Co.

Photo by: Jacob Snavely

Jacob Snavely

Here, the homeowners use bright, white shiplap on all of the walls and the ceiling. They contrast the white shiplap with a brightly-colored banister and a neutral runner trimmed with navy blue. The vibe is distinctly beach house chic.

9: Living Room

Living Room with Flat Screen TV, Ladder and Coffee and Console Table

Barn Home in the Country: Living Room

As seen on HGTV's Fixer Upper, the living room on the second story of the barn home features large wall decor, new furniture, and shiplap walls. The space also features rustic elements that complement the contemporary style of the interior decor.

From: Fixer Upper

Photo by: Rachel Whyte

Rachel Whyte

Shiplap also works great in a larger living room. Here, the shiplap pairs well with the dark hardwood floors and carries the rustic look throughout the space with a sliding barn door.

10: Entry

Bright & Airy Mudroom

The mudroom provides ample storage above and below, with woven baskets, coat hooks and shoe storage underneath the cushioned bench seating. A console table separates the two seating areas.

From: Chango and Co.

Photo by: Jacob Snavely

Jacob Snavely

Another small space option for shiplap is to use it in the entryway or mudroom of your home. The bright white works very well for this little alcove. Dark blue cushions on the benches, and silver light fixtures carry the beachy look throughout.

11: Kids' Room

White Coastal Kid's Room With White Dresser, Colorful Gallery Wall

Detail of Kid's Room Dresser

In the kid's room, a sleek, white dresser with brass hardware is topped with a vase of red flowers, and a colorful gallery wall decorates the white, shiplap walls.

From: Chango and Co.

Photo by: Jacob Snavely

Jacob Snavely

Using shiplap in a kids' room is a unique way to bring in the farmhouse feel. This gallery wall pairs perfectly with the shiplap planks and brings a lot of personality into the space.

12: Home Office

Rustic Home Office With Chandelier

This newly renovated open office has a shiplap accent wall, a large wooden desk and an antique tool bin hanging on the wall for a filing unit, as seen on HGTV's Fixer Upper.

From: Fixer Upper

This petite home office uses white shiplap on one of its walls. The homeowners carry the look through the room by pairing it with a shiplap sliding barn door for privacy.