Shiplap Accent Wall Ideas for Every Room in Your Home

Shiplap is still a safe bet for an accent wall. The best versions right now are white or whitewashed boards, deep painted shiplap in a bedroom or study, and mixed board directions used in small doses. Pick one wall, one finish and one board width, and the rest follows.

Below you'll find ideas by room, the design logic behind them, and the steps for a DIY shiplap accent wall.

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Is shiplap out of style?

Not really. Shiplap grew out of farmhouse and cottage looks, and the all-white, rustic version has been used heavily. What's changing is the finish: cleaner lines, darker paint, natural wood tones and wider boards. If you like the texture, the look is easy to update with color and lighting rather than by removing it.

Plain horizontal boards also fit in with older American house styles. The National Park Service notes that the Italianate style was most prevalent in America between the 1850s and the 1880s, and wood-clad walls have been part of home building long before the current trend cycle.

Shiplap accent wall ideas for the living room

The living room is where most people start. A few arrangements work well:

• Shiplap behind the TV or sofa wall, so the seating has a clear focal point.
• Half-height shiplap with a ledge or picture rail on top, which keeps the wall from feeling heavy.
• Whitewashed boards with a few floating shelves, good for books and a plant or two.
• Vertical boards in a room with a low ceiling, since vertical lines draw the eye up.

If you're looking for shiplap accent wall ideas for the living room that feel current, I recommend matching the board color to your trim and letting the furniture carry the contrast. For more contemporary takes, see modern shiplap accent wall ideas for every space.

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White shiplap accent wall ideas

White shiplap reflects light, which helps in rooms with small windows. Glossy paint bounces light and shows every flaw in the boards and seams. Matte or eggshell absorbs it and hides small imperfections, so it's the better choice for a wall you'll see in raking daylight.

Pick a white with a warm or cool undertone that matches your trim. Test it on the actual boards, because paint looks different on a grooved surface than on a flat card.

Modern shiplap accent wall ideas

Modern shiplap usually means wider boards, tight seams and a flat paint color. A few ways to get there:

• Use boards about 6-8 inches wide instead of the narrow farmhouse widths.
• Paint the wall and the trim the same color so the wall reads as one surface.
• Mix horizontal and vertical sections in one composition, but only once, or it turns busy.
• Choose a clear or lightly stained wood finish if you'd rather show the grain.

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Shiplap accent wall for the bedroom

A shiplap accent wall in the bedroom belongs behind the bed. It frames the headboard and keeps the focal point away from the door. Soft, low-saturation colors such as greige, muted sage or dusty blue are restful. Deep charcoal or green also works if you balance it with light bedding and a warm bedside lamp.

If you're weighing color options, our look at a grey accent wall in the bedroom covers shades that pair well with wood boards.

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Kitchens, bathrooms and dining areas

In a kitchen, shiplap works well on a breakfast nook wall or one side of an island, away from the splash zone behind the stove. Satin paint is easier to wipe down than matte. In a dining area, half-height shiplap acts like a wainscot and protects the lower wall from chair backs.

Bathrooms need moisture-resistant material: sealed wood with good ventilation, or composite or PVC boards made for wet rooms. Caulk the seams and keep raw wood out of the shower spray. For an overview of other wall detailing, see wall trim and molding ideas.

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How to do an accent wall with shiplap

A DIY shiplap accent wall is manageable for a confident beginner. Here's the order I'd follow:

1. Measure the wall and mock up the board width with painter's tape. Buy extra material for cuts and mistakes.
2. Find the studs and mark them. Check the wall for flatness and shim where it dips, so the lines stay level.
3. Start at the bottom or at the ceiling line, whichever is flatter, and check level every few boards.
4. Leave a small, consistent gap between boards, using a spacer, so the grooves read evenly.
5. Fill nail holes, caulk the edges, prime raw wood to stop tannin bleed, then paint two coats.

Cut around outlets and switches with the power off at the breaker. If the wall has wiring you need to move, hire a licensed electrician.

One pet note: painted boards with a satin finish wipe clean after muddy paws and noses, and a low wall near the floor is where scuffs show up first.

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Choosing board width, direction and color

Horizontal boards make a wall feel wider and calmer. Vertical boards add height. Narrow boards read traditional, wide boards read modern. As an architect, I'd choose the direction first, because it changes how the room feels more than the color does.

Lighting matters too. A wall washer or a lamp placed close to the wall shows the grooves with soft shadows. Before you commit to a paint color, look at the sample in morning and evening light.

Frequently asked questions