This post contains affiliate links
The real deal Shiplap is hard to find. Somehow it magically appears in like 80% of the homes Chip and Joanna remodel, but I don't live in Waco, nor is it that easy to find. So people like me, that want a little shiplap in their own homes, have to come up with creative ways to get it there. I am here to tell you that this is easy to do and can be a quick afternoon project with the right tools and supplies.
The first project we did Shiplap with was in built-in living room set up. I know I have shown y'all a couple views of what our living room looked liked before and what it looks like now. As a reminder, here is what our living room looked like before. Boring.
Our plan was to do two built-in bookcases with shiplap and a fireplace in between. First we did the built-ins using an Ikea Hack. Check it out here. Once that was done, we could start with the shiplap.
How to Install Shiplap:
Supplies:
1/4 in thick Plywood cut into 8 in tall strips (width is the length of your space. Home depot can cut this for you or you can use a Table Saw)
Eggshell Paint in the color of your choice (We used Pure White by Sherwin Williams)
A few quarters
Tools:
Table saw (if your hardware store cannot cut the plywood for you)
Directions:
1. Make sure all plywood is cut to the right height and length.
2. Use the stud finders to find the studs in the wall. Mark the studs all the way across and down the wall.
3. Start at the top of the wall so the shiplap is straight with the molding or the ceiling and begin installing your shiplap. Using the brad nailer, nail the shiplap into the wall where the studs are. It should look like this. (Side note: We installed a TV mount to hang a TV, so we where also working around that).
4. Continue installing shiplap until you reach the bottom of the wall. Between each shiplap plank, you will want a quarter to fit between each of the planks for sizing before you nail the next piece in. If your wall is wider than the shiplap planks, you will want to stagger these planks like you would when you are installing a floor.
5. Fill in the holes made by the nailer with wood filler. Let dry and then sand down.
6. Cover any wood knots or discoloration with primer as seen in the picture below. Let dry.
7. Now you are ready to start painting. Use the angled brush for the sides are corners and the roller brush for everything else. Cover all the shiplap. Let dry. And repeat until the wall is covered with paint.
This is what it looks like when it is finished. Doesn't it look great? And it is so easy to do yourself!
