Shiplap Paneling Wall DIY

Shiplap or wall panelling is a popular interior trend and it’s not hard to see why. Known by a couple of different names (wall planks, tongue and groove, beadboard and wainscoting to name a few) the concept is essentially adding visual interest to boring walls and ceilings by applying wood panels either vertically or horizontally to a wall, section of a wall or ceiling. Shiplap adds a stylish and understated design feature to almost any space and is surprisingly easy to create yourself. 

Here, we’ll go over the benefits of adding a shiplap feature to your home. We’ll break down some of the different methods to achieve a panelled interior wall and share a comprehensive step by step method on how to install one. Let’s get started!

What you need to know about shiplap

There are numerous benefits to creating a shiplap wall feature, as well as a variety of options to think about when looking to add interest to your home with shiplap. 

Vertical or horizontal shiplap

Both vertical and horizontal paneling are popular but will create different visual effects in your home. Traditionally, horizontal shiplap helps lead your eye around the room and can make a room feel wider and larger. Horizontal shiplap tends to feel more rustic and traditional. Vertical shiplap will lead your eye up and create the illusion of a higher ceiling and is a great idea if you have low ceilings to make your home look more modern.

Where you can utilise shiplap

Shiplap or wall paneling can be utilised in every room of your home. Seriously! It’s found most commonly as a wall feature in bedrooms and living rooms, but can be utilised in hallways, entryways and kitchens too. Wood paneling is also utilised in bathrooms, often on the lower half the wall to add colour and interest, although this requires additional steps to ensure it’s protected from moisture. 

Full wall or partial paneling

The options are really endless with shiplap walls. Use it as a feature to draw attention to a focal point in a room, or panel the entire space for a subtle yet interesting effect. Add visual interest and colour to small or narrow spaces such as bathrooms and hallways by adding shiplap to the bottom half of the wall only, leaving the top half plain and understated. 

Thickness of panels and grooves 

Another consideration if you’re thinking of installing a shiplap feature in your home is the width of boards and how defined you want the grooves to be. There’s no right or wrong answer here, so do your research to get a feel for what might best suit your project. If you’re after an easy installation and opting for a pre-grooved lining board instead of individual planks, the widths of the “planks” will be limited to what you can purchase from a local hardware store or specialist store.   

Benefits of shiplap 

Adding a shiplap feature to your home is an affordable and easy way to give a room an update without fussy paint effects. Shiplap can be painted a neutral colour and still be interesting or left unpainted to showcase the timber and add understated warmth and texture to a room. Shiplap is relatively easy to install and does not require a lot of skill, materials or tools. 

4 ways to achieve a shiplap wall

1. Shiplap Boards - This is the most traditional method, where individual boards are layered with a slight overlap along the long edge. When you use shiplap boards, you will need to consider if you want to stagger or randomise the board lengths to create a variegated look or if you want the boards to run the full width or height of the wall. 

2. Pre grooved lining boards - These are typically large interior wall lining boards where the grooved have been pre-cut into the timber panels. They are useful when covering a large area, are easy to cut to size and can be purchased pre-primed to speed up the job. 

3. Wood planks or boards - This is the best option if you want to create a custom wall effect, as you can select panels by width as well as control the spacing between panels. If using this method, be sure to paint the wall your finishing colour before attaching planks as small grooves can be tricky to paint afterwards. 

4. Tongue and groove - Traditional tongue and groove boards are a little different to shiplap as the lengths interlock together, rather than overlap on top of or next to each other. Tongue and groove tends to be thicker and more rigid and is often used for exterior applications. 

How to build a shiplap wall

In this section we will go over the techniques and methods you will need to carry out to achieve your vertical shiplap wall! Be sure to put on your protective gear and make sure your work area is free of distractions before you begin.

Step 1: Measure up

First, you will need to figure out how much shiplap you will need. To do this, divide the wall you wish to cover by the width of the shiplap boards. Decide what orientation you wish to install the boards, vertically or horizontally. If the wall cannot be divided perfectly by the width of your boards, you will have to think about where you will put the narrow piece. 

Hirepool Tip: If installing shiplap horizontally, it’s best to start from the top and hide the narrow board at the bottom, as this is likely to run into a skirting board. For vertical shiplap, the narrow board should go near the corner, or, you can measure from the centre and have two narrow planks on either side of the feature wall  

Step 2: Prepare the wall

Remove everything from the wall, including any nails or hooks. Carefully pry off the skirting boards and ceiling trim. Check the wall for any significant dents or bulges and make sure the wall is flush. If large dents or warps in your wall are found, its advisable to repair these before attaching shiplap, as this will affect the final outcome. Small holes or cracks are okay, as the support brackets will bridge these.  

Step 3: Find and mark the studs

Using your stud finder, work methodically across the room, marking where the vertical studs are. Draw long chalk or pencil lines down the wall so you have a clear idea of where the studs are, as you will need to ensure your support bracket is anchored to the studs.

Step 4: Install the wooden support brackets 

When installing vertical shiplap, it’s important that your boards are nailed to something more structural that your gib or plasterboard, as this causes boards to pull away from the wall. 

To install wooden support brackets, nail your timber horizontally across the wall, nailing to the studs that were marked earlier. Do this at the very top and bottom of your wall, as well as in the middle of your wall, either halfway in the middle of the wall or ¼ and ¾ of the way down the wall depending on the height of your room. 

Step 5: Cut your boards to size

If needed, cut your timber boards down to size, ensuring the length is a few centimetres shorter than the full length of your wall, so it’s easy to put them into place.

Step 6: Attach your boards

Now that the support brackets are in place and you have something to attach your shiplap boards to, you are ready to begin. The first board placement is the most important - your wall will only be as straight as your first board, so use your spirit level to ensure your first board is lined up correctly. Apply adhesive glue to your wood brackets and press your shiplap board against it, ensuring your shiplap board is straight with your level before nailing in place with the nail gun.

Hirepool tip: If the tongue part of the shiplap is wide enough, you can nail the boards in this section. The next row’s overlapping tongue will cover the nails and make the finishing easier. If not, face-nailing into the middle of the shiplap is okay too.

Step 7: Continue the rows of shiplap

Continue to overlap the boards and nail to the brackets at the top, bottom and middle of the boards. As you reach power outlets and fixtures, hold the shiplap board in place and mark where the outlet is. Using your Jig saw or Saber saw, cut out the shape of your outlet, much like you would with plasterboard. Continue to attach your rows of shiplap until the wall is covered.

Step 8: Reattach your skirting boards and trim

If desired, re-attach your skirting boards, nailing them into the shiplap.

Step 9: Finishing your shiplap wall

When all of your boards are attached, you are ready to paint or finish your shiplap wall. Fill in any nail heads with putty and lightly sand to create a smooth finish. Paint or varnish, following painting instructions. 

DIY done smarter with Hirepool

We hope you enjoyed our simple guide to creating a shiplap wall.  At Hirepool we have a wide variety of tools and home renovation equipment to help you with your DIY jobs! Check out our other guides and blogs for your next DIY project and call into your local Hirepool branch to get started.