Design Styles
Farmhouse
By
Updated on 12/21/23
Thanks to the dominance of farmhouse design, shiplap walls have become a staple of modern interiors. But you don't have to live in a modern farmhouse to embrace this never-ending trend, which can work with a range of design styles.
While traditional shiplap walls are characterized by long, overlapping horizontal wooden planks, today you are just as likely to see shiplap in a vertical layout. You can find shiplap accent walls in anything from natural wood to classic white or darker colors such as navy, olive green, gray, or black to complement the style and palette of your interior.
If you are looking for a simple, affordable, easy-to-install upgrade for any room in the house, check out these shiplap accent wall ideas in a range of settings for inspiration.
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Anchor the Bed Wall
Create a backdrop for your bed by installing a shiplap accent wall behind your headboard. Lisa Bass contrasted classic white horizontal shiplap boards with a black wrought iron bed frame and sconce lighting for an industrial farmhouse feel.
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Accent With Salvaged Pieces
Jessica Rayome's living room already boasted high ceilings and wooden beams, and now, with the addition of shiplap, the space offers major farmhouse vibes. After installing a shiplap wall, there's no need to leave it empty—Rayome hung vintage windows on the panels for additional rustic charm.
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Make It Dark and Moody
Try a painted or dark-stained shiplap wall for a more dramatic look. Any hue is fair game. Chris and Julia Marcum installed a deep navy shiplap accent wall in their living room, which adds instant moody vibes to the space.
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Paint-Free Perfection
Not into painting? Neither is blogger Amy, who adhered reclaimed wooden boards to an empty wall in her home for a stunning rustic effect. The result provides a welcome contrast to her otherwise white walls and cozies up the space.
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Hang a Decorative Clock
If you're looking for a quick DIY project to add interest to the dining room, consider adding a shiplap accent wall.
Disha Spath added a modern farmhouse aesthetic into her home and in a single weekend—and for just over $100—by installing a painted white shiplap accent wall, then hanging a decorative black metal vintage-inspired clock on the wall.
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Camouflage the TV Wall
Decorating around a TV so that it looks cohesive rather than clunky can be a challenge. Sarah Symonds placed her freestanding flat screen in front of a matte black shiplap wall. The hue adds intrigue to her basem*nt while helping to camouflage the large screen, while framed family photos create a distraction.
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Try Shiplap Wainscoting
If you love the look of a shiplap bathroom, try an easy take on wainscoting by hanging vertical shiplap to create a backsplash and half wall. Chelsee Hood painted the vertical shiplap in an icy pale blue to complement white walls, adding wood accents for warmth.
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Accent With Vintage Decor
Use shiplap in the kitchen to create a homey feel. Alexa Duvall transformed her kitchen with a white shiplap accent wall, then accented with a vintage mirror and wall-mounted candle sconce.
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Pair With Wallpaper
If you're going to work from home all day, there's no reason to stare at a boring blank wall for eight hours. Chelsee Hood also incorporated shiplap into her office space, opting for a black hue that complements black-and-white floral wallpaper.
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Outdoor Oasis
Bring the shiplap fun outdoors. Kath Younger converted her covered deck into a screened porch and added shiplap walls and a vaulted ceiling to the space. The look proves that shiplap is truly a winner in spaces both large and small.
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Cute and Kid-Friendly
Shiplap is perfect for nurseries, too. Brooke Christen made over her sister-in-law's little one's space by installing a white shiplap accent wall above the changing table in the neutral space. Simply add a framed art piece on top and you're good to go.
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Add a Shiplap Plant Wall
Jennifer Guliziaalso transformed her bathroom with shiplap to add texture and visual interest to the large space, and create a backdrop for floating wood plant shelves. Hanging the panels took her just two hours to complete.
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Use Natural Wood
Inspired by a similar wall in her old house, Sarah Saucedodecided to hang and stain wood shiplap panels on the wall leading into her basem*nt. Though she solely chose to tackle the staircase landing area, the upgrade made an impact.
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Try a Faux Shiplap Wall
For those who would prefer to stick with paint and save carpentry adventures for another day, try putting up a faux shiplap wall. Roxanne Kwiecinski used a DIY kit to install a faux shiplap wall behind her bed using only paint and painter's tape—no boards required.
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Paint the Rainbow
Feeling up for a challenge? Make like @Home_Kimprovements who shared her rainbow shiplap DIY on Remodelaholic. The end result is perfect for a kid's room or any other space that needs a bit of pep.
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See AlsoAmazing Shiplap Wall IdeasModernize With Gray
Create a modern look that has nothing to do with farmhouse style by painting shiplap in a medium gray tone. This shiplap fireplace from Louis Duncan-He Designs has a built-in niche for the TV and a linear fireplace for a sleek modern look.
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Hang Diagonal Shiplap
Apply shiplap in a diagonal pattern to create a graphic focal point. Ashley Montgomery Design paired a diagonal shiplap backsplash in honey-toned wood with black cabinets, walls, ceiling, and trim and added a flagstone floor for a dramatic modern farmhouse feel.
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Paint It Sage Green
Paint your shiplap accent wall in the same color as the walls to put the accent on texture. House 9 Interiors painted the shiplap accent wall behind the bed in the same sage green as the walls, then accented with black and brass furniture and decor.
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Clad the Built-Ins
Clad your fireplace wall and built-ins with vertical shiplap for a modern look. Light and Dwell added texture to the walls of this neutral space with vertical shiplap that draws attention to the tall vaulted ceilings.
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Add Drama to the Bathroom
Add drama to a neutral bathroom with a black shiplap accent wall, like this spacious primary bathroom from Leclair Decor which includes an all-glass shower and a mix of tile, stone, and wood accents.
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Mix With Textured Walls
A light wood shiplap accent wall is paired with light gray textured walls in this Scandi-style bedroom from Fantastic Frank, adding interest to the compact, neutral-toned space.
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Pair With Warm Accents
A vertical white shiplap accent wall will add a subtle bit of texture to a light and bright space.
Desiree Burns Interiors decorated the shiplap walls of this airy bathroom with rattan-framed mirrors and gold-toned sconces to add warmth.
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Paint It Navy
Give your shiplap accent wall an organic feel by cladding your fireplace surround in shiplap panels. Brexton Cole Interiors chose navy shiplap for this open plan space to create a focal point and help the flat screen on the wall above to blend in.
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Create a Timeless Look
Adding a simple white vertical shiplap wall will refresh a timeless neutral dining room decorated with a farmhouse table and vintage lighting, like this space from House 9 Interiors.
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Accent With Gold
Gold sconces add warmth and shine to this shiplap-clad fireplace accent wall from Crisp Architects, while a black frame around the firebox adds contrast.
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Try Coastal Farmhouse
A midnight blue shiplap accent wall will give a coastal farmhouse bathroom a striking look.Michelle Berwick Design paired the deep blue vertical shiplap panels with a floating weathered wood sink vanity, pale white and gray tiles, and cool silver-toned accents and fixtures.
Tip
In a coastal bathroom, try adding a midnight blue vertical shiplap accent wall for a striking look that is a shade softer than pure black, and a bit more sophisticated than navy.
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Try a Mini Shiplap Accent
Even a small shiplap accent wall will add a layer of texture to your room. House 9 Interiors added horizontal shiplap panels on the narrow fireplace wall between built-ins and painted it the same creamy off-white color as the rest of the walls.
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Add Minimalist Texture
Tall vertical shiplap panels add subtle texture to this bedroom from Light and Dwell, making the pared down space feel more inviting without cluttering the walls.
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Pair With Natural Wood
Pair a natural shiplap backsplash accent wall with light wood cabinetry to warm up a modern bathroom.
Erin Williamson Design used complementary natural wood tones mixed with white walls and patterned tile for a modern feel.
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Pair With Reclaimed Wood
Create an authentic farmhouse feel by pairing a white painted shiplap accent wall with a rustic reclaimed barnwood ceiling, like this twin guest room from My 100 Year Old Home.
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Finish With Crown Molding
Finish your shiplap wall with crown molding that runs around the periphery of the ceiling for a polished feel. House 9 Interiors painted this bedroom shiplap accent wall in the same beige paint as the walls, keeping the shiplap-clad ceiling white.
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Install a Shiplap Half Wall
Instead of cladding a single wall in shiplap, add character to the white walls of a dining room with a shiplap half wall that wraps around the room. Michelle Berwick Design chose beige shiplap in a vertical pattern in this modern farmhouse dining room that ties the minimalist space together.