How to DIY a Shiplap Wall the Cheap and Easy Way!

There’s just something about shiplap that makes a room feel instantly charming and put-together, isn’t there? When we moved into this house, I didn’t immediately plan to add shiplap to the living room. But as time passed—and with the kitchen already rocking its own shiplap walls—it just made sense to extend that cozy, farmhouse vibe into the adjoining space. Plus, I had my heart set on completing it before the holidays rolled around!

If you’re considering a shiplap project too, you might enjoy my tutorial on creating a budget-friendly shiplap kitchen backsplash. It’s another easy way to add charm to your home without breaking the bank!

How to DIY a Shiplap Wall Step-By-Step

After looking at all the options – pre-primed & cut shiplap planks, tongue & groove (which we used on our old house bathroom walls) and good old plywood – this method seems to be the most cost-effective way to add shiplap. You know, if you’re not lucky enough to live in Texas and have true shiplap walls hiding behind your drywall! 

Supplies You’ll Need

Materials

• 8′ x 4′ x 5/8″ sheets of plywood
• Construction adhesive
• Paintable caulking
• Paint

Tools

• Stud finder
• Pencil
• 3-foot level
• Caulking gun
• Nail gun and nails
• Small roller and brush
• HANDy Roller Cup and liners

Instructions 

1. Source Cheap Shiplap

• Go to your local building store, find the thinnest plywood sheets you can find (ours are 5/8 inches thick). Have each 8’x4′ sheet cut into six equal pieces, along the longer direction while in the store. Each cut piece will be approximately 7 7/8 inches by 8 feet long. Having it cut in-store will make it easier to transport and save you time once you’re working on the project at home. 

2. Prep the Wall

• Once at home again and ready to work, use a stud finder and a pencil to mark the studs on your wall. Mark across the wall at a few heights, so you know where the studs are as you work your way across and down the wall installing the shiplap.
• Before you start to install your shiplap, check if your wall is square.  If it’s not, using a level, mark a level line for where the first piece of shiplap will be installed. Once the first piece is attached to the wall, you should be okay to continue installing the remaining pieces. But check from time to time throughout the installation to be sure you’re not installing your shiplap at an angle! 

3. Install the Shiplap

• Apply construction adhesive to the backside of your first full length (8 foot by 7 7/8 inch) piece of plywood. How much adhesive you use is up to you. We originally planned to apply more, but realized we’d use up an awful lot of adhesive that away. So, instead Dean just applied dots of adhesive every foot or so along the length of each piece. The plywood is light, so the adhesive is really just an extra means in addition to the nails to attach it to the wall. (We didn’t use adhesive on the kitchen shiplap wall.)
• Starting at the top left corner of your wall, place the plywood with adhesive from the last step on the wall lined up tight to the ceiling or trim. Further affix to the wall with nails (using a nail gun) at the studs that you’ve previously marked. Again check for level/square before you nail it on, so you don’t end up with shiplap running on an angle. Even a slight angle will be noticeable because of the horizontal lines! 
• Repeat steps 4 and 5, working your way across your wall from left to right, top to bottom, cutting the lengths of plywood to fit as you go.
• Continue to apply shiplap until your entire wall is done. 

4. Caulk the Edges

• Caulk the side seams with paintable caulking where the ends of the shiplap meet the adjoining walls only. You don’t want or need to caulk the top where the shiplap meets the ceiling or the bottom where it meets the baseboard. Let dry.

5. Paint the Shiplap

• Use a brush to fill in gaps between planks, then roll on the paint color of your choice. For a dramatic modern look, I chose Sherwin Williams Black Magic, but white is always a classic option.

Tip: For painting the wall, I found the HANDy Roller Cup indispensable because it’s easy to hold in one hand while using the small roller to paint. It’s also easy to climb up and down a small ladder with and sit on the floor with to reach all angles. Plus the perfectly fitted liners make clean up a snap! 

Dramatic Color Decisions!

Even though I knew I wanted shiplap, until we got into the project I was still undecided about whether to paint it white like the other walls on the main floor. Or if I wanted to paint it a dramatic black. If you follow us on Instagram, you may have seen the poll I did when I was trying to decide. And y’all were so torn too! I had so many people give their answer in the poll and then message me saying “No wait, I’ve changed my mind!” 

Even after the poll, I was still undecided. The shiplap on the opposite wall in the kitchen is white. The island that is between the kitchen and living room is painted black. A lot of our other accents are black too. Sooo, I pulled the trigger and we went with black.

Now that it’s done, I love it! It’s so cozy and warm in person. And it looks especially lovely at night. 

Even though I adore the black, if you know me at all, you know I tend to change my mind. I imagine that I’ll keep the wall black over the winter for the cozy factor…and then paint it white in the late winter or early spring. Lol. Who knows! 

Adding a shiplap wall doesn’t have to be a pricey, complicated project. With a little effort and these budget-friendly tips, you can achieve that timeless charm you’ve been dreaming of. And let me tell you—there’s nothing better than stepping back and admiring the cozy, character-filled space you’ve created yourself.

Have you tried your hand at shiplap before? Let me know in the comments—I’d love to hear about your projects (or answer your questions)!