Shiplap wall panelling

Some of you may be familiar with the term “shiplap”, but I believe this enduring interior detail deserves far more attention than it currently receives. Shiplap wall panelling is one of my favourite interior architectural details and I use it everywhere I can!

For those that aren’t familiar, shiplap wall panelling, or just “shiplap”, is essentially milled lengths of timber board with a rebated edge. That rebated edge joins tightly with the next board, giving a distinct shadow line effect (either vertically or horizontally), as well as a weather tight seal. I’ve spoken about it many times on the blog, both here and here.

Also referred to as wall “planking” or “v-groove”, it has a similar look to traditional tongue and groove lining or beadboard. Although, traditional shiplap is characterised by a simple square edge and U-channel, which gives it a more modern look.

To say I’m obsessed with shiplap is quite the understatement! In our most recent renovation, we used vertical shiplap fibre cement sheets in almost every single room (only the hallway and two of bedrooms we didn’t touch).

In fact I use this sheeting on all my projects (mainly bathrooms and feature walls), so I guess you could say it’s my trademark! ha. It takes a plain gyprock wall from drab to fab with relative ease and little cost. To see a lot more shiplap you can follow along on INSTAGRAM

If the day ever comes that we build from the ground up, you can bet that every wall in the house will be shiplap. Yes, every single one! I truly cannot get enough of this look.

What I personally love about shiplap is that it creates subtle interest and texture; the ideal canvas for those who prefer a simplified, restrained and neutral palette. The vertical shiplap (using v-groove cement fibre sheeting) in our bathrooms creates a much softer look and feel than wall tiles – which can sometimes look and feel a little cold.

Of course if you’re not ready to do shiplap on every wall, using it as a feature can look quite striking. It’s the ideal material to cover over a brick fireplace, as a backsplash in the kitchen (this is where the cement fibre shiplap sheets are brilliant as they’re waterproof!) or as a feature wall in a closet, stairwell or entry foyer.

It goes without saying that shiplap and v-groove cabinetry are a match made in heaven. The simple combination of horizontal and vertical shadow lines create a harmonious space that is essentially an modern take on traditional tongue and groove of yesteryear.

I just love the combination of shiplap and v-groove cabinetry. Our former kitchen cabinetry (pictured below) is v-groove profile and we absolutely love it! It’s a refreshing change from standard shaker profile cabinetry, but I also think mixing v-groove and shaker profiles looks gorgeous too!

This monochromatic bathroom above escapes that cold feeling with the use of warm, light timber floors and crisp white shiplap walls. To me, shiplap walls make a room so much more interesting.

My tip when it comes to shiplap? If your ceilings are low, choose vertical shiplap as opposed to horizontal, as this will make your space feel taller. The vertical lines will help give the illusion that your ceilings are higher than they actually are! And if in doubt, go white!!