How to Make a Shiplap Wall

Measure your shiplap accent wall to determine how long to make your pieces and where to best start. Like installing a floor, you don't want an awkward 3-inch piece at the end of a wall, and you want to avoid having a sliver of a piece as your last horizontal piece. Before shiplap installation, prep your wall, removing any obstructions such as nails and switchplates. Then paint and prime wall desired shade, let dry. We used white. 

Cut 4x8-foot plywood pieces into 6-inch-wide strips. Use a table saw, or ask your local hardware store rip them for you. Sand edges smooth with sandpaper. Be sure to wipe dust with a clean cloth. Paint planks desired shade. Let dry.

Get tips on how to use a table saw.

When attaching your planks, you want to nail them into wall studs. This will better reinforce the planks, making sure they don't pull or damage your drywall. To do this, use a stud finder to locate studs. They are typically placed 16 or 24 inches apart. Mark with a pencil along each stud in the wall. 

Use a level to ensure planks will be installed horizontally on the wall. Mark even increments with a pencil along the wall stud marks. This line will also make it easy for you to know exactly where to nail as you move up the wall.  

Place your first plank on the wall, starting at the baseboard and working your way up to the ceiling. Use a level to ensure planks are installed horizontally on wall, making sure to secure planks to wall studs. Mini crafts sticks and wooden ice pop sticks both work well as spacers.

You may run into issues as you move up the wall, such as light switches or electrical outlets. When this happens, measure and cut boards to fit around electrical outlets. Once installed, attach electrical boxes with a screwdriver, followed by the outlet plate in later steps. 

Continue adding planks until you reach the ceiling. Check for level every few planks to make sure you're staying on track. You can choose to align your boards, or opt for different lengths for a staggered look.

Even with all the planks filled up to the top, you're wall won't look complete. To conceal corner gaps, measure and cut corner molding pieces; secure to walls with nails. You may need to trim molding pieces to fit your baseboard as well.

Fill nail holes with wood filler; let dry and sand. Wipe clean. Finish seams with paintable caulk. Screw outlet covers back on to the electrical boxes.

See more DIY accent wall ideas.