Not everyone has the possibility – or the willingness – to live in a countryside house, but many of us absolutely love and miss a little bit of farmhouse in our city apartments. That’s what shiplap furniture and accessories are for! Shiplap style will give a rustic feeling to your home, and you’ll be able to feel like your home has become an old-fashioned farm. In this article, we’ll see all the ways to incorporate shiplap in your home.
Remember that the most obvious uses of shiplap aren’t the only ones available: you could apply this style to kitchen furniture, clocks and paintings, bathroom walls, tables, chairs and much more. Furthermore, shiplap doesn’t necessarily means drying out our savings account, as it is perfect for DIY projects. So, take a look at all the incredible designs we are about to show you, and get inspired for your next DIY weekend!
What is shiplap?
Shiplap panels are named after the horizontal planks used to build ships. Thanks to the grooves cut into the top and bottom of the boards, builders could fit shiplap panels tightly together to keep the water out. In fact, shiplap boards were so effective that builders began adapting the material for use as an exterior cladding to homes to block out cold winds. Until the advent of plywood, shiplaps were commonly used to build the cladding between a home’s structural framing and exterior cladding.
Nowadays, people often find shiplaps under the siding of historic homes during exterior renovation projects. The wood planks, which are highly coveted as reclaimed building materials, can be carefully saved and brought indoors for use as decorative siding. Homeowners looking for an inexpensive alternative to traditional shiplap can choose to mimic the look by installing long planks torn from plywood sheets, leaving small gaps (the standard gap is 1/8 inch) between each panel.
Shiplap design ideas and inspirations
1. Shiplap bathroom
Source: Pinterest
Did you ever think about using shiplap boards as a bathroom wall revestment? Well, if you didn’t before we are sure you are now! The clean lines give a feeling of modernity to this chic bathroom, while the horizontal lines of the shiplap offer a fresh farmhouse approach. The black frames of the mirrors and the black wall lamps, which contrast with the gray wall covering of the bathroom, give this room the look of a farmhouse that has been dipped in style and luxury. Although the appliances are modern, the aesthetics are more ancient and rural.
2. Shiplap as the back of a 3D painting
Source: Pinterest
This will be the next DIY project you’ll involve your family into. GRANTED! Who would have thought to use shiplap boards as the back of a bouquet rustic painting? Thank God someone did, because the result is awesome, and the cost will be very low! This sunflower bouquet is framed by a finished wooden square. At first, that’s all you might notice. The slats that make up the back of the frame are painted in the exact color of the walls. It seems that the bouquet is floating in midair, but it is actually mounted on the pallet. It looks wonderful and upscale, and will certainly bring some rustic vibes to your kitchen or living room!
3. Shiplap mudroom
Source: Pinterest
Covering the lower part of the room with shiplap gives this mudroom a sophisticated and upscale feeling. Obviously, the first thing to catch our guests eyes will be the beautiful blue color of the shiplap, bench and door: original and fun. The dark floor, the polished wooden bench and the sober color palette look stunning together in a perfect mix between cold modern design and warm farmhouse style. The room is cozy, though, with hanging bags, backpacks and hats, and comfy pillows. To add another pop of color, you could use a potted plant, a fun painting or a patterned carpet.
4. Shiplap space-saving shelves
Source: Pinterest
Many of us have one of these “corners” somewhere in their home, and you’ve probably always wondered what could you use them for, and why do they exist in the first place. Often, they are ignored, or used to store things that you may need at some point or another. The use of the shiplap shelves will be a way to revolutionize the apparently useless space, both transforming it into a pretty useful storage space, and giving a retro shiplap vibe to your living room.
5. Shiplap dining table
Source: Pinterest
Shiplap isn’t just for walls – a great DIY project would be to use it for a dining table! This gorgeous dining table looks like it was made from the side of a ship. The wooden planks are juxtaposed with the pure white chairs, armchair, cabinets and floors, for a striking contrast. For anyone who wants to feel like they live on a rustic farmhouse, this type of table is a must, especially if paired with wooden floors and a big chandelier. Doesn’t this whole room look like it came out of a farm?
6. Shiplap bench and storage space
Source: Pinterest
The use of shiplap lines in this room is simply revolutionary. This entrance is a place where people constantly move, passing from one area to another. The horizontal lines appear to direct you to your destination. The use of a different wood and color for the seat of the bench creates an amazing contrast, and the vines used for the boxes are incredibly rustic. Together with the colorful and abstract pillow, and the light blue walls, this is an inviting space that looks incredibly efficient without being cold and anonymous.
7. Shiplap kitchen cabinets
Source: Pinterest
This stunning kitchen uses the contrast between white cabinetry and cook top and shiplap light wood for maximum effect. The white walls mix with the cabinetry, giving space and highlighting the shiplap. The black elements – such as the furniture handles and the stools – create a wonderful contrast, together with the big potted plant on the island. All the combined neutral colors are complemented by an abstract colorful carpet. B-E-A-U-T-I-F-U-L!
8. Shiplap fireplace
Source: Pinterest
This wonderful and glam fireplace will bring class and elegance to your living room. White covers wall, details and most importantly the fireplace, but it is interrupted by brown decoration elements, such as the towel hanger and the shelf. However, the real protagonist of the space is the fireplace, because of the wonderful shiplap woodwork it is covered with. Furthermore, the juxtaposition between a modern fireplace and a generally cozy and farm like interiors simply screams glamour!
9. Shiplap ceiling
Source: Pinterest
Using shiplap for the ceiling could seem like an unusual choice, but if placed strategically in the right rooms, it will look stunning. The straight lines, textures and lighting in this living room combine to create a uniquely modern and farm inspired room. The whites are soft enough not to reflect harsh glare, and the incredible amount of natural light from the windows helps creating this light and airy space. The green potted plant and the black and brown of the floor and various elements across the room are pops of color against a fairly uniform background.
10. Shiplap decorative panel
Source: Pinterest
Even the smallest wooden panels can serve an important aesthetic purpose. This sweet panel can be made with five short and narrow wooden slats. Particularly striking are the contrasting background colors, as well as the colors of the flowers painted on the slats. Of course, if you aren’t the most artistic person ever, you can choose to use stickers, which will look just as great.
Conclusions
Modern architecture allows for a mixture of decorative and furnishing styles. Interior designers can take advantage of the many possibilities offered by unexpected combinations, as we have seen in these ten examples of how to use shiplap (or also ten ways to enrich a modern home with a rustic touch). From the living room to the bathroom, we have shown you how the rustic style manages to warm up and make the rooms of the modern home intimate and interesting.
However, there are several other tricks and many more details you can apply to your home to make it look like a farmhouse hidden in the city. For example, pair your modern sofa with a rustic coffee table for a dynamic effect, or get a copper bathtub, possibly a self-standing one. Use natural decorations, place somewhere a brick wall – even a fake one, using a wallpaper, and use rustic elements, such as a trunk or an old telephone.
Whatever elements you choose to implement, remember not to overdo it, and try to avoid an artificial effect. Respect the normal structure of your home, and highlight its characteristics. If you are looking for more styles for your home, read our many other articles!
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