Simple Faux Shiplap Wall DIY Project

Achieve a charming farmhouse look affordably with this simple DIY faux shiplap wall using plywood strips.

Easy DIY Faux Farmhouse Shiplap from Plywood

Shiplap walls caught my eye after watching Joanna Gaines discuss them on Fixer Upper.

I frequently saved images of these on Pinterest, hoping to tackle one myself someday.

That aspiration became a reality just last week.

Despite months of planning, the entire project took under 30 minutes to finish—quite quick!

Many online guides exist for shiplap construction; I have certainly read numerous ones.

I synthesized the knowledge from those sources, adapting the method for our specific needs.

Materials Required for a Farmhouse Shiplap Wall:

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• 1/4 inch mahongany veneer plywood (Our project needed one sheet.)
• Paint (I utilized “Simply White” by Benjamin Moore in an eggshell finish)
• 4 inch foam roller and roller tray
• stud finder
• A straight edge (such as a long level) for marking lines on the wall with a pencil
• Pennies for filling gaps
• Pneumatic nailer
• Dap Alex Fast Dry Acrylic Latex Caulk Plus Silicone

The Step-by-Step Guide to Farmhouse Shiplap Walls

1. Measure the wall area you intend to cover with shiplap. Then, figure out the necessary width and length for the boards.

We chose to shiplap only the section between the two tall sections of our Ikea Billy Bookcase setup. After calculations, we set the board width to 5 1/2 inches.

1. Acquire the plywood required for the area you plan to cover.

To simplify buying, we sketched the required cuts on paper and visited our local Windsor Plywood store. This helped staff understand our needs for accurate purchasing.

We found the 1/4 inch plywood underlay other bloggers suggest was unavailable locally. Therefore, we opted for this 1/4 inch mahogany veneer plywood. Though slightly thinner than 1/4 inch, it worked perfectly well.

1. Should you lack the correct saw for cutting plywood, request a local shop to cut the plywood into strips of your desired width.

Because we lacked a saw capable of ripping a plywood sheet, we confirmed the required board dimensions and had the personnel at Windsor Plywood prepare them for us; this highlights the value of paper cut lines in clear communication.

The staff at that location proved incredibly helpful when we needed plywood cut; their work is wonderfully precise and remains quite affordable.

1. It is necessary to paint both the edges and the fronts of the boards.

I discovered the difficult truth that painting the edges properly is impossible after the shiplap is affixed to the wall (refer to our closet door project for an example).

However, this is where I made a significant error...

I devoted time to meticulously priming and painting every board, yet I couldn't grasp why the wood grain was still visible...

My husband pointed out that I had painted the incorrect side!

Therefore, avoid my mistake and do not paint the side designated as 'mahogany'; apply 2 coats to the opposite side (no primer is required), and you will be finished.

1. Employ a stud finder to locate the wall studs, then mark these positions with a pencil and a straight edge.

These marked points will serve as your nailing locations for the boards.

1. After the paint on the boards is completely dry, position the initial board near the top of the wall, securing it with a pneumatic nail gun using the pencil lines as stud guides.

1. Use pennies as spacers between the boards and continue this process moving down the wall.

1. Once every board is attached, fill the nail holes using Dap drywall filler and smooth them once dry.

There is no need for a specific tool to apply the Dap; simply use your finger.

1. Apply one final layer of paint across the boards to complete the aesthetic.

Then, take a moment to appreciate the refreshed appearance!

We are amazed by how much a few boards can transform the feel and look of our area; this is how it began:

And here is the final result:

We absolutely adore it!

For more details on how this space's style has changed, view this article.

To discover additional concepts for farmhouse shiplap walls, look at these posts:

• Transform bi-folding closet doors into french doors utilizing shiplap
• Guidance on crafting a shiplap accent wall in a bathroom
• The Evergreen Fog bathroom has a shiplap ceiling!