Easy Accent Shiplap Wall

Before buying material, you are going to want to measure your wall to determine how much plywood you will need. I decided to go with 6” slats, but you can use 12” for a wider look. We do have a table saw, but to make things even easier we asked Home Depot to cut for us—this is an awesome service they provide! By buying and using plywood instead of traditional wood, we were really able to get this project done cost effectively. For our wall, we ended up cutting down 5 sheets of plywood into 8’ x 6” strips.

To speed up the process, we started by marking out where the studs were so we knew exactly where to use our nail gun. For this thin plywood, we used 1-1/8” brad nails. Starting at the bottom of your wall, use your nail gun on the studs. Cut around any outlet boxes if needed. We had an old phone jack on this wall, so we covered right over it as we no longer need it.

As you continue to lay your panels moving upwards, place a quarters between the rows before nailing them down. This will help provide even spacing to allow for any swelling of wood and to avoid any warping. Once your board has been nailed down, remove the quarters and use them for your next board and repeat the process. I also liked to use a level to double check on occasion and make sure everything was even. Use a saw to cut your long boards into whichever lengths you need for the look you are going for, whether its more symmetrical or random.

Once your wall is fully paneled, you will want to take care of the details! Use caulk if needed to fill any larger gaps and wood putty to cover over the nail holes. This might seem tedious, but it’s so worth it in the long run!

Finally your last step will be to paint your wall. I wanted a bolder look than traditional white shiplap, so I painted my wall in Sherwin Williams Peppercorn. Overall, this is a super easy project that even a beginner can tackle with a few hours time. Now on to decorate!