Let’s talk about shiplap. Is shiplap appropriate for any house? First, I will start explaining the definition of shiplap. Shiplap is a kind of wooden board that’s often used for constructing sheds, barns, and other rustic buildings. Traditional shiplap has a rabbit (or groove) cut into the top and bottom, which allows the pieces to fit together snugly, forming a tight seal. That’s the real shiplap. Boards from the local hardware store sanded, painted and installed in a horizontal manner on the wall that’s not shiplap. ”That’s a faux shiplap look”.
My caution is, as any TREND, it isn’t appropriate to any house or design situation. If you have a GENUINE farmhouse home or a beach cottage, by all means, go for it. It will look good and appropriate forever. However, if you are like many of us with a new build in the suburbs, a condo or any other new building, shiplap might not be your best approach whatsoever. It will look out of place and in the end tacky and dated in a few years.
Be careful with trends unless you’re willing to make more investments in a few years. It’s always fun and costly trying new things. So make your choice carefully.
In case you’re wondering if I like shiplap. Yes, I do as long as it’s the real deal and it goes with the style of the house. It provides character and an interesting texture. The pictures below are real Farmhouses where shiplap looks amazing.
Note: pictures above except for the last one are from Pinterest.
With love,
Joy
Joy in Decor 