Let’s Get Started on the Accent Wall with Shiplap!
I have loved shiplap from the day it made its big appearance on Fixer Upper! I love that show and all things farmhouse! We finally took a trip out to Magnolia Farms…(stay tuned for a blog post coming soon about that!) Anyhow, I know you can’t wait to hear more about how to add peel and stick the shiplap… so moving on!
While I consider myself handy with many things cutting wood wasn’t one of them. Even though it is something I would say I wasn’t experienced with, I still gave it a go and you can too! Follow me on my journey of learning the basics of cutting wood with trial and error and how easy it was to add an accent wall of peel and stick shiplap! In this project I also used peel and stick flooring so check that out in the end of the post!
First Things First; Where Do I get peel and stick shiplap?
I ordered my peel and stick shiplap online at http://www.wallplanks.com. I ordered my shiplap in white called Alabaster. After I received the product, they recommend you let it acclimate to your home’s temperature for a day or two. This is usually the case with many wood products. These are engineered hardwood and Wallplanks give the look of real wood products. You can check their website for an installation guide or more product selections. Also figure out how many boxes of this peel and stick shiplap you’ll actually need.
Now Time to Get to Work Prepping for the Shiplap Wall
So just like most projects cleaning your work area is step 1! They recommend TSP (trisodium phophate) for cleaning the area to get rid of anything on the surface so that the wood has no issues sticking to the wall. If the walls are filled with dirt and muck it’s going to be that much harder for their longevity of the product to hold.
Now what? How to Apply Peel and Stick Shiplap!
You should try to lay out some of the boards to check for any damage as well as laying them out for the way they will be applied. Once you get the first piece up it’ll be smooth sailing. Just remember this is peel and STICK, so it will stick if you put it on the wall and it is not exactly easy to move around. Take that lesson from me, Ha-ha!! You will want to use a level and a pencil to mark your first starting spot. They recommend you putting a line up at eyelevel. If it looks level, its GO time! Remove the backing from the plank, stick it on the wall and DONE! Now depending on how big your space is you can apply one or two boards before you run into the need to cut the planks!
Time to Cut the Shiplap!
This was the scary part of the process for me as I’m new to using saws! But with the right tools you will complete this project in no time! You need to use a miter saw or hand saw. I used a hand saw because the miter saw scared me. In retrospect if you have access to the miter saw this step is probably a lot easier. I was working at night when everyone was sleeping so I was trying to be quiet and not make a huge mess. Using the hand saw I made a few mistakes with cutting a little crooked, but this was the learning curve for me! Practice makes perfect! They say that you can use a utility knife to score the board with a square and then snap it to cut it. I didn’t try this method so I can’t speak about this, but it sounds easy!
Peel and Stick Shiplap, Repeat!!
Well hopefully you are getting the hang of the process now. Peel and stick shiplap, measure next piece needed, cut and repeat! As you can see in the pictures you want to stagger the pieces, so the lines are not exactly the same on the next row. They recommend you starting from the left side of the room. They also recommend you using finishing nails to tap into the wall at every 12″ to ensure your adding the planks level. Again, I’m a rebel and didn’t do this, but I’m no perfectionist so you may want to follow the instructions! LOL.
As you can tell once you get your grips on cutting and piecing this together it moves pretty smoothly if you are dealing with a somewhat square wall. It was easy to know the measurements and what size piece should be next after a few rows. I can’t wait to finish!
Here is the finished product! I’m so excited with the outcome and it was such an easy process. After you are all finished applying the shiplap, they recommend rolling it with the roller they sell. Again, the rebel I am, I didn’t buy this and shockingly it has been just fine. But again, you should follow the directions 🙂 They also sell trim or edge pieces, but I just bought some white corner pieces at Home Depot to create a finished look. Alexandria Moulding WM 105 3/4 in. x 3/4 in. x 96 in. Poplar Wood Painted White Finger-Jointed Quarter Round Molding 0W105-F7096C – The Home Depot
Wait! There’s more!
If I can do it, you can too! Although I loved this outcome of the wall I wanted to keep going with the update and add more appeal!
I painted the rest of the room a gray color and I also decided to give peel and stick flooring a try! Peel and stick for everything! HA! You can find the gray paint color here called A Chance of Rain BEHR MARQUEE 1 gal. #PPU26-19 Chance of Rain Eggshell Enamel Interior Paint & Primer 245401 – The Home Depot
Peel and Stick Flooring!! Floor Pops!
I used Floor Pops Medina Grey peel and stick flooring to give it a pop of pattern! You can find that here. FloorPops Medina 12 in. W x 12 in. L Grey Peel & Stick Vinyl Tile Flooring (10 sq. ft./case) FP2942 – The Home Depot. This was an easy process as well. I started in the corner of the room and just kept adding from there. I used a level to ensure that first row was straight and because my room is square it was right on track. In the other corner I needed to cut some of the pieces and with this I used an exacto knife to score it for a straight line, then used scissors to cut it. The product was easy to use and is an inexpensive way to redo the floors. The floors and walls have held up since 2020!
Overall, the process was simple considering I didn’t need a nail gun or glue to put the boards up on the wall or on the floor! It just takes one step out of the equation for ease of doing the project quickly. 3 years later and both products still look the same! I like the finish of these shiplap planks because they are smooth, so they give a nice fresh appearance. The flooring has withheld cleaning, kids, dogs, and guests. I recommend both products!
Look for 2 other projects I completed using peel and stick shiplap coming soon on my page!
http://www.adventureswiththesturms.com
I purchased the mirror from Kirklands: Round Natural Beaded Wall Mirror | Kirklands Home
The white arch is similar to this one Antiqued White Window Pane Arch Plaque | Kirklands Home
Shelf and teal sign are from Homegoods
Toilet paper holder- Olive bin from Hobby lobby; Similar one found here Large Olive Bucket-farmhouse Decor-rustic Galvanized Metal – Etsy