I have to admit, I’ve been waiting to see how long this farmhouse trend would stick around for. Don’t get me wrong, I am a fan of how shiplap looks, but, like, is there any way for it to improve or modernize? The answer is YES. Today, I’m showing you exactly how to use shiplap in 2019.
We all first fell in love with shiplap thanks to Chip and Joanna Gaines, of HGTV favorite, Fixer Upper. That show has ended, so what now? Shiplap is still a really great and affordable way to add architectural detail and interest to a wall, but how can we style it moving forward?
via HGTV
Just to give you a little reminder, this is where we are starting: the classic Chip and Joanna shiplap style. I present to you, the farmhouse living room. It should be noted that I am in no way dogging the farmhouse style. It’s just been around for sooo long and needs to be updated. We can take the elements of the farmhouse style and apply them in different ways in order to modernize it.
I’ll be doing a post soon on 2019 interior design trends to expect, and unfortunately, shiplap as you know it will be fading into the background. But it makes sense, right? More and more people are flooding the cities, so not all of us live in places where the farmhouse style is fitting. For example, I live in Manhattan, and picturing my apartment looking like it belongs on the prairie makes me crack up laughing. So, shiplap, as it is traditionally used, wouldn’t fit my environment. Enter: 2019 shiplap.
THIS is How to Use Shiplap in 2019
For the purposes of this post, I am including all wood paneling resembling shiplap. Why? Because shiplap is a very specific type of wood panel that has groves allowing the boards to fit together tightly. I am not sure that the wood paneling used in these projects has those specific grooves (because I was not there during install, obviously). We are really just going for the look, whether it is true shiplap or wooden boards nailed to a wall. It all fits our aesthetic, which is the point of this post. Now, let’s get into it!
1. Vertically
via Eric Olsen Design
An easy way to modernize shiplap is to use it vertically. It adds height to the room, making the ceilings look taller. You can also modernize it by selecting skinnier planks. Traditional shiplap is placed horizontally with nice wide wooden planks. So, just do the opposite! Think of shiplap kind of like subway tile. Stay with me…what I mean by that is that subway tile is the ultimate classic choice,a blank slate if you will, but you have the option of positioning it in so many different ways to add a greater design element. Same goes here.
via Raili CA Design
I like traditional shiplap, but modern shiplap? That just takes the cake. I think that the traditional farmhouse style is now just so overdone and really, it’s not something that interior designers even use. Why? Because it’s typically a good idea to go with the style of the home’s architecture and to keep in mind the time period of the home. I would say that 99% of homes using shiplap to complement their farmhouse style do not live anywhere near a farm.
Granted, you can do whatever you want to your home, as long as it makes you happy. But there are just some decor ideas that make more sense given your situation. Shiplap, as it is used in farmhouse design, has never actually fit in an urban or even suburban environment in a way that makes sense. I mean, it started in super rural Waco, Texas!
2. Painted
via Luxe Magazine
If you are a traditionalist, you will enjoy painted shiplap. Joanna Gaines painted shiplap black on a number of occasions. How sexy is this bathroom with the charcoal gray painted walls? Amazing right? It is ultra modern and perfectly accented by the minimalist sink and brass hardware. This doesn’t scream “prairie” in the least. This is also a really easy and high impact way to update shiplap you already have in your home! Just slap a coat of paint on it and you’re done.
via Raili CA Design
You’ve already heard of Raili CA Design if you’ve read my post on Christina El Moussa’s home design. Well, this is their office. It’s bright, cheery, and features another favorite artist and designer, Kerri Rosenthal. For this office, they used a combo of modern and traditional shiplap styles. The ceiling is original to the space, I am assuming, and then they decided to amp up the design using vertical planks on the walls. The bottom 3/4 remain unfinished while the top 1/4 is painted white to flow seamlessly into the ceiling. THIS is how to use shiplap in 2019, ya’ll.
3. As a Feature
via Eric Olsen Design
via Our House Now a Home
You don’t have to use shiplap on en entire wall; you can choose to accent select focal points. Patterned cement tile has grown in popularity as a material for tiling a fireplace. However, some people aren’t on the pattern bandwagon yet, and that’s okay. Using modern shiplap is a great way to add interest to a feature, while also remaining neutral and unobtrusive.
4. Raw
via Raili CA Design
Raw or unfinished wood has become super popular, thanks to the Scandinavian color palette. Pale woods are very light and refreshing in a space and are really easy to use because they are so neutral. You don’t have to worry about the warmth of the wood clashing with your decor because this is the most neutral wood you can find. In my own apartment, I refinished 2 tables and returned them back to their original white oak.
5. Diagonally or Herringbone
via Kristi Murphy
via Raili CA Design
People used shiplap because it was an affordable way to add architecture to a home without hiring someone. And THAT is what we can use to modernize this trend. Now you know how to use shiplap in 2019 and beyond in a modern and awesome way. If you have a traditional farmhouse style home, don’t despair! That’s what this post is for; you learned how to use shiplap in 2019 and can apply it to your own spaces.
Another reason to modernize the traditional farmhouse style is so your house doesn’t look like a real life Pinterest board. Sure, Pinterest is great for ideas, but there is a reason everyone flocks to the same ideas, giving everyone the same home. Dare to be different, yes? Showcase your personal style, not just the style of the masses. That’s what interior design is all about: self expression.
-Kristen
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