One of my absolute favorite parts of my main bedroom renovation is the shiplap ceiling. It adds SO much interest to the space and was surprisingly easy to install.
So when it came time to redo the playroom, I knew I wanted to incorporate that same look in this room. I’m using real shiplap so if you’ve wanted to try it out or see how it works, this tutorial for how to install a shiplap ceiling is for you!
Side note, in case you’ve missed any of the playroom posts, you can catch up here-
tiger wallpaper installation / how to create a mood board / how to paint walls super quick / how to lay laminate floors / how to make a Kraft paper roller / how to install baseboards / how to caulk
what is shiplap?
Shiplap is wood paneling that is made of long, usually horizontal panels with a gap between the boards. In some areas, shiplap was used in the construction of homes where people drywall now.
It is especially popular in areas with harsh climate because it is really good at protecting against weather.
In boats, the hull was constructed with boards overlapping each other to make it water tight and that’s where the name comes from.
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Joanna Gaines make it super popular in the show Fixer Upper. It was always exciting when she found some original shiplap under wallpaper or drywall! The look is now quintessential modern Farmhouse.
There’s a lot of tutorials out there for how to replicate the look on a budget. I’ll be using real shiplap and guess what?! It is so easy to put up!
HOW DOES SHIPLAP WORK?
Shiplap boards has a square edge called a butt joint. So when multiple boards are pushed together, they overlap easily to create a small gab between each one. These gaps create a lined pattern on the ceiling. Let me show you with a graphic-
When the whole ceiling is covered, the line pattern is really striking. Here’s the view looking up at a shiplap ceiling-
You can see how the butt edge on the boards work together to create a gap without much effort at all.
why bother worrying about the ceiling?
In a room, the ceiling is sometimes called “the 5th wall” as a way to remember its importance. Decorating a ceiling is a great method to add interest and class to a space. Shiplap on the ceiling is beautiful and elevates the whole room.
I personally am not a fan of drywall texture, so having the beautiful flat finish of shiplap looks really gorgeous and eye-catching.
Speaking of texture, if you have popcorn ceilings, shiplap is a great (and fast) method for covering it up.
While my style isn’t farmhouse (a look often tied to shiplap because of Fixer Upper), I find shiplap on a ceiling to give a modern and coastal vibe. Perfect!
The good news is that is is really simple to install shiplap on a ceiling! This is a great project even for a beginner DIY’er. Keep reading for the tutorial.
how to install a shiplap ceiling
Let’s start with the video tutorial so you get an overview on what I did. Then, I’ll dive in with more details below:
If the video doesn’t work here, you can watch it on YouTube here. P.s. I’m trying to build that page up, so if you’d subscribe, I’d really appreciate that!SUPPLIES
- 12′ long Shiplap from Home Depot that I’ve also used and loved
- screws
- stud finder
- drill
- 18 gage brad nails
- Brad Nailer
- paint (I used Ultra Pure White by Behr)
- wood for rails (1x4s)
- Step Ladder
- Chalk Line
step 1- find the ceiling joists
To install the shiplap on drywall, locate and mark each stud with a stud finder and then mark it with a pencil.
If you want to double check that you’re hitting a stud, drill a small hole and by how easily the drill bit rotates. If the drill bit moves freely you’re in drywall, if you feel like you hit something and it takes effort to push through, you’re in a stud.
Note, if you decide to test the joist placement this way, you’ll be covering all the holes you make, so don’t worry about having to repair these holes.
Shiplap installation is a two person job. To prep and hang the shiplap, the easiest way is to have scaffolding. Since we’re just normal DIYer’s we don’t have any.
So my husband stands on a step ladder and I stand on chair or dresser for this project.
Use a chalk reel to create a line across the ceiling where the studs are. Have one person on each side of the room, hold the chalk line taut, and when it’s in permission, snap the chalk so it makes a line on the ceiling. This is where you’ll be screwing the drywall into the studs.
step 2- install the shiplap
Next, cut the shiplap to fit on the ceiling with a miter saw.
Note, make sure to measure each row in case your ceiling isn’t straight like our ceiling.
Second, if you’re installing crown molding to bridge the gap between the shiplap and the wall (which I recommend), you’ll have 1-2″ of wiggle room at the ends of the boards. So if you’re a little short, it probably isn’t a big deal.
Next, hold the piece of shiplap in position. At our house, my husband then attaches the shiplap to the ceiling on his side with screws and nails and then works his way toward me. My job is to hold it in place and make sure the board is lined up correctly.
To install, I suggest doing 3 screws per piece of shiplap and then use a Brad nailer to get a tight fit everywhere else.
Why? Screws are much more expensive than nails. We like to nail along the butt joint since the nail hole gets covered by the next piece. We also put some screws on the top of the shiplap so it’s securely installed.
Put the shiplap boards perpendicular to the lines on the ceiling so you can screw and nail into the stud for a strong hold.
Note, we don’t use construction adhesive (glue) to attach the shiplap- though you could!
We find it messy to work with and if the shiplap ever needed to come down, it’d ruin the drywall underneath. If you use glue to install, you probably wouldn’t need to use screws, just nails from a brad nailer.
step 3- going around obstacles
When you get to the ceiling box (or other obstacles), draw with a pencil the shape of the item on the shiplap. For us, the roll of painter’s tape was the perfect thing to outline!
Then use a jigsaw out the outline. We used screws to install the shiplap once the piece is cut out.
step 4- the last board
For the last board, you’ll most likely need to cut the shiplap to size (unless you’re super lucky with the spacing).
This means that you’ll need to use a jig saw or table saw to rip the board from a full width to a skinnier width so it’ll fit in the leftover space on the ceiling.
The parts of the ceiling where you have to go around ceiling boxes, vents, smoke alarms, and attic access take the longest amount of time. Though those steps may seem tedious, in the end the attention to detail will pay off with the gorgeous shiplap ceiling!
step 5- finish work
Once all of the boards are up, fill the screw holes with spackle. When it is dry, sand the holes well.
You can also use wood filler to fill the holes.
The last thing you want is to notice screw holes in the ceiling! The key to a good DIY is to pay attention to details like this. It’s what makes the difference between it looking like an amateur and a professional did it. Finish up by painting the ceiling.
alternate installation- using rails
The above instructions only work for installing the shiplap perpendicular to the ceiling joists. So what if you’d prefer the shiplap to lay parallel to the ceiling joists?
For that you’ll need to install rails. Aka 1″x4″ pieces of wood that will anchor the shiplap.
To install the rails, drill them into the studs. Then, the shiplap will be drilled into rails for a firm hold.
Note, you do lose a little over an inch of ceiling height with this method. That might be something to consider if your ceiling is low and/or you have someone tall who lives with you.
For our playroom, this is the method we did so we could use shorter boards (the room is a rectangle). It worked really nicely and was worth the extra step.
after
Here is a look at the playroom ceiling. The rest of the room still needed to be finished when this was taken (including crown molding installed), but it sure was already looking pretty!
Here’s what the shiplap ceiling looks like once the paint is dry and the crown molding is up!
I installed the same shiplap in my main bedroom and I still can’t get over how much interest and dimension it adds to the space! It’s a very high end look that is breath taking.
We also shiplapped our kitchen ceiling. We love this upscale and high end look!
Plus, if you have an ugly ceiling, it’s a quick way to completely fix the issues and get a gorgeous space! Where we removed the upper cabinet from the kitchen, it left the drywall really beat up. The shiplap covered that issue right up!
how much does it cost to shiplap a ceiling?
The cost to shiplap a ceiling depends on the shiplap you use and the size of the room. For my bedroom, I used 12′ shiplap from Home Depot in a 12’x12′ room. The total cost with shiplap, screws, and nails cost $400 in supplies.
how long does it take to shiplap a ceiling?
To shiplap a ceiling, plan on spending at least two full 8 hour days on the project. One day to cut and install the shiplap. The second day to fill holes, sand, and paint.
Let me know if you have any questions on this project by leaving a comment. I’m happy to help!
How to Install a Shiplap Ceiling
How to install a shiplap ceiling with this easy DIY. This look was made popular by Joanna Gaines and gives the perfect farmhouse look while adding dimension and interest to a space. You can get this look and I'll show you how!
Materials
Instructions
step 1- find the ceiling joists
To install the shiplap on drywall, locate and mark each stud with a stud finder and then mark it with a pencil.
Use a chalk reel to create a line across the ceiling where the studs are. Have one person on each side of the room, hold the chalk line taut, and when it's in permission, snap the chalk so it makes a line on the ceiling.
step 2- install the shiplap
Next, cut the shiplap to fit on the ceiling with a miter saw.
Put the shiplap boards perpendicular to the lines on the ceiling so you can screw and nail into the stud for a strong hold.
step 3- going around obstacles
When you get to the ceiling box (or other obstacles), draw with a pencil the shape of the item on the shiplap. Then we used a jigsaw it out.
step 4- the last board
For the last board, you'll need to cut the shiplap to size. This means that you'll need to use a jig saw or table saw to rip the board from a full width to a skinnier width so it'll fit in the leftover space on the ceiling.
step 5- finish work
Once all of the boards are up, fill the screw holes with spackle. When it is dry, sand the holes well.
Finish up by painting the ceiling.
After
Once you have crown molding up on the edges, you have a complete and very beautiful room!
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