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I’ve had quite a few questions recently on how I added sharpie shiplap to a few walls in our house. I thought I should write a quick blog post explaining how simple it is to do.
I love the look of shiplap but didn’t want to nail actual boards to the wall, just in case I ever grow old of the style or if we ever move and the next owners don’t like the farmhouse look as much as I do. Sharpie shiplap is such a cheap way to give the illusion of real shiplap and is much easier to install. Hopefully, I can help you recreate the look of shiplap for a fraction of the cost in your own home!
Step 1: Gather Your Supplies
The first step in sharpie shiplap is to gather the supplies you will need. The things I used were: white interior wall paint, a wooden yard stick, a 4 foot long level with a straight edge (I found mine at Menards), and these Sharpie Paint Pens in Black from Amazon. The paint pens come in a pack of three and I only went through one pen for an entire room. They really go a long way!
Step 2: Paint the Walls White
The next step in sharpie shiplap is to paint the wall or walls that you want shiplapped white. I used a cheap, base paint that took way too many coats that I don’t recommend and won’t use again. I suggest getting a gallon of higher quality interior paint and having it tinted the white you want. We painted the exterior of our home in Sherwin Williams Pure White and I think that a bright, crisp white like that would be perfect for shiplap. The finish is up to you, but satin is what I tend to use most. Let the paint dry thoroughly before moving on to the next step.
Step 3: Measure Out the Lines
Starting at the top of the wall along a corner or edge, measure using a yard stick and make marks where you want your shiplap lines to be. I measured 6” down each time, to make my shiplap look like it had the width of 6”. You could do wider widths if you’d like but I wouldn’t recommend any smaller. The 6” marks also equal out nicely if you have 8” ceilings. You’ll want to start at the top so that any smaller widths would be at the bottom of the wall and less noticeable.
Step 4: Draw the Lines
Using a straight-edge level, begin drawing your lines with your Sharpie paint pen. Make sure that each line you draw is straight and level. I think it is easier to get the start of each line first along a corner or edge and then continuing each line. You will make mistakes and on occasion the level may slip. Don’t worry, you can always just paint right over the mistake! If you are doing multiple walls that connect at a corner, just continue drawing the lines around the room connecting the lines. Be careful to draw straight and level lines if you’re doing an entire room as you don’t want the last wall to not line up at the corners. Work your way across the wall until all lines are drawn.
That’s it! Its such a simple project that gets easier the more you do it and is so affordable! I’ve “shiplapped” in three different rooms in my house for the cost of paint and the pack of paint pens!
Here are a few shots of sharpie shiplap in our home!
Thank you for reading! I hope this helps somewhat if you want to add sharpie shiplap to your own home. Don’t hesitate to reach out if you have questions and be sure to follow me @faith.and.farmhouse on Instagram for more home decor inspiration! God bless!
Krista
Faith and Farmhouse 