Accent Walls Made Easy: How to Use Shiplap, Slats & Reclaimed Wood Like a Pro

28 Nov Accent Walls Made Easy: How to Use Shiplap, Slats & Reclaimed Wood Like a Pro

Posted at 10:00h in Design by Seiffert Building Supplies

Accent walls provide homeowners with an opportunity to create a focal point, add depth and visual interest, define a space, and express their aesthetic. Accent walls are also a very budget-friendly way to update your home without a major design renovation. And there are so many ways to turn a plain wall into something that stands out and adds charm to any room.

Some of the more popular materials Quad Cities homeowners use when designing their accent walls are shiplap, slats, and reclaimed wood. These materials are extremely versatile when it comes to promoting an aesthetic. You can create a feature wall using shiplap, slats, or reclaimed wood, whether your design vibe is coastal and relaxed, farmhouse and rustic, modern, or even traditional.

And the beauty of accent walls is that they don’t cost a lot to add to your Quad Cities home in time or money. In fact, using shiplap, slats, and reclaimed wood on your nature wall is very affordable and, if you feel qualified to do so, an easy DIY project that can be done in a weekend. Here we offer our primer on accent walls made easy.

How to Use Shiplap, Slats, and Reclaimed Wood Like a Pro

The versatility of shiplap, slats, and reclaimed wood comes as no big surprise. After all, the home improvement magazines and television shows have celebrated using these materials for accent walls for years. These wood materials are readily available, and with a little prep-work, they can transform your feature wall in a matter of a few days of sweat equity. Of course, different woods promote different aesthetics and styles. Here we break down how to use shiplap, slats, and reclaimed wood to make a statement in your home.

Shiplap

While shiplap doesn’t always mean rustic, it is a popular choice for accent walls in modern farmhouse and homes with a coastal vibe. Use shiplap for accent walls in bathrooms, laundry rooms, and kitchens since it stands up very well to moisture. Shiplap on a fireplace wall, behind a bed, dining nook, or behind your media area enhances your focal point.

Like all of these materials, shiplap adds warmth and texture to a room, whether painted or left natural. Placement denotes the vibe you seek to enhance. You can use a wider mounting method for a rustic look, or the now-trending nickel spacing, which leaves a very thin area between the boards. The nickel spacing creates. More finished appearance to account walls.

Using shiplap for accent walls does carry some caveats:

In busy rooms, shiplap can draw the room in, making it feel smaller, crowded, or overwhelmed by “stuff.”
Shiplap, or any material used to create accent walls, can make dark areas appear dimmer. Your feature wall is meant to be seen, so show it off!
By virtue of its worn appearance, shiplap has deep grooves. These grooves collect dust and grime, so be mindful of placement and maintenance. Shiplap near your stove or where you cook may not be a great choice.

Slats

You can design your slat accent walls using a selection of slat materials. Opt for plywood, pre-made slat paneling, or even manufactured materials such as composite. You can install your slats horizontally or vertically, and it enhances both rustic and modern aesthetics.

With the wide selection of materials, slat accent walls lend themselves to bathrooms and kitchens, where they will be impervious to moisture, and mudrooms, family rooms, basements, and kids’ areas, as the composite slats are highly durable.

Because of the versatility of materials that qualify as slats, you can use them on any wall in your home. Individual slats, like shiplap, can be installed with larger gaps or close together, depending on your vibe. Slats can be painted or finished.

There are very few drawbacks to slat accent walls. Watch your gaps as dust and grime may collect between. Also, some natural wood slats may not be insect-proof, so make sure you talk to the pros at Seiffert Building Supplies first.

Reclaimed Wood

If you’re going for a very unique aesthetic, reclaimed wood is a great choice. This product offers character, durability, and promotes sustainability. However, reclaimed wood requires careful preparation and “vetting”. This ensures you’re not bringing anything into your home that you don’t want, like lead paint or insects. Before installation, make sure the reclaimed wood is sealed and protected to minimize maintenance. Also, verify that none of the boards are warped.

The character and charm of reclaimed wood are unique. The patina, nail marks, knots, and weathering tell a special story. Using reclaimed wood is environmentally friendly and enhances any room when used to create accent walls. However, there are a few challenges.

Installing reclaimed wood to make an accent wall can be challenging. If this is outside of your skill set, you should probably consider using a professional.
As mentioned, thoroughly vet your reclaimed wood. Wood from old barns or homes may contain lead paint or other harmful substances. Your reclaimed wood may harbor insects as well.
Some pieces may require milling to create a consistency in thickness, size, or tongue and groove for smoother installation.