Shiplap Entryway Makeover

Designing is a big part of my life, it is just something I love doing! My parents asked for my help in updating their entryway to make it a more functional space. I came up with an idea for their entryway that would give them a modern farmhouse look while still staying in budget. Follow my journey as I complete this fun Shiplap Entryway Makeover.

The above is the before picture of the entryway space. The space was fine but it lacked character and functionality. While this isn’t their main entryway, it is the area all the grandkids enter when coming into the house. Prior to starting the makeover we found the perfect bench for this small space at Homegoods. Since the space is narrow we did not want a big bulky bench!

After we cleared the entryway of all the decor we got started on the shiplap entryway makeover!

Materials

• Primed Shiplap from Lowes (12 foot and 8 foot boards)
• 1 1/2 inch brad nails
• Nail Gun
• Table Saw
• Miter Saw
• Wood Filler
• Paint
• Caulk
• Outlet Extenders
• Decor
• jigsaw

Getting Started with the Shiplap Entryway Makeover

Personally, I prefer to use the primed Shiplap boards from Lowes. I know there are several hacks for putting in shiplap cheaply. I have tried some of these techniques but the old saying goes, you get what you pay for. Don’t try and save money by ripping plywood or using a thinner piece of wood because these products never look as good in person.

Obviously, we measured the space and obtained the correct amount of Shiplap to cover the three walls. On the two long walls we attached 12 foot shiplap pieces onto the wall with the brad nails and nail gun. After the 12 foot shiplap boards were hung, we measured and cut down 8 foot shiplap boards into the correct lengths for the remaining space using our miter saw. We then attached the remaining boards to the wall using our brad nails and nail gun.

To cut around the outlets, we simply marked the location that needed to be cut on the shiplap board and used a jigsaw to cut out the small square section.

When we got to the bottom of the wall, we had to cut our shiplap down to fit the remaining space left on the wall, for this we used our table saw.

We wanted the shiplap to appear to be seamless so we added wood filler to the gaps between the boards and also the nail holes.

We decided to cut around all of the existing moulding as opposed to removing it and reattaching it. Leaving the moulding made the project more challenging but we made it work!

Finishing Touches on the Shiplap Wall

After all of the boards were in place and the wood filler had dried, I sanded each wall to ensure they were smooth!

Then, I caulked all three walls. While caulking is messy, it is an essential step in making the project look and feel professional.

We gave all three walls a fresh coat of white paint. I used Gliddens Minimalistic White Flat Paint from Home Depot.

Once the shiplap was in place, we needed to bring every outlet and light switch in line with the wood. We simply bought plastic outlet extenders from Home Depot and applied them to each outlet. This is a super simple step that cannot be skipped. The outlet needs an extender to avoid a fire safety hazard.

Lighting

The hallway had three can lights recessed into the ceiling. We decided to change those lights out for basket lights. Check out my last blog post, DIY Basket Lights on a Budget for a step by step guide on how to make the amazing lights we used!

Turning a recessed can light into a pendant light is super simple. We bought a can light conversion kit from Home Depot to complete the project.

Decorating the Space

We completed the space with a larger washable rug from Ruggable. The rug is perfect for the space! We reused the “HOME” lettering that was on the wall before the renovation but we moved it above the new bench.

I am so happy with how this project turned out!