We’ve had a whirlwind of activity around the house lately. This summer brought a string of projects and I’m loving how the place is coming together. With every update it starts to feel more like our home, but the new planked wall in the dining room made that shift undeniable.
I’ve always loved the character that shiplap and painted paneling bring. From childhood homes to places I’ve owned as an adult, that layered, textured look has always felt familiar and comforting. After having planked walls in a previous house, I missed that warmth—and wanted it back here.
We decided to start small and add planking to a single dining room wall. With a contractor already here to paint, it made sense to cover an area that needed attention—like the patched doorbell section—with shiplap planks instead of a tedious repair. The result is a charming focal wall that hides imperfections and adds instant personality.
Remember what this area looked like before we moved in, above?
The shiplap transformed the room and the overall feel of the house. Painted white, the wall provides a fresh, clean backdrop for warm textures and colorful accessories. With large windows that let in natural light, the white planks feel crisp and airy. The new wall balances nicely with other painted rooms in the house, including a plum-toned bedroom and two additional non-white spaces I’ll share later.
We used a slightly different approach this time to match the character of our older house. In our previous home, which was newer, we installed thick tongue-and-groove planks for a pronounced texture. For this older home, we wanted a more lived-in, slightly imperfect look—something that would read like an original planked wall. It’s subtle, but it blends naturally with the rest of the house.
For this installation we used shorter and some randomly varied lengths of planks without grooves, staggered across the wall to suggest age. We intentionally allowed paint to seep into the joins in places to enhance the “painted over time” effect. The planks themselves were actually baseboard trim molding from Home Depot, an affordable option that worked beautifully. Our contractor installed them with a nail gun and adhesive for a secure finish.
The result is a dining room that finally feels complete in texture and warmth. The shiplap introduced an architectural detail that immediately elevated the space. Next up is a statement dining light; once that’s installed the room will feel even more finished. I also plan to create an archway to the kitchen eventually, but the planked wall was a wonderful first step toward more character and architectural interest.
I’ll share more dining room updates as we add the light fixture, install window shades, and make a few additional tweaks over the next couple of months. We’ve already added new chairs and shades, so there’s plenty more to show in a future post. It’s been a busy season of improvements, and I’m excited to reveal each step as it comes together.
UPDATE: See my follow-up post about shiplap walls for details on materials and common questions.
Room Sources >>
Lamps
Bamboo shades
Mirror
Glass cabinet
Stool – HomeGoods
Rattan shelf – thrifted
Brass horses – thrifted
Teal pot – Ross