16 Stunning Shiplap Ceiling Design Ideas

Are you looking for some shiplap ceiling design inspiration? You’ve come to the right place. There’s no shortage of awe-inspiring shiplap ceiling design ideas.

Here are 16 of our favorites: 

1. Complete a Farmhouse Kitchen

Is there anything dreamier than a farmhouse-style kitchen? We don’t think so, especially when you use a shiplap ceiling to bring the whole look together. The white of a shiplap ceiling is sure to play well with the natural light and wood that’s abundant in many farmhouse-themed kitchens. 

2. Create Dramatic Consistency With a Wall Continuation

A surefire way to make a dramatic statement is to make your walls and ceiling match! Rather than just doing a shiplap ceiling and calling it a day, consider bringing the same shiplap down onto the wall a bit. Doing so will not only ensure that you have an incredibly unique look on your hands, but it makes for a bold show-stopping effect. 

3. Add Small Beams to Break up the White

White rooms get a bad rap. People often think of white rooms as sterile or off-putting. However, white rooms can also be the perfect canvas for various design trends (looking at you, Scandinavia!). One of the best ways to go white without the harsh vibes is to use shiplap. Cover a white room floor to ceiling in shiplap and watch a stark-white space suddenly transform into a cozy room. 

4. Choose a Wood-Grain Style to Complement Shiplap Walls

Is there such a thing as too much shiplap? We don’t think so! However, you need to be thoughtful about your design. If you have shiplap on your walls, consider doing your ceiling in a natural wood grain style. It complements the shiplap that’s on the walls while bringing added warmth to the space. 

5. Add a Splash of Nature with Minimal Wooden Beams

This is one of our favorite shiplap ceiling ideas. It merges two trending ideas into one marvelous ceiling. This one works best with white or cream-colored shiplap. However, it could work with other colors, too. Just steer clear of any wood-grained shiplap for this idea.

6. Choose Reclaimed Wood for a Unique Ceiling

If you’re excited about sustainability and recycled materials, then you might love a reclaimed wood ceiling. It’s one of those ceiling shiplap ideas that just makes sense. Reclaimed wood has an inherent rustic and natural aesthetic that can’t be ignored. It’s a ceiling that ensures your guests will be looking up and complimenting you for your design skills. 

7. Add Ceiling Trim to Frame your Shiplap

Any skilled interior designer will tell you that texture and dimension are essential elements of interesting design. A framed shiplap ceiling has both. It adds an extra level of dimensionality and a layer of visual intrigue to heighten the sophistication of any room. 

8. Use Varying Colors of Shiplap 

To add some extra oomph to your ceiling, consider using two different colors of shiplap. Shiplap ceilings that vary in color are naturally more interesting than one-dimensional tones. You can achieve this look with wood or with gradient-colored shiplap panels. 

9. Upgrade a Vaulted Ceiling with White Shiplap

Here’s an interior design secret. White ceilings can make a room appear taller by making your walls feel higher. It’s an optical illusion of sorts that interior designers have used for decades. If you use white shiplap on vaulted ceilings (which are already taller than standard ceilings), your house will feel a mile tall. White shiplap on vaulted ceilings is a fantastic trick for making large spaces feel even more open! 

10. Blend Walls into a Ceiling

Wall to ceiling shiplap in the same pattern can help define a space and guide people’s eyes towards the room’s furnishings. By making the wall and ceiling blend into each other, the eye doesn’t feel like it has to focus on the wall or the ceiling. Instead, it focuses on whatever you put in the room at the focal point. 

11. Go All-Out with Multiple Shiplap Styles

No rule says you can’t use shiplap on every available surface, right? If you’re like HGTV design guru Joanna Gaines, you know that shiplap has a place in every home. Don’t be afraid to mix-and-match complementary shiplap designs for the ceilings, walls, and floors. 

12. Create an Attic Office with Vaulted Shiplap Ceilings

Who says working from home has to be a drag? With shiplap ceiling ideas like these, it doesn’t have to be. By using shiplap on a curved, low-hanging ceiling, the space immediately feels relaxed and inviting instead of crowded and cramped.  

13. Use Narrow Shiplap for a Unique, Rustic Feel

Most people are used to thick paneled shiplap, but it’s not the only thing available. Narrow-paneled shiplap is the perfect marriage between modern and rustic. When used on the ceiling, it’s a terrific match for many popular design aesthetics. 

14. Install Diagonal Shiplap Blocks for a Unique Look

If you’re more of a trendsetter, then why not give diagonal shiplap blocks a try? Diagonal shiplap ceiling designs take the convention of shiplap and turn it on its side – literally. It’s a terrific way to add visual excitement to any room, but it works best in living rooms, bedrooms, or sunrooms. If you’re looking for shiplap ceiling designs that are outside the norm, this is the one.  

15. Add Depth with Thick Wooden Beams

This shiplap ceiling idea combines elements of design idea number 5 and number 7 above. It brings in the natural elements and adds extra texture and dimension, ultimately creating an incredibly visually stunning ceiling. These beams are an excellent method to add depth and make a room feel cozier, so you won’t want to do this in spaces with low ceilings!

16. Choose a Dark Color and Contrast Your Space

Contrast is always in style. It’s a bold and fearless approach to home design. We love the concept of using a black shiplap ceiling over white walls. It’s breaking so many interior design rules, and yet, it looks incredible. This example shows that using bold, contrasting shiplap for your ceiling can look amazing with the right design touches.

Shiplap Ceilings for the Win!

After looking at these 16 stunning shiplap ceiling designs, it’s evident that shiplap ceilings can be a beautiful addition to any home.

Be sure to follow us on Instagram to see more modern designs like these.