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DIY Shiplap Island Trim
Update kitchen cabinets with DIY shiplap wood trim!
Are you a fan of shiplap? Then you are going to love this DIY tutorial! This DIY Shiplap Island Trim is an easy project you can complete in a weekend. Joanna Gaines would be jealous of this DIY shiplap!
This vertical plank style can give your home a personalized and custom look at a budget-friendly cost. It's stylish, chic, and, very important for sustainability over time, durable. If you are looking for home improvement ideas for your kitchen, or simply want to add a special detail to your kitchen decor, consider this DIY project. Learn how to add trim or paneling to your kitchen island cabinets with this DIY shiplap tutorial.
From the blogger: "Add some personality and detail to your kitchen island cabinets by adding trim or paneling to it. A simple weekend project that will make your home look so much more expensive and custom looking. I always liked the beadboard look, and then debated a board and batten style of trim. I ended up going with a vertical plank, which is now commonly known as shiplap. Not only does it look beautiful, it is durable, holding up to the wear and tear of four wild boys."
Estimated Cost$31+
Time to CompleteWeekend project
Primary TechniqueHome Decor
SeasonSummer
Materials List
- Paint ready plywood
- Paint
- Nail gun
DIY Project Instructions
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Rip plywood board down into 6" planks. This can be done for you at Home Depot or Lowes.
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Paint the cabinet base
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Start hanging trim at the bottom, making sure your first piece is level.This piece may need some adjustments as most floors are not perfectly straight. Nail the board on the edges where there is backing behind the cabinet.
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Use tile spacers or two nickles to space out your next board.
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Start moving up the cabinet until you reach the top.
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Paint planks on the cabinets.
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Add corner trim pieces to finish it off, as needed
Tips for Painting Shiplap
Once you've installed your beautiful island shiplap, you want to make sure that the painting process goes smoothly. Here are some of our favorite tips from around the internet for ensuring that your project looks amazing.
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Paint the wall (or island, in this case) the same color as your shiplap before you start the installation process. This leads to a cleaner look overall.
Even though this is more work, the good news is that you do not have to use the normal care that you would use when painting a wall. Don't worry too much about making the edges perfect around windows or trim, because those areas will not be visible anway once you add your shiplap. -
Using paintable caulk, fill any holes made by nailing your boards to the wall. As with painting the wall beforehand, this will give your finished project a more polished look.
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User primer, or at least be prepared to add a second coat of paint if the first coat is not completely even. Unfinished wood can soak up a lot of paint, and so the finish may come out uneven after just one coat of paint.
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If using faux shiplap (as above), use a toothpick or wooden skewer to clean out the wet paint that will drip down into the cracks of your shiplap. It is important to do this while the paint is still wet!
This way, you'll get the nice clean lines that you are looking for in your DIY shiplap. You won't have any drips of paint ruining them.
These tips are adapted from posts by Farmhouse Blooms and Domestic Imperfection. Be sure to check out more of their smart tips and tutorials!
Want more shiplap? Learn how to give your bedroom a makeover with this DIY Shiplap Walls project. This is a step-by-step tutorial that includes detailed pictures and helpful notes to succeed in paneling any one of your rooms! DIY Shiplap Walls
Read NextSuper Easy Upcycled DIY Canister
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Lynn K
Jan 21, 2017
The house we recently bought had been beautifully renovated by the previous owners, all except the kitchen! The cabinet doors are similar to the ones in the before photos and we have quite an ugly island tiled in what looks like grey brick. Ugh! Ive never heard of Shiplap before but it is going to look so good on our island AND weve decided to take this very clever designers advice and replace the cabinet doors but not the cabinets. So our kitchen reno is going to be a lot less costly than redoing the entire kitchen.YAY!

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