Forget Tile Backsplashes: The Joanna Gaines-Inspired Alternative To Try

Tiles aren't the only way to adorn kitchen backsplashes. Whether your home design style is rustic, modern, or a mix of the two, shiplap is a great way to incorporate natural materials that might already be hiding in your home. But what is it exactly? Shiplap refers to wooden board paneling fixed with grooves that overlap, often seen in barn and shed construction. It's not just for exteriors, though. Host of HGTV's hit show "Fixer Upper," Joanna Gaines is a long-time shiplap fan, using it in a bunch of projects to mirror that rustic charm indoors.

Tile backsplashes are versatile and sleek, but can start to look a bit too predictable. After all, ceramic and subway tiles are the top backsplash choice among homeowners. Joanna uses tiles all the time, but in true design expert fashion, also likes to add visual dimension with a material that'll outlive trend cycles. "When it's a material you can find from the 1800s, that's an authentic material that can stand the test of time, just like subway tile, [shiplap] is something you've seen for years," Gaines told Apartment Therapy. 

"Fixer Upper" hosts Chip and Joanna Gaines used shiplap in some way in about 39% of the first 67 episodes, but never let it get too boring. For instance, they utilized the materials as part of a renovation in Season 3, Episode 4. As Joanna recounted on her Magnolia blog, "I left the exposed shiplap as the backsplash because I loved the way it looked in the kitchen. Since the space felt wide open and light, I thought we could incorporate a classic black paint on the lower cabinets."

If you're considering adding shiplap to your kitchen, remember it has gaps in the wood that allow the wall paint color to peek through. Joanna often paints the wall and shiplap white to make the room more airy, so this is a design choice you could consider if your kitchen doesn't have a lot of natural light. When you're working with a smaller kitchen, Joanna also loves shiplap for visual dimension. "I'm always an advocate for shiplap because ... it adds effortless character, and elongates the space — giving the illusion it's larger," she wrote on her Magnolia blog. 

In addition to the classic farmhouse look, shiplap works in cozy cottagecore spaces, particularly when paired with shabby chic decor. For instance, you could complement a shiplap backsplash with a vintage utensil holder, or install a matching white shelf and decorate it with quaint ornaments. Shiplap can even suit a minimalist, modern kitchen — especially when utilizing it as part of a crisp, all-white design.