28 Rustic & Timeless Shiplap Bathroom Ideas

You’re seeing shiplap bathrooms everywhere these days, and for good reason.

While its design of overlapping timber boards (with rabbet joints) was first used to make ships watertight and later in homes and barns, shiplap has become a go-to for achieving coastal and farmhouse charm.

It’s an excellent choice for bathrooms, adding quiet character and visual interest.

The beauty of shiplap is its adaptability; it looks wonderful in any bathroom, whether a large family space or a tiny powder room, and provides a flexible backdrop for various decor schemes.

Create a striking look by pairing shiplap with geometric tiles

A bathroom with shiplap walls and wall tiles

If you love shiplap, but you don’t want to fully commit to it across the entire room, there are ways to use it, sparingly yet effectively. Plus, who says shiplap has to fill the entire room?

Try it along one half of the bathroom and create a lovely feature out of the shower area with geometric bathroom tiles. The contrast will stand out and make the room feel like a lovely, jewel box.

Plus, if you’re painting your wall panels white, consider tiles in a striking color such as black or blue for a further eye-catching feel.

Color drench the walls and vanity to give the room depth

A bathroom that's color drenched in deep tones

Consider a bold bathroom paint, and color drench the room, giving it depth, and a big boost of personality. A deep tone of blue, black, and charcoal grey can do the trick.

The same color painted across different surfaces will create a feeling of semblance while still retaining the textural quality of the room.

One thing to keep in mind with deep-toned bathrooms is that the room can become too dark and seem closed in.

It’s essential to open up the windows so that the room is always airy, breezy, and bright. Plus, layer in extra lighting fixtures to maintain a well-illuminated look indoors.

Add a luxe touch to a shiplap bathroom with opulent fixtures

A white bathroom creates a feeling of airiness, space, and boosted dimensions. These lay grounds for other palettes to shine through, creating a clean, calm look that every homeowner dreams of.

If you want to elevate the look of white walls, consider brass-finished accessories that will add a little sparkle to the overall aesthetic.

If you are considering unlacquered brass bathroom sinks, taps, and showerheads realize that the look of the fixtures will change over time, with patina.

If you are drawn to the warmth of brass, you’ll love it. If you need a perfectly polished look all the time, unlacquered brass will drive you mad.

Embrace modern rustic style

White bathroom with shiplap paneling and a wooden vanity unit

In this bathroom interior designer Amanda Barnes has paired white shiplap walls with a modern timber bathroom vanity topped with marble to create a chic yet rustic look perfect for a ranch-style property.

‘We put shiplap in this space to add interest and incorporate a design element from the rest of the home,’ says Amanda.

‘The bedroom that goes with this bathroom has similar paneling on the ceiling. The shiplap is represented in many rooms in this house.

While this bathroom feels fresh and modern, it pairs beautifully with the recently renovated ranch-style home that maintains many features it was originally built with. The paint color is Benjamin Moore’s Vanilla Milkshake.’

Add drama with black shiplap walls

Bathroom with black shiplap paneling and wooden vanity

For a head-turning look, why not give a traditional coastal bathroom a striking twist by painting shiplap in a dramatic, dark paint color?

For those looking to embrace a monochrome or black bathroom scheme, shiplap is a great way to add subtle depth and interest to prevent the space from feeling cold and stark.

‘Shiplap is an easy and effective way to add interest with texture. It is a timeless design element that can complement a range of aesthetics from farmhouse to modern depending on its treatment,’ explains Ellie Mroz, interior designer and founder of Ellie Mroz Design.

Elongate a room with vertical shiplap paneling

Bathroom with white shiplap paneling and dark grey vanity with circular bathroom mirror and wall lighting

Installed vertically, shiplap paneling can serve as a clever visual trick to make small bathrooms feel taller and larger than they appear.

It can also be a handy way to conceal pipes, plumbing and unsightly fixtures.

‘This bathroom was in a basement and the ceilings were a bit low so I decided to do vertical shiplap to make the ceilings feel a bit taller,’ explains Emily Ruff, founder and principal designer at Seattle-based design studio Cohesively Curated.

‘There is also a wall panel that goes into the water heater closet that can only be accessed from this bathroom so we wanted to hide that removable wall panel between the shiplap.’

Bring warmth with shiplap in rich earthy tones

Bathroom with brown shiplap paneling and a wooden vanity

With their multitude of stark white ceramics and hard surfaces, bathrooms can have a tendency to feel cold, but this needn’t be the case – they can be as inviting as other rooms in the home, as demonstrated in this beautiful luxury bathroom by Cortney Bishop Design.

Here Cortney’s use of shiplap paneling in a rich warm brown color is a striking design choice which helps bring the walls in to create a cocooning environment. The addition of natural wood and stone through the marble-topped vanity and the patterned floor helps bring further warmth and texture.

‘We went for drama in this bathroom, using dark shiplap boards not only on the walls but also extending them to the ceiling, draws the eye upward and prevents the space from feeling too confined by the bold color choice,’ explains Cortney Bishop.

Sage Green Shiplap

Pin Kate Marker Interiors

Paint shiplap in a soft shade of sage green to add warmth and a touch of color to an otherwise neutral powder room.

This space from Kate Marker Interiors is finished with a marble-and-wood farmhouse sink vanity and gold accents.

Black Shiplap Bathroom

Pin Jessica Nelson Design / Carina Skrobecki Photography

Add a moody and relaxing feel to your bathroom with black shiplap walls.

Jessica Nelson Design contrasted black vertical shiplap wall panels with crisp white window trim and ceiling paint.

The black-and-white space is finished with mixed metal finishes on the wall sconces and plumbing fixtures and accessories to add variation.

Shiplap Bathtub Niche

Pin Ashley Montgomery Design

Use shiplap to add definition to a bathroom nook or niche.

This built-in bathtub niche from Ashley Montgomery Design is covered in shiplap, from the walls to the built-in shelving, bathtub front, and slightly arched ceiling.

Soft beige paint and half curtains add softness for a relaxing oasis feel.

Colorful Shiplap Bathroom

Pin Design by Chango & Co. / Photo by Chris Coe

Pair white shiplap with colorful shower tile for a modern look.

This kids’ bathroom from Chango & Co. is finished with horizontal shiplap boards and vertical rainbow-striped tiles that add color and personality to the small space.

Shiplap and Marble Bathroom

Pin Sissy + Marley Interior Design / Photo by Marco Ricca Studio

Pair white shiplap with white marble to add texture to a modern bathroom.

Sissy + Marley Interior Design clad the walls and ceiling of this spacious bathroom lit by skylights with white shiplap.

A large glass-walled shower with marble shower walls and a matching floor and black textiles add a sharp modern edge.

Shiplap Half Wall

Pin Becca Interiors

A shiplap half-wall wraps three walls of this long galley-style bathroom from Becca Interiors.

The shiplap and wall above are painted in the same warm beige tone to make the space feel larger and create a cohesive, low-contrast feel.

Earthy olive green paint on the bathtub base, a natural wood vanity, and gray flooring add warmth.

Modern Shiplap Bathroom

Pin Desiree Burns Interiors

Pair vertical white shiplap walls with simple modern decor and finishes for a breezy feel.

This shiplap bathroom from Desiree Burns Interiors is decorated with light wood, woven, and gold-tone metallic accents for an effortless feel.

Luxury Shiplap Bathroom

Pin Design by Chango & Co. / Photo by Sarah Elliott

All-over shiplap walls give this bright and spacious luxury primary bathroom from Chango & Co. a slightly softer and more inviting feel that allows elements like a walk-in glass shower, a large soaking tub, and a spacious vanity to shine.

A whimsical bubble pendant light hangs from the tall ceiling over the bathtub to create a focal point.

Beige Painted Shiplap

Pin Becca Interiors

Paint shiplap in a warm beige and use the same color on the ceiling to create an enveloping feel.

Becca Interiors finished this relaxing bathroom with contrasting window trim, a bateau-style garden tub, and vintage lighting.

Modern Shiplap Accent Wall

Pin Michelle Berwick Design

Accent the far wall of a bathroom to add some dimension while retaining a neutral look.

This space from Michelle Berwick Design has white walls, modern artwork, and black accents including a cheeky mosaic penny tile greeting on the floor for a warm, modern feel.

The vertical shiplap draws the eye upward, making the small space feel taller.

Shiplap and Geometric Tile

Pin Design by Chango & Co. / Photo by Chris Coe

Modernize white shiplap walls with a multicolored geometric tile floor, like this vibrant space from Chango & Co.

The bathroom is finished with accents taken from the color palette of the tile, from the blue-and-orange wall art to the blue sink and waste basket.

Rustic Shiplap Ceiling

Pin Design by Leanne Ford Interiors / Photo by Tessa Neustadt

You don’t have to go overboard to make an impact using shiplap in a small space.

In this cozy bathroom in a 1906 cabin renovated by Leanne Ford Interiors, a shiplap ceiling is paired with textured walls and flagstone floors for a rustic look.

A vintage sink and bathtub add charm and authenticity to the compact, light-flooded space.

With Floating Shelves

Pin Rebecca Rollins Interiors

Mix horizontal white shiplap boards with chunky natural wood shelving to add warm contrast in a small bathroom like this space from Rebecca Rollins Interiors.

The shelves are layered with woven textures, candles, and simple artwork for a decorated feel.

Simple Shiplap Bathroom

Pin Mindy Gayer Design Co. / Photo by Lane Dittoe

Maintain a simple feel in an all-white bathroom with shiplap walls to add warmth.

The vertical shiplap in this bright bathroom from Mindy Gayer Design Co. emphasizes the tall ceilings, while a gold-toned pendant light above the bathtub adds a touch of glam.

Shiplap Powder Room

Pin My 100 Year Old Home

Horizontal stripes make a narrow room feel wider.

My 100 Year Old Home applied the same principle in this small powder room by cladding the walls in wrap-around white shiplap that creates a sense of movement and makes the tight space feel more spacious.

Navy Shiplap Bathroom

Pin Jessica Nelson Design / Carina Skrobecki Photography

Navy shiplap walls that complement the cabinetry and add contrast with white shower tile walls create a fresh feel in a modern bathroom, like this space from Jessica Nelson Design.

Shiplap and Wallpaper

Pin Kate Marker Interiors

Pair a traditional horizontal shiplap backsplash with patterned wallpaper to create interest in a black-and-white bathroom like this space from Kate Marker Interiors.

Modern Lines & Shiplap Calm

This bathroom by @ariellahorowitzdesigngroup nails that perfect balance between clean and bold.

The horizontal shiplap walls keep things light and serene, but then the floor steps in with that graphic black-and-white moment and suddenly—it’s giving designer edge.

I love how the blonde wood vanity softens the whole look, and that floating round mirror with the brass sconces? It’s quietly dramatic, in the most elegant way. If I had this setup, I’d be finding excuses to freshen up every five minutes.

Charcoal Shiplap & Candlelight Calm

When I picture my ideal slow morning, it’s in a space like this. @farmsteadonfirst gave this bathroom so much mood with the deep shiplap and that beautiful mix of matte black and creamy white.

It’s bold without trying too hard—just enough edge to feel elevated, but still cozy enough for a quiet coffee and candlelight.

And those patterned floors? They feel like they’ve lived a story or two. I wouldn’t change a thing—except maybe finding an excuse to use this as my “getting ready” room every day.

Brick, Shiplap & A Little Bit of Grit

I wouldn’t call this a bathroom—I’d call it a tiny farmhouse mood board that just happens to have a sink.

The mix of raw brick and crisp white shiplap gives it that gritty-sweet contrast I never get tired of, and the chunky framed mirror pulls the whole look into focus like it’s been there forever.

If I had this setup from @farmhouseismystyle, I’d be brushing my teeth slower, wiping down the counter like I was in a movie montage, and finding reasons to light a candle just because. It’s got charm with backbone—and I’m fully into it.