Joanna Gaines’ Most Influential Design Element

Shiplap - horizontal wooden planks with characteristic small gaps between boards - became the defining architectural element of 2010s American interior design, transforming from an obscure building material into a design obsession that drove renovation projects nationwide. The trend’s rise directly correlates with Fixer Upper and Joanna Gaines’ signature white-painted shiplap accent walls.

What Is Shiplap?

Historically, shiplap describes wooden boards joined with a rabbet joint that creates a tight, weather-resistant seal - often used as exterior siding on barns and sheds or interior walls in utilitarian spaces. Traditional shiplap has minimal gaps between boards. The “shiplap” popularized in the 2010s often featured more pronounced gaps (typically 1/8 to 1/4 inch) between boards, creating visual texture and shadow lines. Many installations used pine tongue-and-groove boards or plywood with grooves cut at regular intervals rather than authentic shiplap construction.

The Fixer Upper Effect

Joanna Gaines deployed shiplap in almost every Fixer Upper renovation, typically painting it white or off-white to create textured accent walls. The look’s versatility - working in kitchens, living rooms, bedrooms, and bathrooms - made it appealing across room types. Home improvement stores reported significant increases in shiplap and similar board sales starting in 2015-2016. DIY tutorials flooded Pinterest and YouTube, with homeowners installing shiplap themselves using everything from authentic materials to Home Depot-bought panels.

Criticisms and Oversaturation

By 2018, design professionals declared shiplap overdone. Critics mocked its ubiquity, with Saturday Night Live parodying Fixer Upper’s shiplap obsession. The aesthetic became associated with a specific cultural moment and demographic - white, suburban, Christian-influenced design preferences. Some argued shiplap’s trendy status meant installations would quickly date homes. Others noted that poorly installed shiplap (common in DIY projects) could look cheap or collect dust in the gaps. The “shiplap everything” trend led to bathroom installations where moisture concerns arose.

Legacy and Evolution

Despite backlash, shiplap retained popularity in certain markets, particularly in farmhouse, coastal, and transitional design styles. However, its use became more strategic - an accent wall rather than entire rooms, or incorporated as ceiling treatment rather than walls. The trend demonstrated how a single television show could drive massive shifts in American home renovation priorities and material demand.

Sources:
https://www.nytimes.com/
https://www.architecturaldigest.com/
https://www.apartmenttherapy.com/shiplap-trend-264792