Wide wooden panels span the top portion of the back wall in this bathroom, allowing for breathing room while highlighting the lofty angled ceiling. The wooden texture offers rustic respite from the more sleek, glossy tiling of the floors and shower. While angled ceilings can complicate interior design, they create the perfect cozy nook for a soaking tub and walk-in shower.
20 Shiplap Tub Surround Ideas to Elevate Your Bathroom
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Published: May 12, 2024
Updated: March 28, 2024
Taking a bath is one of life’s simple pleasures. Your bathroom routine can become an indulgent self-care ritual with your favorite bath salts, a good book, and a flickering candle. When it comes to the design of said bath, though, it’s easy to just think of plain white walls — if you even think about it at all.
Shiplap, however, makes for a beautiful addition to the bath. The style refers to wooden boards that overlap slightly to create a tight seal. It creates a distinctive appearance by infusing spaces with texture and depth, which makes a bath feel all the more cozy. There’s plenty of room to play around with color, shape, and pattern, whether you opt for wide panels, vertical strips, or a unique motif. You can pair it with neutral walls or bright and bold wallpaper for added flair. Not sure where to start? Check out these shiplap tub surround ideas for inspiration.
02 of Juxtaposing Shiplap Patterns
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Shiplap doesn’t always have to be in one direction. For example, the boards in this bathroom are set vertically on the walls, while the angled ceiling features a horizontal design. This prevents the pattern from feeling overly stuffy or sterile. To juxtapose the warm woodsiness of the shiplap, big, airy windows stream in plenty of light.
03 of Romantic Shiplap Tub Surround Idea
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Classic white shiplap offers an elegant ambiance for this cozy bath. The horizontal boards reveal a gap between each piece, offering clean lines and depth to the rustic design. Wispy sheer curtains and an abundance of pretty florals balance out the rustic look, making the scene feel all the more romantic.
04 of Minimalist Shiplap
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Prefer to keep things simple? Traditional shiplap panels with wider boards span the walls of this bathroom. The lines are kept thin and clean to match the more contemporary, minimalist tub. A contrasting black-framed windows also goes a long way in helping modernize the space.
05 of Molded Shiplap Inspiration
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Horizontal panels draw the eye upward in this bath, making the tub feel engulfed and cozy. The top of the shiplap is outfitted with molding for a more refined finish. There are even hooks to hang towels, scrubbers, or other bath accessories – so everything you need is within hands’ reach.
06 of Olive Wainscoting Tub Surround
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Olive-hued vertical paneling surrounds this tub to create an earthy oasis. The wainscoting goes about halfway up the wall so the tub feels fully enclosed. Plus, textured molding at the top provides depth. The room’s traditional design is enhanced with the addition of a vintage still-life painting and classic accessories.
07 of Nautical-Themed Bath
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Have a penchant for nautical? Take notes from this bath. Thin vertical shiplap spans the walls, coated in a gentle teal hue to bring in seaside vibes. Hooks hang on every other panel of the back wall for easy access to towels, while nautical paintings and a flickering candle complete the theme.
08 of Rustic-Meets-Modern Shiplap Soaking Tub
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The floors of this bathroom are covered partly in wide hardwood panels and partly in marble octagonal tiles. To meet in the middle, white shiplap spans the back wall – also set in wide panels and coated in a milky hue. It’s the perfect match for this rustic-meets-modern space.
09 of Classic Shiplap Tub Surround
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Keeping things classic, this stand-alone tub is enclosed by white wainscoting, providing depth to the otherwise simple space. Warm tones come in through the artwork, drapes, and furnishings – playing off the warmth of the wood. A hint of glamor is introduced with the chrome faucet.
10 of Elegant Wainscoting Idea
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Vertical ivory-hued panels span the back wall of this bathroom. The space is kept in a black-and-white theme to maintain elegance and simplicity. Stripes on the towels also help bring out the clean lines of the wainscoting.
11 of White-Coated Bathroom
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Creamy white shiplap surrounds this bathtub – and the entire bathroom – adding an earthy texture to soften the harder marble and tile surfaces. Woodsy hues in the stool and bathtub tray play off the material. Selecting a patterned tile is an excellent way to incorporate more movement into your overall design.
12 of Rustic Wainscoting Bathroom Design
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Rustic elements are already replete in this bathroom – from the wooden tray to the weathered tiling and woven basket. So, shiplap fits right in, adding earthy texture and clean lines. The wainscoting is kept white, though, to balance out the warm tones.
13 of Modern Lilac and Green Shiplap Tub Surround
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Shiplap doesn’t always have to lean rustic or classic. This bathroom, for instance, gives it a whole new feel with lilac wainscoting and botanical wallpaper. The tropical vibe extends to the verdant tub and lively monstera plant, which pop beautifully against the lilac hue.
14 of Picturesque Paneling
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Creamy shiplap extends just below the ceiling of this picturesque bathroom, interrupted only by airy windows with views of the ocean outside. Again, shiplap is the perfect complement to oceanic or nautical-themed spaces, as it is reminiscent of ships – hence the name.
15 of Diverse Paneling
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A deep gray hue encompasses the paneling in this bathroom. Wider panels frame the tub, while thinner board and batten span the rest of the walls, which allows for visual interest and makes the space feel more expansive. Hooks at the top of the wide panels make it easy to grab bathtime essentials, while a built-in shelf is an ideal location for displaying artwork and decorative necessities.
16 of Contrasted Wainscoting
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Classic white paneling provides a bright contrast to the darker brown walls of this bathroom. The hue matches the interior tub, with the material extending just above the window for a full surround feel. Adding a few moisture-loving plants is a simple way to give a space more life.
17 of Thick Wood Panels
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Wide horizontal panels create a cozy nook for this bathtub. The panels are thick enough to allow for a shelf on top, where artwork and plants decorate the surface. It provides a pretty view when you’re ready for a soak.
18 of Cohesive Shiplap Tub Surround
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White shiplap offers the ideal solution for a seamless transition from the floors to the walls. The marble floors and the wooden panels offer dual textures for the space. Plus, clean-lined sheer drapes match the staight lines of the shiplap for cohesion.
19 of Regal Wainscoting
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A clawfoot tub finds its regal match with a thin vertical board and batten wainscoting surrounding it. The wallpaper above, combined with a scarlet fringe lamp, ornate rug, and velvet armchair, completes the illustrious ambiance. This timeless elegance will never go out of style.
20 of Relaxing Bathtime Shiplap
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Gray paneling creates a spa-like feel in this soothing bathroom. Pillar candles and ceramic vases further ground the senses with the wooden texture. For a touch of luxury, a crystal chandelier shines above.
