DIY Shiplap Kitchen Backsplash in a Budget-Friendly White Kitchen Renovation

See how Sarah turned her outdated golden oak kitchen into a beautiful and affordable Fixer Upper style farmhouse kitchen renovation. This quick and cheap “cheat” for a shiplap kitchen backsplash is a must-see, plus she turned her not-so-functional pantry into a great coffee bar!

Find more kitchen renovation inspiration in these DIY kitchen remodel before and afters, plus 7 Key Features of a Modern Farmhouse Kitchen.

 

DIY Kitchen Renovation & Horizontal Shiplap Backsplash

by Sarah of All Things With Purpose

See more amazing projects from our guests in the Holiday Guest Series

Hey there! I’m Sarah and I blog over at All Things with Purpose. I am so excited to be joining you here today on Remodelaholic to share my amazingly inexpensive kitchen remodel! If you have further questions about this project, or want to come visit me to see any of my other easy and budget friendly DIY’s, I’d love to have you.

A few of my favorite DIY’s include…

• Gidget, my 1956 vintage camper renovation… you HAVE to see the before pictures!
• My budget friendly IKEA/Farmhouse inspired home tour
• My recipe for perfect chalk paint used to paint my free craigslist piano

Now, onto my kitchen renovation!

Before I go on, here is a lovely BEFORE PICTURE, with laminate white countertops and dated orange gold oak cabinets:

And the AFTER… with the gray and white cabinets.

Did I mention that I did this entire kitchen for around $300?!

It’s true.

We have an unusual living situation because my husband is a Pastor and the home we live in belongs to our church. Since we don’t own it, we are more like renters or “caretakers” of the home, and improvements we do must stay very budget friendly. We had been living in this home for almost 10 years, which was 10 years too long, to live with those outdated oak cabinets.

*Yes, you can all laugh in my face when oak makes a comeback. (Or check out how to update oak cabinets without painting.)

This post contains affiliate links. Learn more and read our full disclosure policy here.

 

$300 Budget Kitchen Renovation

Here’s what I did

• Removed the upper cabinets from above the bar area
• Removed the doors on two upper cabinets around the stove to create open shelving
• Cleaned cabinetry with liquid sander
• Primed everything using Stix Primer
• Installed a faux shiplap kitchen backsplash using peel and stick vinyl floor planks (details below)
• Removed the bi-fold doors to the pantry and all the shelves
• Hung the upper kitchen cabinet (that was above the bar) in the old pantry
• Bought a used lower kitchen cabinet at the Habitat for Humanity ReStore for in the pantry
• Used 2×6 boards to create a faux butchers block counter in the pantry turned coffee bar
• Painted the upper kitchen cabinets with Benjamin Moore Advanced paint in Dove White
• Painted the lower kitchen cabinets with Benjamin Moore Advanced paint in Kendall Charcoal
• Painted the walls with Glidden paint in Smooth Stone
• Painted faux marble countertops using Stix primer, Glidden flat white paint and charcoal craft paint and a Giani brand Top Coat. (Learn how to paint marble countertops here.)
• Installed recessed lighting in bulkheads
• New switch plate covers
• Installed a new trash can inside a cabinet
• Clean and organized, decluttered and downsized!

Price Breakdown of Major Improvements

• Stix Primer – $50
• Benjamin Moore Advanced Paint for Cabinets – $100
• Top Coat for Countertops – $25
• Glidden Wall Paint – $25
• Peel ‘n Stick Vinyl Flooring, Centurity brand from Menards (for backsplash) – $20
• Used Lower Cabinet – $20
• Recessed Lighting – $60
• 2 4X6 Wood Planks – $8

Pantry Converted to a Coffee Bar

I’m so excited about this coffee bar area! The base cabinet was $20 from the Habitat for Humanity ReStore, the upper was repurposed from the cabinet that used to hang over the bar.

I used 4×6 planks to create a faux butcher’s block counter. THIS IS NOT DONE! It’s one major thing I have yet to finish. It still needs to be sealed and polyurethaned. But it was close enough to take a few pictures.

Here is a BEFORE…

One issue that had to be tackled after demolishing the pantry and turning it into a coffee bar, was where to store the trash can! I am so excited about this kit I found which turned an annoying corner cabinet into a useful and custom feeling, slide out trash storage.

Faux Shiplap Kitchen Backsplash Using Peel and Stick Vinyl Flooring

One of my favorite parts about our kitchen renovation was creating the look of horizontal shiplap, using peel and stick vinyl floor planks. (You could run the shiplap vertical if you preferred.)

This process was inexpensive (under $1 per square foot, just $20 total) and cut down on the labor and mess of installing wood tongue and groove shiplap. It’s hard to beat for simplicity and an inexpensive backsplash!

Want a rustic real wood backsplash? See how Marty installed her reclaimed wood vertical shiplap kitchen backsplash and check out this FREE pallet wood horizontal plank backsplash.

This shiplap kitchen backsplash is also durable and fire resistant for a non-combustible shiplap option (though I wouldn’t recommend this option behind a wood stove due to the heat weakening the adhesive). It won’t absorb water and rot like wood shiplap could.

I have now enjoyed it for several years and can honestly say it has been great! Read more about how this kitchen reno is holding up.

This vinyl flooring shiplap kitchen backsplash has cleaned really well, no food stains, and I don’t have any spots that are coming off. I have heard from other people that went the vinyl route and weren’t so fortunate.

White Shiplap Backsplash Materials and Tools

• Peel and stick vinyl plank flooring
• Liquid sander and degreaser
• Wood trim (optional)
• Primer
• White paint (or the color of your choice) – semi-gloss finish recommended for durability
• Kitchen and bath caulk
• Xacto knife or box cutter
• Rolling pin

How to Install a Peel & Stick Shiplap Kitchen Backsplash

To guarantee your planks stay in place, follow these steps:

1. I started with a clean, dry surface. Use a liquid sander or degreaser to really get it free from all oil and residue.
2. I started on the bottom and simply lined my first plank up with the counter. I positioned the next plank directly beside the first until I reached a corner.
3. For my next row up, I cut a piece in half so the boards would be staggered and spaced it above the first row using a penny. The vinyl is super easy to cut and only needs to be scored with an exacto knife, so it’s easy to trim around electrical outlets.
   
4. Press on each board, firmly as you go. Follow package instructions for specific pressure and timing. Some may recommend using a rolling pin or a section of large PVC pipe as a roller.
5. I did NOT use any added glue or nails however – I have heard some people run into problems with their planks staying on the wall. I think the success of your planks sticking depends on the cleanness of your wall and the quality of adhesive already on your planks. I had one expert give me some great tips and tricks on this – find them here.
   
6. I left a small space between the planks and the bottom of the cabinets. I chose not to spend time cutting any planks horizontally to fill that gap. I planned on painting my cabinets and shiplap all the same color, and figured it would blend together well.
7. Use wood trim to finish off any exposed edges.
8. I painted the boards first using Stix primer. Then, I painted with the same color as my cabinets: Benjamin Moore Dove White. I used a bamboo skewer to keep the paint from settling in the grooves.
9. Seal along the countertop and the edge of your plank with a clear, sink and tub grade sealant, to make sure no water creeps up under your planks.

I’d love to hear your thoughts and try to answer any questions!

I’m not going to sugarcoat how much work this whole kitchen renovation was, but it was totally doable. It’s a little time consuming and requires eating out for a few weeks, but in the end, you will feel so accomplished!! The painted cabinets have held up beautifully for almost a year now and I’m just as in love with them today as I was on day one.

---

Sarah, your hard work turned out so beautifully! Thank you for sharing!

Remodelaholics, be sure to pop over to All Things with Purpose because you won’t want to miss Sarah’s beautiful style and DIY projects — check out her home tour here and be prepared to drool! 

Peel & Stick Shiplap Kitchen Backsplash Questions

Can I put shiplap on the ceiling?

Yes! Rather than using peel and stick planks, though, we recommend a more traditional style plank shiplap ceiling. Read how to install a shiplap kitchen ceiling here.

Would this shiplap backsplash work in a bathroom?

Yes, since the peel and stick vinyl planks are waterproof and resistant to moisture damage, this could be a great option for a bathroom shiplap backsplash. To do a larger section (like a full wall), follow this tutorial to install plywood shiplap.

Can I use peel and stick planks to make a shiplap wall?

You probably could, but for a larger area, you’ll get better results long-term by installing a DIY traditional tongue and groove shiplap (rainbow painted, if you like), or making your own shiplap using inexpensive plywood underlayment like this — or use this trick to shiplap a wall for FREE!

More beautiful farmhouse kitchen style:

• Get This Look: Fixer Upper Cargo House Farmhouse Kitchen
• Get This Look: Fixer Upper Chip 2.0 Kitchen & Dining Room
• How to Design a Modern Farmhouse Kitchen
• Inspiration for a Farmhouse Kitchen Style