As the name suggests, shiplap was originally used for waterproofing ships thanks to the weatherproofing overlapping of the boards. In older homes, it is often used under drywall as a structural element, but shiplap has recently made a major comeback as an element of design thanks to HGTV’s husband and wife team, Chip and Joanna Gaines. Shiplap can be used in accent walls or to cover a whole room, and creates a quaint, rustic feel with clean lines.