If you’ve fallen in love with the timeless look of shiplap, you’re not alone. For those not familiar with the rustic-chic design, classic shiplap involves horizontal wood wall paneling that often interlocks. Popularized by Fixer Upper’s Joanna Gaines, you can use shiplap as a low-cost way to transform your walls. However, there are several things you need to know before recreating Fixer Upper’s staple shiplap look, including how to space the boards correctly. Gaines recommends enlisting the help of a surprising tool –- a pencil.

It’s no surprise that the queen of shiplap has some clever installation tips to share. In Season 3, Episode 5 of “Fixer Upper,” Gaines turned a diamond in the rough home into a real gem. She explained her shiplap technique on the Magnolia blog, “We used pinewood to create shiplap wainscoting for the bottom half of the walls to add clean lines and texture. The local lumberyard had these boards in stock and we spaced them out using a pencil in between each plank.” This tip is proof that sometimes even the smallest items at your disposal can be just as effective as professional-grade tools.

Shiplap installation is fairly easy if you follow a few key tips. Make sure to use a stud-finder before nailing any planks, and plan your design carefully by marking the wall before you begin. The reason a pencil is a great way to space your shiplap is because they are easily accessible and ensure consistency. Other popular materials you can use for this spacing technique include nickels or tile spacers. In the same blog post, Gaines also explained her post-installation design technique to make the finished product pop, “After nailing them to the wall, we sanded and painted the planks a fresh, white color.”

If white shiplap feels too traditional, you can always add a trendy touch with a dark wash of paint or by maintaining the wood’s natural tone. Wood paneling is making a huge comeback, and shiplap is a great way to showcase this warm style. If you love the texture of shiplap but your home is more modern, Gaines also adores an alternative known as skinnylap. For renters or those who have walls not suitable for wooden beams, you can still get the look through less invasive alternatives. For example, consider CiCiwind White Wood Wallpaper. Gaines herself has even recommended, and created, wallpaper with shiplap-inspired aesthetics. You can also create shiplap inspired accent wall for less with this clever Dollar Tree hack.