Real wood never looks like wood paneling. Take some offcuts to your local paint store and have them try different samples on your wood. Then you don't have to buy 8 different cans that you will never use.

You want weathered wood, not paint or stain. Its a bit more expensive than paint or color stain but SOOO worth it. We had a carpenter clad planking over a metal structural beam in our downstairs, to make it look like a wood beam. He used pine planks, and the pining stain from here: https://www.weatherwoodstains.com/ It looks like its been there 100 years, and is a wood beam supporting the ceiling. I can not tell you how amazing it looks. Dont just paint, don't just stain, weather your wood!

My only question is why the hell would you put real wood just to slap paint on it? Its only cheap pine but still.

Tony Montana, the purpose is only for accent wall- I love shiplap -cant afford the reclaimed wood =cause it would cost so much. I have seen them painted -it looks more clean

Luziya M. OMG-thank you-this is the one that I am looking - do you think it would be okay for outside too- We have install pine shiplap for out patio ( cover-under the roof)-should i varnish or stain in special walnut from Old Master- we live in MA- so it would be looks like a cape cod.

I’ve used Behr deck stain in driftwood and it turned out to be a really soft grey that let the grain come through and it made the wood silky smooth to the touch. Driftwood might not have the blue you want but there are numerous other colors as well

Donald, by chance what color of stain that you use (become a soft grey)? Thanks

Yani

From Donald - 'I’ve used Behr deck stain in driftwood and it turned out to be a really
soft grey that let the grain come through and it made the wood silky smooth to the touch. Driftwood might not have the blue you want but there are numerous other colors as well.'

Hkwan,

I love the idea of a grey beige white washed ship lap wall. And I am not a ship lap person, I never thought I would like ship lap until I started to search for ideas for you on grey-ed ship lap. Some people are even using milk paint. Pinterest has a world of photos on this very subject. Others are using layers of stain. Whatever you do, it is going to be gorgeous.

Maybe this one can help...

https://angelamariemade.com/2016/11/how-to-create-a-weathered-wood-gray-finish/

And even this.. I had no idea the creativity with ship lap.

https://www.lovelyetc.com/bold-diy-plank-wall/

Yep, Driftwood was the color. And I'll preface it by saying, or I should say, postface it by saying, since I was staining my fence outside, I really slopped it on, in multiple coats, because the first coat looked like I had only slightly dampened the wood and I didn't wait until it was completely dry each time between coats. I was outside, it was hot, I hate staining, so I smeared and slopped until I couldn't smear and slop anymore. Indoors obviously, I'd apply a thin first coat, wait until it completely dried and then go on to a second coat if I thought it needed it, etc.

FWIW, I was once told not to use exterior-specific wood products indoors because of the chemicals used - you dont want them indoors. Sherwin Williams can custom mix stain colors - you could even do the same color as your cabs or get a more precise match to whatever effect you wanted. Your sample pic looks like someone DIY'ed with white paint - you can see it in the grooves.... which is an acceptable way of doing it if thats what you want .

I copied this from http://fortheloveofahouse.blogspot.com/p/paint-colors.html

Barn Board Stain:
Stains are: Sherwin Williams Woodscapes in Semi-transparent (an exterior stain with low voc's that can be used inside.)
This is a two-step process.
The first coat is Charwood #3542 applied full strength with a staining pad (much easier than using a brush) and the product is not wiped off (as many stains are.)
The second coat applied after the first has fully dried is Blue Shadow #3531 in a 75/25 mixture.
75% is water and 25% is the stain. This coat is also applied with a staining pad and is not wiped off.
That's it! It's that easy.

It might help with a good stain?

In our Family room we have cedar. We 'white washed' it with a light

white-beige wall paint. Watered it down a lot then with a wet rag dipped it

in the water downed paint and rubbed it on.

It was very forgiving; if it was too heavily applied in some sections we

removed or lighten it up by rubbing it over with a clean rag dipped

in hot water and rubbing it to remove some of the paint.

It comes out like the sample you showed. I'm assuming you are using

the blue-ish paint you have on the wall?

Try it out on some sample wood...We did it so many years ago that

I can't remember the paint and water ratio....start with some small

containers to mix up paint samples, start with 50 - 5O paint and

water and go from there.

"My only question is why the hell would you put real wood just to slap paint on it? Its only cheap pine but still."

Tony Montana, my only question is: Why the heck do you care what someone does in THEIR home? Sheesh!

How difficult is it to use stain on pine?

I would go with a light stain because pine will darken over time.

Pine is easy to stain. Wipe it on, wipe the excess off, dry, then add another coat if you want to. Driftwood it a great color to add a bit of gray to wood.

Not really. "Some types of wood, like pine, cherry, birch and maple, are notoriously difficult to stain." They turn blotchy, so I'd tread very carefully here.

https://www.familyhandyman.com/woodworking/staining-wood/how-to-stain-wood-evenly-without-getting-blotches-and-dark-spots/view-all/

Painting this would be a nightmare as the knots would pop over time. It would have to first have a coat or two of BINS, a shellac-based primer, then all the knots primed, and then 2 finish coats.

Shiplap is typically installed horizontally, not vertically. The idea is for it to look the way houses did when these were the exterior walls.

UPDATE: thank you to Edolie M who introduce us to weatherwoodstains products. Decided to travel to CT (1 1/2hrs) went to see their agent :Thomas Mach at Simsbury, CT- He is such a wonderful person who spends his time to show u the difference all of this products. We decide to go with the Restoration- is very happy with that decision. The most important : Thomas Mach Interiors at 10 Jim Gallagher Way- Simbury, CT helped us...Here is the result using the Restoration:

Also would like to say thank you to all of you who gave us suggestion---

That turned out wonderfully. Glad you found a finish you love!

Beautiful work. I love happy endings. Can't wait to see the rest of your project unfold.

That looks great! Perfect color. And ties in so well with your cabinets. :)

Very nice! And thanks so much for posting an update.

Looks gorgeous! Now help me figure out what color to paint my one kitchen wall! Im at a loss. :D https://www.houzz.com/discussions/help-what-color-to-paint-kitchen-wall-dsvw-vd~5215979

Now I am all set with the INSIDE Pine Shiplap- I need asking any ideas what to do with our Outdoor Pine shiplap ( under the roof- we will install tile floor-we are thinking we might close the patio as 4 season patio in the future). It has been rough and long renovation-I am tired getting hit left/right-so hoping will get ideas from this discussion. The option: Stain in -could not afford using weatherstain -wicked too expensive - thinking to use Benjamin Moore Arborcoat -just not sure what color. OR paint is with Exterior Aura. Question: What is the proper preparation either for stain or paint? Do I need to sand 1st? Sand, Prime if we decide to paint? Protection: what to use for stain or paint because of the New England weather.