How to Upgrade Boring Hallway Walls with Premium Custom Timber Shiplap Panelling

Standard shiplap panelling in a domestic hallway runs to a height of 1000–1200mm (the dado rail zone), with painted wall above and a capping rail at the top. This height suits standard 2.35m ceiling heights common in Berkshire new-builds and post-war housing. Full-height shiplap from floor to ceiling creates a more dramatic effect — particularly in period properties with 2.6m+ ceilings. The shiplap board width (typically 90mm, 120mm, or 150mm) should relate to the wall width — wider boards suit wider walls, narrower boards suit narrow hallways and staircase risers.

Two-pack polyurethane spray-painted shiplap is significantly more durable than brush-applied emulsion — hallway panelling is a high-contact surface exposed to bags, coats, and children daily. A 15–20% sheen is the optimal specification: wipeable and durable without looking lacquered. For a period Berkshire hallway, a warm neutral tone — Farrow & Ball\'s String, Hardwick White, or Old White — creates an immediately elevated result. For a contemporary hallway, a very dark tone such as Railings or Purbeck Stone paired with warm brass ironmongery has been the dominant specification in premium Berkshire homes for the past three to four years.