If you’ve been curious about shiplap installation in your home, there are a few things to keep in mind before you start nailing wood planks to your kitchen walls on a whim. When we toured the home of photographer Stacy K. Allen, the blogger behind Mountainside Home, and spotted the meticulously-placed DIY shiplap throughout, we had to ask for her top design secrets.

Insider Shiplap Tips

“Some people just use plywood. Which is awesome, and I really kind of like the look a little bit better, because with the pine boards, the knots kind of come through,” Stacy explains. The knots give the walls a rustic, natural look, but plywood provides a more seamless, minimalist effect. “I think if we were to do it again, we might go the plywood route, just because it’s straighter and there’s not as many imperfections.” Start small with one accent wall, a headboard, or even a fireplace before committing to covering the entire room. It will give you a chance to test your DIY skills—and lets you live with the look before you make a more costly move.