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The traditional rule of thumb is that wainscoting height should be a third of the wall’s height, including the cap or any moldings. So if you have 9-foot walls, then 3-foot (or 36-inch) wainscoting will look great. Scale down to about 32 inches for rooms with 8-foot walls.
What is the best height for wainscoting?
What is the proper height for wainscoting? Generally, the cap sits about one-third the way up the wall. So if the ceiling is 9 feet, go for 3-foot wainscoting. For taller wainscoting, such as one with a plate rail, cap it two-thirds the way up the wall.
Does wainscotting make a room look smaller?
It is known that wainscoting makes a room, look smaller rather than larger, but it does depend on the color you use to paint the panels and the height of those panels. Wainscoting is mainly used to protect the lower part of a wall and to make a room look more elegant, instead of using it for sizing purposes.
What is the proper height for wainscoting in a bathroom?
A good rule of thumb is to limit the height of the wainscoting to 36 to 48 inches and to place the furniture so it can’t compete with the wainscoting. Lower ceilings such as those found in older homes benefit from wainscoting that’s shorter but not so short that it appears silly.
Is wainscotting outdated?
Give your home wall-to-wall character with this timeless feature. But just because wainscoting is no longer required to keep your home warm doesn’t mean it’s lost all its magic. With the right pairing, this once old-school element can feel surprisingly fresh and modern.
Does wainscoting add value to your home?
Wainscoting doesn’t necessarily add value to your home Wainscoting enhances your home’s appearance, but it doesn’t increase its value. “An appraiser isn’t going to add an extra $5,000 to $10,000 to your home’s value simply because it has wainscoting.
What rooms should have wainscoting?
Living room/family room If you have large rooms and spaces, wainscoting can also make them more intimate in appearance. “It can help scale down a large room, and visually lower the ceiling in a very tall room,” according to Josie Abate at Ambience Design Group.
Should wainscoting be lighter or darker?
Painting the wainscot in the same color as the walls tones down its inherent traditional feel and makes it more contemporary. Choose a color a few shades lighter or darker than the walls, or use the exact same shade to make the molding as subtle as possible.
How wide should wainscoting panels be?
Minimum Size – Don’t install a box that is less than twelve inches wide. If you have a wall that is less than fifteen inches wide…don’t install a panel. Adjust Panels in Room – Every panel in the room doesn’t need to be the same size.
How high should wainscoting be in a bedroom?
The traditional rule of thumb is that wainscoting height should be a third of the wall’s height, including the cap or any moldings. So if you have 9-foot walls, then 3-foot (or 36-inch) wainscoting will look great. Scale down to about 32 inches for rooms with 8-foot walls.
How do you layout wainscoting panels?
The rule of thumb is that the wainscoting should be installed at ⅓ of the height between the floor and ceiling. So, if your ceiling is 96” above the finished floor then ⅓ of that would be 32”. But keep in mind the one-third rule is just a rule-of-thumb!.
Can you install wainscoting over drywall?
Step-by-step instructions for installing this beautiful tongue and groove wainscoting right over your existing drywall or plaster. Install the paneling right over your existing wall, eliminating the hassle of demolition. It’s the perfect project to bring character to a room and make it more inviting.
What is the difference between wainscoting and beadboard?
Wainscoting: Panels on the lower 1/2 or 1/3rd of a room, often in beadboard style. Beadboard: Vertically grooved panels that have a traditional style. Raised Panels: Deeply beveled squares or rectangles in panels for a classic look. Flat Panels: Smooth panels that have a modern look.
Can you use wainscoting on a ceiling?
Ceilings are the single largest expanse of space in any room of the home. Nearly any type of wainscoting that can be used on walls can be used on the ceiling as well, although panels meant to cover the entire space in a repeating pattern, like beadboard, are most often used.
Should wainscoting be painted white?
The traditional color of wainscoting is white. For a small space, white is a great way to open up the space and allow you to paint the wall a darker color. The type of paint is also important. If it is a high-traffic area, you’ll want to use an eggshell or semi-gloss finish on the wainscoting since it is easy to clean.
What is the point of wainscoting?
For centuries, builders and homeowners have installed wainscoting to protect their walls from chair or table damage, scuff marks from footwear, and other damaging elements.
Is chair rail still in style?
Chair rails are still used today to create a more formal and traditional design. If that’s the look your sister wants, chair rails would be a good choice.
Does wainscoting go behind baseboards?
Extend a line around the room with a level. The top and the bottom of the wainscoting are held in place by a cap rail and a baseboard nailed into the studs.
How do you measure wainscoting spacing?
As a rule of thumb, wainscoting is installed to fill the bottom third of the wall’s total height. This wainscoting height, also known as chair rail height, is around 32 inches or approximately 80 cm for an 8-foot high wall.
