QA

Quick Answer: How Tall Should Wainscoting Be

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.

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.

Does wainscoting make 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 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.

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.

Does wainscoting add value?

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 is the cantaloupe rule?

Soto follows what she calls the cantaloupe rule: “Decorative accents that are smaller than a cantaloupe cramp a room.” Opt for a single, statement-making piece instead. Photo by iStockphoto.

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.

Can you do wainscoting on just one wall?

One of the cool things about wainscoting is that you can use it on just one wall and it’ll look great. For instance, if one of your walls is going to display lots of family photos, a wainscot draws the eye to that space. And that wall space is invitingly set apart from the rest of the room.

Can you have too much wainscotting?

Yes, I think you can have too much, particularly if the scale and overall style of the house is not fairly formal. If you do just the “public” rooms and be careful to keep ceiling heights in mind when you choose the height of the wainscot, you should be OK.

Does wainscoting have to match throughout the house?

Does not have to match. It’s up to you. To me when everything in the house looks the same it is so boring. Homes today lack character.

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.

Do you glue or nail wainscoting?

The quickest and most affordable method is called the glue-and-nail method of installing wainscoting. To do this you apply an adhesive to the wainscot panel to hold it in position so that it can be nailed to the drywall. The panel should be nailed with a fine finishing nail or with a pneumatic pin nailer.

Can you install wainscoting without removing baseboards?

There is an easy way to add a board and batten treatment without ripping out all your baseboards! You really only have 3 options for dealing with the baseboards during a board and batten or wainscoting project: Use very thin battens or bead board paneling that fits on top of the existing baseboard.

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.

What is the difference between beadboard and wainscoting?

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.

Where should wainscoting be placed in a house?

Today, wainscoting may go on the lower third of the wall, two-thirds of the wall, or the entire wall.

What brings down property value?

If jobs are scarce in your locality, with layoffs occurring and home ownership put in jeopardy, values fall. Like a domino effect, fewer people can afford to buy a house. Owners lower their prices to compete in a diminished market.