Wainscoting Ideas to Enhance Your Home

Wainscoting refers to the application of a covering to the lower portions of the walls of a room. This was traditionally solid wood, a custom brought from Europe to colonial America. The wainscoting ideas discussed below not only incorporate interesting designs, but also protect the lower walls from damage. The most common material used for wainscoting today is medium density fiberboard (MDF). The appearance of dividing the walls of the room into two sections can even be created by the use of wallpaper or painted sections.

For most rooms, the height of the wainscoting is most effective somewhere between 36 and 48 inches, but this does not have to be a hard and fast rule. Dramatic effects can be created with taller panels, but should be planned with care so as to not overwhelm a room.

 

 Wainscoting Ideas: 1

Adding wainscoting, particularly in the traditional beadboard design (with vertical grooves at narrow intervals and often called Cape Cod), is a relatively inexpensive way to give a newer house the appearance of a classic home. This wainscoting idea shows the application in a bathroom

 

   

 

 Wainscoting Ideas: 2

Other types of panels include an open design that lets the underneath wall material and color show through, and flat or raised panels (Presidential) surrounded by stiles and rails. More complex designs used to be very expensive, but with modern milling techniques and materials they can be very

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 Wainscoting Ideas: 3

For adding subtle architectural interest one could choose to paint the wainscoting in the same color as the remainder of the wall as shown in wainscoting idea number three.

 

 

 

 

  

 Wainscoting Ideas: 4

Wainscoting idea number four, on the other hand, to add interest to a room perhaps by emphasizing angles or levels, certain surfaces of the wainscot panels could be painted in a contrasting color.

 

  

 

 

Wainscoting Ideas: 5

This wainscoting idea shows panels
that can be planned and custom cut to work with other elements of a room such as windows, doors, built in cupboards, fireplaces, window seats, etc. By continuing the design, perhaps in a different height, below or beside these elements, a unified yet interesting look can be created. 

 

  

Other Wainscoting Ideas

The English Pub design resembles shields in the shape of rounded triangles, which may even have carved insignia. Gothic panels have pointed arches in the panels. The Classical design includes panel insets with rounded tops separated by sections which look like columns. There may be additional grooves or raised designs above or below the panels. Panels with various corner cutouts or curved edges are also available.

Craftsman decor lends itself to interesting wainscoting ideas. With its emphasis on simple rectangular divisions and orthogonal lines the panels of wainscot can be easily incorporated into the design of the room. The dimensions of wainscoting panels can be scaled to be proportional to shelves, niches, lighting panels, transoms, dividing screens, etc. This ties all the repeating elements together into a unified pattern, both simple and complex.

Wainscoting panels can even be used to cover the entire wall. Such a look is often formal, suited for offices, libraries or studies.

Wherever wainscoting is applied it will add drama and character to a room, stairway, or entrance.