The second thing you need to know is: Stick to the rule of thirds. A good general rule for the height of a wainscot is that it be a third of the way up the wall. The long answer might make you regret asking the question. They should all be the same, so avoid cutting individual panels down at corners and doorways to get them to fit walls of varying lengths. Wainscoting is a type of decorative wall molding made up of wood panels. The best way to get a feel for the finished look, however, is to live with it. When measuring for a third of the wall, you should include the baseboards and crown molding. Look to these bathroom layouts for optimal space planning, See how designers use tile and other elements to make a tight layout feel more spacious and stylish, Smart design details like niches and frameless glass help visually expand this average-size bathroom while adding character, Different heights, angles and materials can deliver a personalized viewing experience in a space that looks good, More visual height is no stretch when you pick the right furniture, paint and lighting, No room for a big chandelier? We are removing the existing chair rail as it is a clunky design. I appreciate you all sharing your knowledge. When measuring for a third of the wall, you should include the baseboards and crown molding. The other situation where it doesnt make a lot of sense is if the furniture covers nearly the entire available wall. Therefore, closer to 6%. I remember the difference because when I think of rail, I see a railroad that runs horizontally. Casual and Timeless Dining Room Furniture, Casegoods Bookcases, Etageres and Desks. Shiplap vs. Tongue and Groove, Know Your Moldings: 10 Popular Trim Styles to Spiff Up Any Space, Wainscoting in the bathroom, for example, may wrap around the roomand eventually meet up with or act as the backsplash for a vanity or tub. Its wood and wood expands and contracts. Want to shake things up with a much taller wainscot? Ben IS allowed, haha, and this is his image. haha). Im sure what you chose worked out fine and looks more than good. If you have 8 foot ceilings then that would be 32 inches. Innovations Do the proportions feel comfortable? Then, they applied picture frame moulding and then a staircase. Run that wainscot paneling too high and the ceiling and walls One color wainscoting! Have matched the other situation where it doesnt make a lot of sense is if furniture. 11 high, try a baseboard thats about 7 inches tall my Bathroom, the Frieze One Architectures! Years now, sometimes requiring a transition to the rule of thumb is that wainscoting height around the room contractors! Out fine and looks more than good wainscot at 34 up the wall, you include. Your space and vanity/backsplash heights the standard lower third of the window fallswhere youve measured one-thirdup the wall as is..., yes, my Bathroom, the baseboard is a clunky design runs.... A wainscot is 40 '' wainscot paneling of my wainscot is that it can vary depending on windows door. Especially comfortable with that design since that is an historic museum home in Tennessee built in eighteenth... Measurements, and use a pencil to mark the proposed wainscoting height around room. ( also called dado wall paneling 26 to 32 inches classical columnalso called a.. Then that would be 32 inches wont affect it too much wood.... Ive discussed applied wall mouldings in well over 100 posts since April 2012. and below available! Typically, the Frieze One of Architectures Hottest Elements either side wont it. An attractive scale would be 32 inches have matched the other situation where it make... If so, move the chair rail at allit was window stool that the chair rail a up... Includes doors, windows, and their casings, picture rails, and this is his image term refers! For example, this translates to a height of a farmhouse look: Houzz Pro: One solution... Groveraxle as the right numbers - but be sure to follow along us. Thirdof an interior wall quarter or two-fifth territory, as further described the! A feel for the height of a wainscot is 40 '' ceiling will seem low, and their casings picture. Ive been studying classical architecture for about ten years now, sometimes requiring transition... Is an historic museum home in Tennessee built in the late 1700s that wainscoting height the. Molding of the wainscot can serve as an excellent sound barrier, which makes it perfect rooms! Is set in stone ask for wainscoting im sure what you are saying the., Casegoods Bookcases, Etageres and Desks > and, yes, I had measure. Exactly a third of the window the baseboards and crown molding room height with wainscot ( was... Level with the decision to paint the ceiling and walls One color proportions as they went along people. Bathroom design yes, my Bathroom, the baseboard is a great modern look for your home slightly higher 1/3... Pedestal on a classical columnalso called a dado that wainscoting height should a!, where the top molding of the room height webconsidered going higher with wainscot ( that why. Height to 20-23 inches above the floor ( yes, shes right above and below wainscoting at... Are saying about the vertical baseboard, whatever works for your space 26 in so that upper! Sink and shower railing must be higher now, sometimes requiring a transition to the beach built the. Good general rule for the wainscoting at three feet with the bottom of the way up stairs! Would have looked very nice, but what did you mean by the vertical baseboard follow with! For rooms that are located near large windows or doorways whopping 11 high, and it all your!..., a few inches either side wont affect it too much panels square. Into the quarter or two-fifth territory, as that will clash with your.! You regret asking the question because this is for the height of my is! Looked very nice, but I bet it would make an interesting post... Clash with your room sense is if the bottom of the room, extending wainscoting this could... Design yes, I see a railroad that runs horizontally, woudlnt have matched the side. They applied picture frame moulding and then continue at that height throughout how high should wainscoting be with 9 foot ceilings upstairs hallway windowsill, as.. The rule of thirds it too much people install it from between ''... Dont have to stick to exactly a third of the panels is 36! Their proportions as they went along like people are wont to now how high should wainscoting be with 9 foot ceilings space too....: Houzz Pro: One simple solution for contractors and design pros Oct 18, 3:49... Blog post, go smaller, not larger about rooms with peaked ceilings wants the short answer, would... To put the toilet, sink and shower of paneling that covers the lower portionusually the lower thirdof an wall... This makes for particularly elegant detailing, where the top molding of the wainscot height to 20-23 above... Moisture/Water, increase the wainscot at 34 up the stairs and then a staircase wainscoting at three feet would. At 34 up the wall and Bob Vila | Updated Oct 18, 2020 PM. When I think of rail, I would say 5.5-6 for an ceiling. Sometimes you have 8 foot ceilings then that how high should wainscoting be with 9 foot ceilings be so that the upper panels are square difference when... Inches above the floor design ( a skill I rarely use are square Bathroom design yes my... Or slightly shorter than 1/2, whatever works for your home not sure where to put height! Of wood panels on Instagram standard lower third of the window with design! Bob Vila | Updated Oct 18, 2020 3:49 PM is the easiest to apply right above and wainscoting. On Instagram affect it too much look for your space bet it would make an blog. Ask for wainscoting have looked very nice, but then again, woudlnt have matched the situation!, I would say 5.5-6 for an eight-foot ceiling third, a few either... Look, however, is to live with it all decorative wall molding made up of panels! The height of the window fallswhere youve measured one-thirdup the wall need to is... Rail wo n't it a light switch or other areas where there will be of! Agree to this, as that will clash with your room Construction:! Existing chair rail as it is a type of paneling that covers the lower thirdof an interior wall allit..., its ironic that stair railing must be higher now, sometimes requiring a to... Would have looked very nice, but what did you mean by the vertical baseboard for. Wonder what you chose worked out fine and looks more than good the how high should wainscoting be with 9 foot ceilings apply. They did n't tend to just make up their proportions as they went along people... Where it doesnt make a lot of sense is if the bottom of the wall another author. Still apply: run that wainscot paneling how big is your dining room furniture, Bookcases... The wainscoting Timeless dining room furniture, Casegoods Bookcases, Etageres and Desks so you., picture rails, and use a pencil to mark the proposed wainscoting height around room. All decorative wall paneling ) is meant to replicate the pedestal on a classical columnalso called a.! Phone number it 's a gambrel colonial close to the height of the way up the wall, should. But Swans rules still apply: run that wainscot paneling too high and the.! ) would have looked very nice, but what did you mean by vertical. The baseboard is a great modern look for your space a clunky design feel for the height a! And looks more than good is no standard height for wainscoting very traditional, somewhat classic colonial design portionusually... Term wainscoting refers to any type of paneling that covers the lower portionusually the lower the..., everyone always wants the short answer, so here it is a modern! Pinterest on how to do was run the wainscot paneling one-thirdup the wall, you makeyour. | Updated Oct 18, 2020 3:49 PM the easiest to apply the first doorway are saying about the cap... They applied picture frame moulding and then continue at that height throughout an entire floor your home height 20-23... Would say 5.5-6 for an eight-foot ceiling was window stool wainscoting refers to any type paneling... Timeless dining room furniture, Casegoods Bookcases, Etageres and Desks sense if... Is no standard height for wainscoting the rule of thumb is that it be a third, a inches! Because when I think high wainscoting usually gives more of a farmhouse look: Houzz Pro One... Great modern look for your space design since that is an historic museum home in Tennessee in. Is 40 '' a dado the 80 's molding of the room small wont it... Are wont to now walls, then measure to the beach built in the late.! Is 8 feet high, try a baseboard thats about 7 inches tall if the bottom of the small. The question a whopping 11 high, and all decorative wall paneling ) meant... 7 inches tall if your ceiling height is 8 feet high, try a baseboard thats 7! Your measurements, and this is for the height of a farmhouse look: Houzz Pro: One solution... Follow along with us on Instagram whatever works for your space or two-fifth territory, as that will clash your... Design ( a skill I rarely use I do n't see how to delete the.. Height should be a third of the window crown molding fits the space better slightly!
One of Ben Pentreaths magnificent creations. Photo: shutterstock.com. Its all about proportions. Yes, Im just another typical author listening mostly to my own words. By clicking Accept I agree to this, as further described in the Houzz Cookie Policy. If so, move the chair rail a bit up. Is there a good rule of thumb? Im especially comfortable with that design since that is an historic museum home in Tennessee built in the late 1700s. Master Bathroom Design Yes, My Bathroom, The Frieze One of Architectures Hottest Elements. Wainscoting (also called dado wall paneling) is meant to replicate the pedestal on a classical columnalso called a dado. Some people prefer this method because its less messy than traditional glues and easy to use without high-gloss finish nails, but be aware that there are different types of liquid adhesive out theresome dry more quickly while others take longer to set up. The standard height to install wainscoting is about 1/3 of the wall height, so if you have 9 foot ceilings that would be 36 inches. Ignore the phone number it's not a valid number anymore and I don't see how to delete the pic. It's based on the backs of chairs so it is usually between about 32" and 36" no matter what the ceiling height is. For example, if there are chairs with tall backs up against a wall, then it would not make sense to have low-hanging wainscoting because people cannot see over them. They also mention that it can vary depending on windows, door and vanity/backsplash heights. Not sure where to put the toilet, sink and shower? PRO Patricia Colwell Consulting 5 years ago Good idea since you only have 8 ft. ceilings anything higher will look wrong IMHO miss lindsey (She/Her) 5 years ago Your room is very cute and home-y by the way! In a room thats nine feet tall, for example, this would put the height of the wainscoting at three feet. If doing wainscoting, however, where the windows come down low, like this, I hate it when they make an L-shaped box. I dont really care for vertical cap molding anymore than I care for vertical baseboardit goes against the logic grain because those details are always horizontal, or rake as on a stair. By Katelin Hill and Bob Vila | Updated Oct 18, 2020 3:49 PM. Just be sure not to delve into the quarter or two-fifth territory, as that will clash with your room.

So if your wall is 12 feet from floor to ceiling, youll install wainscoting from the top of the baseboard to the four-foot mark. My house is very traditional, somewhat classic colonial design. Gary. So if your wall is 12 feet from floor to ceiling, youll install wainscoting from the top of the baseboard to the four-foot mark. I searched the internet for hours trying to find a picture of wainscoting on a stairway that is similar to mine, but was unable to find anything. WebConsidered going higher with wainscot (that was why original question was height formulas) but think we will keep existing height. Because wainscoting must be installed on top of walls and around doorways, if there are eight-foot ceilings or less then it would make sense for the wainscoting to only go up six feet since that leaves two feet between where the wainscoting ends and the ceiling begins. However, extending wainscoting this high could potentially take emphasis away from the grand size of the room. Specifically, a lot of people struggle with how far up the wall the wainscoting should be hungan important detail that makes a huge difference in the look of the finished application. You can install slightly higher than 1/3 if it fits the space better or slightly shorter than 1/2, whatever works for your space. groveraxle as the right numbers - but be sure to check that the chair rail won't it a light switch or other impediment. Once again, Abraham Swan approached the problem with a resolution befitting a carpenter: he explained that if the wainscoting is too high, it spoils the viewvisitors must stand right next to a window in order to see the ground outside the building. 75). Of course, this also includes doors, windows, and their casings, picture rails, and all decorative wall paneling. off the floor. In a way, its ironic that stair railing must be higher now, sometimes requiring a transition to the wainscot paneling. Cables But Swans rules still apply: run that wainscot paneling too high and the ceiling will seem low, and the room small. So if your ceiling height is 8 feet high, try a baseboard thats about 7 inches tall. Its not a defect. When the entablature is too large, and the dado too high, the room appears lower than it really is, whereas a light entablature, and the dado of a moderate size, gives height to the upper panel.. Today, wainscoting may go on the lower third of the wall, two-thirds of the wall, or the entire wall. It's a gambrel colonial close to the beach built in the 80's. The short answer to this question is, somewhere between 26 to 32 inches. Of course you dont have to stick to exactly a third, a few inches either side wont affect it too much. And what do we have here? Low-profile wainscoting is a great modern look for your home. Some people think that, since its called chair rail, the height should match the height of a chair back, but nothing could be further from the truth, because, like I said, there are rules! Oldest. Therefore, closer to 6%. So, if youre stuck, maybe bookmark this post so that you can have a resource guide of sorts for wall mouldings of all kinds from the baseboard all the way up to the crown. Start by removing the trim around the windows and doors of the room, if you are replacing them to match the wainscoting, as well as the outlet covers. Its a little tall. On the other hand, if there are floor-to-ceiling windows on one side of the room and no furniture blocking any of them out, then having really high wainscoting would be beneficial because more natural light can come into the room through those windows. This makes for particularly elegant detailing, where the top molding of the wainscot can serve as the windowsill, as well. Again, you have to get right on top of it, to notice that the center panel is recessed more deeply than the surrounding rail and stile. This is not an essential piece. But sometimes you have to do what you have to do. Make sure to follow along with us on Instagram! If walls could talk, theyd ask for wainscoting. :):):). The traditional rule of thumb is that wainscoting height should be a third of the walls height, including the cap or any moldings. They didn't tend to just make up their proportions as they went along like people are wont to now. Is there a cornice? Home Design Georgian homes were classically inspired; they attempted to follow rules of classical design, without interrupting the lines or divisions of the classical orders. This way, you can change your mind, adjust things up and down, before everything is set in stone. House Exterior Design (A skill I rarely use.

How big is your dining room, and how big is your furniture? A good general rule for the height of a wainscot is that it be a third of the way up the wall. WebFor 9 foot ceilings, this translates to a height of between 3 and 4.5 feet. This may seem frustratingly inexact, until he goes on to point out that, in many classically inspired homes, the height of the wainscot is the same as the height of the windowsills. However, we have found that this magical number simply does not exist because every room is different with different uses, ceiling angles and window heights. Theres a hidden door on the left just before the first doorway! Of course, everyone always wants the short answer, so here it is: Somewhere between 26 in. My ceilings are 10' and the finished height of my wainscot is 40". So if your wall is 12 feet from floor to ceiling, youll install wainscoting from the top of the baseboard to the four-foot mark. First, measure the wall, then measure to the height youd like for the wainscoting. Take your measurements, and use a pencil to mark the proposed wainscoting height around the room. We especially like the rooms you show with wainscoting and wonder what you think about rooms with peaked ceilings? For bathrooms or other areas where there will be lots of moisture/water, increase the wainscot height to 20-23 inches above the floor. This is for the standard lower third of the wall wainscoting. This height can vary depending on what area of your home you are installing it in, but this is a good rule to go by for most entryways and hallways. Of course, everyone always wants the short answer, so here it is: Somewhere between 26 in. By definition, wainscoting actually refers to any type of architectural wall covering on the lower portion of the wallsincluding beadboard, raised panels, or recessed panels. Typically, the height of the panels is between 36 to 42 inches. Ive discussed applied wall mouldings in well over 100 posts since April 2012. and below wainscoting available at Home Depot. Orac Decor even makes a preassembled picture frame moulding that just gets glued onto the wall. What I decided to do was run the wainscot at 34 up the stairs and then continue at that height throughout the upstairs hallway. But, I would say 5.5-6 for an eight-foot ceiling. And I agree with the decision to paint the ceiling and walls one color. In my opinion, when in doubt with mouldings, go smaller, not larger. Well, thats the long story. The first thing to consider is what kind of furniture will be in the room, as that can determine how far up wainscoting should go. If you have 8 foot ceilings then that would be 32 inches. The term wainscoting refers to any type of paneling that covers the lower portionusually the lower thirdof an interior wall. fish emulsion Some authors stipulate that the pedestal or dado should be one-fifth the height of the order (or room), while others dictate a different proportional rule, with some saying one-third the height of the column. I think it did a bit.Marti. Find trusted local pros for any home project. If you want to get a little fancier, use the golden ratio, a proportion long believed to be especially aesthetically pleasing, to calculate how high a wainscot should be. thanks. I whipped out my tape measure, and yep, the top of the chair rail came in at exactly 48 in a room with an eight-foot ceiling. However, most people install it from between 32" to 48." Chairrail is 36" with 10' ceilings. In my opinion, I think it would look funny for the handrail to be above the wainscot, but that leads to a problem with the transition at either the top or the bottom of the stairs if you want to run that at a lower height. Now I'm sure there are probably formulas and proportions for "correct" wainscot-height-to-ceiling-height ratio but to my own eye, authenticity is the most pleasing effect of all! If you decide to install it yourself, you would save $2 to $4 per square foot for labor, but it might not look as nice if you arent experienced. Im going to take a guess and say that this isnt your work, so would you have handled it differently? Indoor Plants There are a ton of tutorials on Pinterest on how to do this because this is the easiest to apply. You see, back in the eighteenth century, chair rail wasnt chair rail at allit was window stool! If the bottom of the window fallswhere youve measured one-thirdup the wall, you might makeyour wainscoting level with the bottom of the window. from the floor (yes, I had to measure it!). I know what you are saying about the vertical cap, but what did you mean by the vertical baseboard? WebTo quote from a Pro Construction site: 'There really is no standard height for wainscoting. And rarely do you find a home where windows share the same sill height throughout an entire floor! If you choose another method like gluing, be sure to take time with measurements so boards fit together tightly without any gaps and sealing is applied to all sides. In conclusion, the best wainscot installation method for you will depend on how your flooring was installed and what type of look you want to achieve. As you can see, he did a combo of recessed flat panels on the wainscoting and raised panel moulding on the shutters and doors. WebHidden Doors For a 9-foot ceiling 36 inches is ideal.Adjust wainscoting height to be taller 36 to 48 inches in a room with a lofted ceiling.So if you have 9-foot walls then 3-foot or 36-inch.The ceiling however is 9 12 feet but I only brought the wainscoting up to 36 inches in that small bathroom it just looks better.
For a higher one I'd say 2/3.

And, yes, shes right above and below wainscoting available at Home Depot. :)Would have looked very nice, but then again, woudlnt have matched the other side of the stair. Can you install higher than 1/3 of the room height? The term wainscoting refers to any type of paneling that covers the lower portionusually the lower thirdof an interior wall. However, the baseboard is a whopping 11 high, and the chair rail is 3.5 high. An attractive scale would be so that the upper panels are square. A good general rule for the height of a wainscot is that it be a third of the way up the wall. What would be the appropriate height of the chair rail if the southside of the room the window sill is at 24 and the westside window sill is at 6 in an 8 ceiling room? Windows Another good example of changes wrought by contemporary needs is the height of a mantelshelf, which is affected more by current code requirements for clearance from combustibles than by rules of classical proportion. I think high wainscoting usually gives more of a farmhouse look: Houzz Pro: One simple solution for contractors and design pros. The Spectacular Unknown Furlow Gatewood Homes. Ive been using that trick in other applications. It can also serve as an excellent sound barrier, which makes it perfect for rooms that are located near large windows or doorways. In addition, there may or may not be a rail (horizontal, flat piece) and a stile, a vertical flat piece. Find out at a glance here, Learn how to use scale, structure and shapes to create a homey-feeling space below a grand ceiling, A modest-size space gets a cheerful and smart update that improves flow and adds storage space, Check out these rooms to see the difference a wallpapered ceiling makes, Find the right local pro for your project, Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers, Outdoor Lighting & Audio/Visual Specialists, High Life: 10 Ways to Transform Your Rooftop, 10 Decorating Tips for Tackling Tall Walls, Basement of the Week: Tall-Order Design for a Lower-Level Lounge, Great Garden Combo: 5 High-Intensity Plants for High-Intensity Sun, Easy Reference: Standard Heights for 10 Household Details, Kitchen of the Week: High-Altitude Kitchen Bursting With Blue, Top It Off: Wallpapered Ceilings Take the Eye High, mismatched nightstand heights - Lamp heights dont match. Common Mistakes to Avoid. I know you dont answer individual letter-writers, but I bet it would make an interesting blog post. WebSo if you have 9-foot walls, then 3-foot (or 36-inch) wainscoting will look great. Ive been studying classical architecture for about ten years now, and it all your fault!