The term ‘wainscoting’ refers to the wood paneling you must have seen in some homes or office buildings. Homeowners and builders have been installing wainscoting for centuries to protect their walls from scuff marks from footwear, furniture and other damaging elements. The popularity of wainscoting hasn’t faded away due to its aesthetic appeal.
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Today, wainscoting can also be added as a decorative element, acting as a beautiful and functional addition to any room. Wainscoting is a relatively easy, quick and affordable way to add architectural detail to any space without a full renovation of your home’s interior. It can also be defined as a lining of an interior wall irrespective of material or a usually panelled wooden lining of an interior wall, when finished differently from the remainder of the wall.
What is wainscoting?
Wainscoting is a functional and decorative system of wood panels, moulding and chair railing (framing). It is highly known for its ability to break up a room visually and even provide the appearance of higher ceilings. Wainscoting is a commonly used decorative element in classical and traditional design styles of wood panels, moulding and chair railing (framing).
The main reason for this type of wood panelling is to offer protection to the walls. Wainscoting is also known as an incredible DIY friendly as it is affordable and only requires a few supplies such as wooden strips or panels, wood glue and a nail gun. The golden rule of installing wainscoting is that the height should be one-third of the way up to the walls of your home. This applies to half-wall wainscoting or chair rail moulding only. However, the raised-panel wainscoting and picture frame moulding can be easily installed at varying heights depending on the room’s proportions.
What is the purpose of wainscoting?
Wainscoting generally serves numerous purposes like adding wall protection and enhancing home decor. It is a classic design choice that helps add richness and beautiful aesthetics to your home. You can also use wainscoting to add a subtle texture or can even go bold with its intricate design styles or a pop of colours. Additionally, the wall coverings with wainscoting can even help transform a dull room while adding a layer of functional protection to your walls at the same time.
Types of wainscoting
Numerous wainscoting styles help to create different effects at home from rounded to soft and sharp to angular. we have explained some of the different types of wainscoting further that highly serves different purposes:
Flat panel wainscoting
The flat panel wainscoting highly involves attaching thin plywood or MDF boards to the walls that can be easily decorated with moulding or wooden strips for framing. Unlike traditional wainscoting, flat panel wainscoting frames are not attached to the interior walls directly. Moreover, you can even opt for softer edges such as shaker or shiplap edges instead of hard angles in case you want to add a soft and warmth touch to your interiors.
Wall panel wainscoting
Wall panel wainscoting is the most friendly option due to its easy maneuverability and pre-cut construction. It generally involves attaching moulding or thin wooden strips directly to the plaster or drywall in order to create the appearance of raised rectangular frames against the wall.
Raised panel wainscoting
Raised panel is the most traditional type of wainscoting as it necessitates professional craftsmanship for the bevelled edges of every panel. You can even add the decorative wood trim on the top for a refined finish to draw inspiration from classic Victorian interiors.
Beaded panel wainscoting
A beaded panel is generally referred to as a beadboard. This type of wainscoting is a continuous sheet of wood panelling with vertical grooves. It is highly known for its formal appearance, especially using it as the dining room’s paneling. Moreover, the beaded panel also adds a touch of sophistication by making the space feel extra special as well as breaking up a full wall.
Is wainscoting expensive?
The cost of wainscot paneling generally depends on the material chosen, custom design element, square footage needed as well as installation. The material of traditional wainscoting included non-decorative and sturdy hardwoods. But today, these wall panels generally come in different styles and materials including medium-density fiberboard.
Wainscoting can be considered as a moderately priced option for enhancing the visual appeal of your walls. The less intricate styles such as flat panels or beard boards may be more budget-friendly, while more elaborate styles like raised panel wainscoting can be costlier due to the intricacies involved in their installation and design.
Can wainscoting be painted?
You can easily customize your wainscoting with stain or paint to match the style of your home. However, it would be better to consult an expert for proper guidance on the right treatment of your chosen material in order to avoid an unappealing or damaged finish. You should always remember that incompatible paints may result in patchiness, so getting expert advice is always advisable.
How to install wainscoting?
As there are numerous styles available for wainscoting, the skill and time involved in installation differ between types. However, if you are handy, installing wainscoting may be a project that you can easily tackle. If you want a guarantee of proper workmanship and installation, professional experts can be the best choice for your home.
FAQs
Is wainscoting right for every space and interior?
Wainscoting is available in a variety of patterns and panel options in order to suit almost any space and decor. It is often used to stylishly safeguard your walls that tend to take a beating, such as those in baths, foyers, and kitchens.
What is wainscoting made up of?
Traditionally, wainscoting was made of solid wood, but these days it is also milled from plastic, plywood, and Medium-Density Fiberboard (MDF).
How should I care for wainscoting?
You can wipe the stray marks in wainscoting with soapy water and a sponge.
Where can I use wainscoting?
You can easily use it on your entryway, hallways & stairs, dining rooms, family rooms, baths, kid’s room, and many more spaces.
What is the proper height of wainscoting?
You can position the cap at approximately 1/3rd of the wall's height. For instance, if the ceiling is 9 feet then you must opt for 3-foot wainscoting. However, you can even place the cap at 2/3rd of the wall's height for taller variations such as those featuring a plate rail.
How much wainscoting cost?
The cost of wainscot panelling generally depends on the material chosen, custom design element, square footage needed, as well as installation.
Is it better to call an expert to install wainscoting?
If you are looking to have a guarantee of proper workmanship and a professional installation completed then the professional experts can be the best method for your home.
| Got any questions or point of view on our article? We would love to hear from you. Write to our Editor-in-Chief Jhumur Ghosh at jhumur.ghosh1@housing.com |
