Wainscoting is a type of trim used on the walls of a room. It is a molding that is applied to the side of your wall. It became popular in the 18th century as a way to provide a more durable surface on the wall and to help insulate a room. Now, it is mainly used for decoration. Wainscoting tends to sit at chair-rail level, which is well above the floor but below the waist, but the height can vary depending on the look you want.
Traditional wainscoting can be difficult to get right and can be an expensive addition to your home design. Applied molding wainscoting is more flexible and tends to be more affordable as well. With applied molding wainscoting, the molding is applied directly to the drywall. However, this means wainscoting cannot be an afterthought and needs to be considered before the home is built.
Designs, repeated patterns, and straight lines are all common ways to shape wainscoting. Once your walls are painted and you’ve moved in, no one will be able to tell the difference between traditionally added wainscoting and applied molding wainscoting. Whichever wainscoting method is right for you, this type of wall trim can add an attractive design element to your home.