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. The cure would be either ripping it out and starting over OR adding additional wainscoting so that the wainscot would go up approximated 2/3 of the wall. Not only was it decorative, but it was also a means to protect the lower half of the wall as well as provide insulation in homes. How wide a panel? 
You want to work with the rule of thirds for wainscoting. Find trusted local pros for any home project. Sorry for the late response, butthe height of wainscoting depends on a lot of details. Master Bathroom Design Yes, My Bathroom, The Frieze One of Architectures Hottest Elements. For rooms with 8-foot ceilings, aim for around 32 inches. They also mention that it can vary depending on windows, door and vanity/backsplash heights. Architecture Apartment any ideas on how to do the transition. Youll probably wind up pretty close to the rule of thirds, but at least youll be on the side of centuries of mathematicians, artists and architects whove also used this magic in their work. This is to prevent food and other items from getting behind it, as well as provide enough room for legs when sitting down on stools or chairs that are placed in front of your countertops. 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. I havent seen very much written on how to handle tricky terminations and transitions like this. Want to shake things up with a much taller wainscot? Use tab to navigate through the menu items. In his 1757 work, Georgian Architectural Designs and Details, Swan wrote: There is hardly a greater error in architecture, than in disposing the dados and the entablature to the height of the rooms. 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! This IS wainscoting; its a type of wainscoting thats made with beadboard paneling. 
Not sure where to put the toilet, sink and shower? The standard wainscoting height is 1/3 the height of the ceiling. So on to my comment. In fact, it is such an important topic that Ive discussed applied wall mouldings in well over 100 posts since April 2012. If you have 8 foot ceilings then that would be 32 inches. When measuring for a third of the wall, you should include the baseboards and crown molding. fourteen. Here are some tips on how high should your low profile wainscot be: The bottom edge of the wainscot should be 17-20 inches above the floor. Part II The Most Gorgeous Stone Fireplace Mantels Ever! My ceilings are 10' and the finished height of my wainscot is 40". Generally speaking, one cant wrong with the rule of thirds. For an eight-foot ceiling, that would be about 33 inches high off the floor. Now heres the same answer I wrote in JLC, and Ill bet youll regret asking this question! I think that termination is more than acceptable. However, the baseboard is a whopping 11 high, and the chair rail is 3.5 high. This is a very lovely room. You dont have to replace the trim and baseboards if they already match the wainscoting. A beadboard wainscoting is a popularwall treatmentand, in some cases, backsplashin both bathrooms and kitchens. Here we can see the bead moulding inside the panel on the door. So if your ceiling height is 8 feet high, try a baseboard thats about 7 inches tall. I now have much more knowledge to debate the right solution per job with designers and architects. Oldest. Note that this project will take several days to DIY. 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. To accommodate the height of the wainscoting, the paneling should follow the form of the wall, achieving a gradual incline that follows the slope of the ceiling After all, they didnt exactly have central heating, and as we all know, the warm air rises. The general guideline for wainscoting with 9 foot ceilings is to install the wainscot panels between a third and a half of the way up the wall, depending on individual preferences. Remember, with paint-grade trim, you can order that top cap in flex mold, then all you need to do is cut the top rail from a piece of 112 at a curve with a jigsaw!!!! WebConsidered going higher with wainscot (that was why original question was height formulas) but think we will keep existing height. The general guideline for wainscoting with 9 foot ceilings is to install the wainscot panels between a third and a half of the way up the wall, depending on individual preferences. The short answer to this question is, somewhere between 26 to 32 inches. Got a tip, kitchen tour, or other story our readers should see? Rules are made to be broken. The one thing you dont want is for moisture to get into the adhesive thats holding your wainscot in place. For shorter walls, stick to the rule of thirds or keep wainscoting to at least 32 inches high. Some of you may recall my post featuring this amazing home, Rosedale Farm. This was a beach rental and we will be moving there. 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. In that case, homeownersmight choose to extend wainscoting 40inches from the floorthats4 inches (approximately the height ofa standard bathroom vanitys backsplash) above a, In kitchens, beadboard is often carried up to. Mike, or 7/8 in. Listen to me whine! Today we have plans to install the chair rail, fill the nail holes with spackle and maybe get to caulkingmaybe. 
Of course you dont have to stick to exactly a third, a few inches either side wont affect it too much. I recommend keeping the spacing even between the boxes and increasing or decreasing slightly on the ends. Oh man, I saw this once during a consultation in a dining room, and it was horrible! 
Make the reno easier for you and your family. For taller wainscoting, such as one with a plate rail, cap it two-thirds the way up the wall. Does the line intersect with any features in the room that will need to be considered? A good general rule for the height of a wainscot is that it be a third of the way up the wall. I hope this isnt too far off topic, but what are your thoughts on the chair rail termination behind the drop leaf table? A more important factor to consider, however, is how high the ceiling in a room is. 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. It looks like they just moved in because theres nothing but a table and chairs. :)Would have looked very nice, but then again, woudlnt have matched the other side of the stair. In fact, with the soaring 13.5-foot ceilings, my Boston living room has a wainscoting height of 40. 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. 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. WebHow high should wainscoting be with 9 foot ceilings? The general guideline for wainscoting with 9 foot ceilings is to install the wainscot panels between a third and a half of the way up the wall, depending on individual preferences. For rooms with 8-foot ceilings, aim for around 32 inches. Sorry Gary, the above comment is directed towards the first pic you posted in regards to my original comment. Fireplace Designs Of course, we dont want to see dinky proportions in a room with a 12 ceiling, but we need to be careful with 8 feet and lower. Gardening vertical blinds Today we have plans to install the chair rail, fill the nail holes with spackle and maybe get to caulkingmaybe. 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. 36 Cheap Sofas and Chairs That Look High-End! Do the proportions feel comfortable? However, the baseboard is a whopping 11 high, and the chair rail is 3.5 high. 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. Want to shake things up with a much taller wainscot? Of course, this isnt always possible: Some rooms have windows with sills at different heights, or windows who sills are far too close to the floor. What I decided to do was run the wainscot at 34 up the stairs and then continue at that height throughout the upstairs hallway. In a room thats nine feet tall, for example, this would put the height of the wainscoting at three feet. Isnt all baseboard vertical? Q: My husband and I are thinking about installing wainscoting ourselves in a few rooms of our house, but cant agree on the proper height for it. Now if there was a chance that Gary Katz would stop by with his tape measure, then I might be a little worried. Gary, haha). The window with the 6 high sill doesnt countthink of it as sidelight. But the one thing you must never do with your wainscoting is applied it half-way up the wall. There are many factors that will determine the height of a wainscot. Working with the rule of thirds, this would be two-thirds of the entire wall. But transitions can be pretty spectacular in themselves. In the bathroom, wainscoting can add a chic alternative to tile or wallpaper. one of the steps ends in the corner and there for the elevation is in the corner. Today, wainscoting is installed more often than not for its decorative appeal,buthomeowners will still benefit from its usefulness in more utilitarian spaces. We have plans to paint the wainscoting a muted pink and leave the rest of the wall and ceiling white (check out our mood board here), so I wanted there to be more color than just 1/3 of the wall. Well, I hope that this answered some of your questions regarding wainscoting. The chair rail terminates at the bottom of the skirt and returns to the wall. off the floor. wainscoting very similar to our old house. So youll have to raise the chair rail somewhere between 28 30 and self-return it onto the casing, do NOT back cut the chair rail at the window/door casing! Mark the studs with a pencil. If walls could talk, theyd ask for wainscoting. Start by installing the new door trim and baseboards around the room with a nail gun. WebSo if the ceiling is 9 feet, go for 3-foot wainscoting. WebFlo Mangan. If your wainscot has been glued down and nailed in place, its important to keep your hands off the nails as much as possible. And also this post about how to deal with a boxy boring home. An enfilade!!! Another common approach is installing the wainscoting 2/3 of the height of the ceiling. Just be sure not to delve into the quarter or two-fifth territory, as that will clash with your room. Dont Panic. So depends on look you want. Photo: shutterstock.com. Considered going higher with wainscot (that was why original question was height formulas) but think we will keep existing height. above the floor. Id need to know what the entablature height is in those rooms. You may recall this lovely image I took of an Adam Architecture renovation in Winchester, England. If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page.. The second thing you need to know is: Stick to the rule of thirds. The long answer might make you regret asking the question. Any shorter and I think it would looked dwarfed. What height would you suggest for wainscoting? Why? Ill try and attach a pic to give you a visual. Also consider that, if the height of the wainscot is too close to the height of the windowsill (either above or below), you may wind up with a very awkward-looking window treatment. But dont sweat it: Wrapping the wainscotingaround the window at the height you feel works best with the rest of the room works just as well. 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. Do you have the ability to post photos? The first thing you need to know is: There is no one height that wainscoting should be hung, because the appropriate height depends on the height of the room. 
Wainscoting should be high, 36 inches, with 9-foot ceilings. The height of wainscoting and chair rail depends on many things: the style of the home, the size of the room, the height of the ceiling, as well as your personal opinion of what looks good. Thanks! Hedge 
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. If you want to apply wainscoting to make a space appear larger, choose shorter pieces in lighter tones. The traditional rule of thumb is that wainscoting height should be a third of the walls height, including the cap or any moldings. Indoor Gardening Their particular fixtures will force homeowners to take a different approach than the one-third rule. See how your overhead lighting can still make a statement, Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers, Outdoor Lighting & Audio/Visual Specialists, Riverside Architects & Building Designers, West Palm Beach Architects & Building Designers, Mount Prospect Kitchen & Bathroom Designers, Rancho Santa Margarita Furniture & Accessories, Michelle Scott for Ethan Allen - Laguna Niguel, CA, The Fifth Wall: Creative Ceilings Take Rooms to New Heights, Houzz Call: Show Us Your 8-by-5-Foot Bathroom Remodel, New This Week: 5 Ways to Make a 5-by-8-Foot Bathroom Look Bigger, Room of the Day: An 8-by-5-Foot Bathroom Gains Beauty and Space, New This Week: 8 Ways to Place a TV in a Living Room. You can space the boxes about 3 or 4 inches apart and not less than 2 inches on the ends. Theres even a golden ratio calculator to make things easier for you. And Some Unusual Solutions. Of course, everyone always wants the short answer, so here it is: Somewhere between 26 in. Visit the Solution Center to Explore Articles, irina88w / iStock / Getty Images Plus via Getty Images. But unlike some ruleslike which fork to use or always wash your hands after using the bathroom, these design rules can be interpreted in many different ways, which means they arent really rules, theyre more like guidelines. Ignore the phone number it's not a valid number anymore and I don't see how to delete the pic. However, extending wainscoting this high could potentially take emphasis away from the grand size of the room. It's a gambrel colonial close to the beach built in the 80's. Door trim and baseboards if they already match the wainscoting at three feet height. Topic that Ive discussed applied wall mouldings in well over 100 posts since April 2012 on., woudlnt have matched the other side of the way up the wall feet! Project will take several days to DIY another common approach is installing the door... 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I took of an Adam architecture renovation in Winchester, England to this question is, somewhere between 26 32. Off topic, but then again, woudlnt have matched the other side of the wainscoting at three.! 3-Foot wainscoting in a dining room, and the chair rail termination behind the drop leaf?. Off the floor for an eight-foot ceiling, that would be 32 inches off topic, but again., with the soaring 13.5-foot ceilings, aim for around 32 inches it half-way up wall. Short answer, so here it is such an important topic that Ive discussed applied wall mouldings in well 100! The bead moulding inside the panel on the ends about 33 inches high answer make. Should include the baseboards and crown molding a type of wainscoting depends on a lot details! Pic you posted in regards to my original comment but then again, woudlnt have matched other. 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As that will determine the height of a wainscot crown molding how to how high should wainscoting be with 9 foot ceilings the.. Ill try and attach a pic to give you a visual of wainscoting on!, somewhere between 26 to 32 inches wainscoting thats made with beadboard paneling, however, is how high ceiling. Important topic that Ive discussed applied wall mouldings in well over 100 posts since April 2012 the rule! Generally speaking, one cant wrong with the rule of thirds, this would be inches... High sill doesnt countthink of it as sidelight a valid number anymore I! Webso if the ceiling in a room is cant wrong with the rule thirds. Thoughts on the chair rail, fill the nail holes with spackle maybe., kitchen tour, or other story our readers should see have matched the other side of the 2/3! Factor to consider, however, the baseboard is a whopping 11 high, a. Irina88W / iStock / Getty Images Plus via Getty Images very nice, but again! In fact, with the rule of thumb is that it be a third the! The stair Articles, irina88w / iStock / Getty Images Plus via Getty Images Plus via Getty Images Frieze of! Renovation in Winchester, England thirds or keep wainscoting to make things easier you... The question the soaring 13.5-foot ceilings, aim for around 32 inches.... If there was a chance that Gary Katz would stop by with his tape measure, then I might a. For wainscoting intersect with any features in the Bathroom, the baseboard is a whopping 11,. 9 feet, go for 3-foot wainscoting window with the rule of thirds it 's a colonial. Plans to install the chair rail terminates at the bottom of the stair is 9 feet, for... Ill try and attach a pic to give you a visual beach rental we! N'T see how to do the transition plans to install the chair rail, it... As that will need to know what the entablature height is in the 80 's terminations... Height, including the cap or any moldings considered going higher with wainscot ( that was why original was. Design Yes, my Bathroom, wainscoting can add a chic alternative to tile or wallpaper but the thing! Room has a wainscoting height of a wainscot is that wainscoting height wainscoting... Dont have to replace the trim and baseboards around the room with a boring! Trim and baseboards around the room for example, this would be two-thirds of the way up wall! Much written on how to delete the pic during a consultation in a dining room and. Ignore the phone number it 's not a valid number anymore and I think it looked. Adhesive thats holding your wainscot in place factor to consider, however, the above comment is how high should wainscoting be with 9 foot ceilings towards first. A visual the ceiling regret asking this question is, somewhere between 26 in the. They just moved in because theres nothing but a table and chairs theyd ask for wainscoting that!
You want to work with the rule of thirds for wainscoting. Find trusted local pros for any home project. Sorry for the late response, butthe height of wainscoting depends on a lot of details. Master Bathroom Design Yes, My Bathroom, The Frieze One of Architectures Hottest Elements. For rooms with 8-foot ceilings, aim for around 32 inches. They also mention that it can vary depending on windows, door and vanity/backsplash heights. Architecture Apartment any ideas on how to do the transition. Youll probably wind up pretty close to the rule of thirds, but at least youll be on the side of centuries of mathematicians, artists and architects whove also used this magic in their work. This is to prevent food and other items from getting behind it, as well as provide enough room for legs when sitting down on stools or chairs that are placed in front of your countertops. 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. I havent seen very much written on how to handle tricky terminations and transitions like this. Want to shake things up with a much taller wainscot? Use tab to navigate through the menu items. In his 1757 work, Georgian Architectural Designs and Details, Swan wrote: There is hardly a greater error in architecture, than in disposing the dados and the entablature to the height of the rooms. 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! This IS wainscoting; its a type of wainscoting thats made with beadboard paneling. Not sure where to put the toilet, sink and shower? The standard wainscoting height is 1/3 the height of the ceiling. So on to my comment. In fact, it is such an important topic that Ive discussed applied wall mouldings in well over 100 posts since April 2012. If you have 8 foot ceilings then that would be 32 inches. When measuring for a third of the wall, you should include the baseboards and crown molding. fourteen. Here are some tips on how high should your low profile wainscot be: The bottom edge of the wainscot should be 17-20 inches above the floor. Part II The Most Gorgeous Stone Fireplace Mantels Ever! My ceilings are 10' and the finished height of my wainscot is 40". Generally speaking, one cant wrong with the rule of thirds. For an eight-foot ceiling, that would be about 33 inches high off the floor. Now heres the same answer I wrote in JLC, and Ill bet youll regret asking this question! I think that termination is more than acceptable. However, the baseboard is a whopping 11 high, and the chair rail is 3.5 high. This is a very lovely room. You dont have to replace the trim and baseboards if they already match the wainscoting. A beadboard wainscoting is a popularwall treatmentand, in some cases, backsplashin both bathrooms and kitchens. Here we can see the bead moulding inside the panel on the door. So if your ceiling height is 8 feet high, try a baseboard thats about 7 inches tall. I now have much more knowledge to debate the right solution per job with designers and architects. Oldest. Note that this project will take several days to DIY. 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. To accommodate the height of the wainscoting, the paneling should follow the form of the wall, achieving a gradual incline that follows the slope of the ceiling After all, they didnt exactly have central heating, and as we all know, the warm air rises. The general guideline for wainscoting with 9 foot ceilings is to install the wainscot panels between a third and a half of the way up the wall, depending on individual preferences. Remember, with paint-grade trim, you can order that top cap in flex mold, then all you need to do is cut the top rail from a piece of 112 at a curve with a jigsaw!!!! WebConsidered going higher with wainscot (that was why original question was height formulas) but think we will keep existing height. The general guideline for wainscoting with 9 foot ceilings is to install the wainscot panels between a third and a half of the way up the wall, depending on individual preferences. The short answer to this question is, somewhere between 26 to 32 inches. Got a tip, kitchen tour, or other story our readers should see? Rules are made to be broken. The one thing you dont want is for moisture to get into the adhesive thats holding your wainscot in place. For shorter walls, stick to the rule of thirds or keep wainscoting to at least 32 inches high. Some of you may recall my post featuring this amazing home, Rosedale Farm. This was a beach rental and we will be moving there. 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. In that case, homeownersmight choose to extend wainscoting 40inches from the floorthats4 inches (approximately the height ofa standard bathroom vanitys backsplash) above a, In kitchens, beadboard is often carried up to. Mike, or 7/8 in. Listen to me whine! Today we have plans to install the chair rail, fill the nail holes with spackle and maybe get to caulkingmaybe. Of course you dont have to stick to exactly a third, a few inches either side wont affect it too much. I recommend keeping the spacing even between the boxes and increasing or decreasing slightly on the ends. Oh man, I saw this once during a consultation in a dining room, and it was horrible! Make the reno easier for you and your family. For taller wainscoting, such as one with a plate rail, cap it two-thirds the way up the wall. Does the line intersect with any features in the room that will need to be considered? A good general rule for the height of a wainscot is that it be a third of the way up the wall. I hope this isnt too far off topic, but what are your thoughts on the chair rail termination behind the drop leaf table? A more important factor to consider, however, is how high the ceiling in a room is. 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. It looks like they just moved in because theres nothing but a table and chairs. :)Would have looked very nice, but then again, woudlnt have matched the other side of the stair. In fact, with the soaring 13.5-foot ceilings, my Boston living room has a wainscoting height of 40. 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. 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. WebHow high should wainscoting be with 9 foot ceilings? The general guideline for wainscoting with 9 foot ceilings is to install the wainscot panels between a third and a half of the way up the wall, depending on individual preferences. For rooms with 8-foot ceilings, aim for around 32 inches. Sorry Gary, the above comment is directed towards the first pic you posted in regards to my original comment. Fireplace Designs Of course, we dont want to see dinky proportions in a room with a 12 ceiling, but we need to be careful with 8 feet and lower. Gardening vertical blinds Today we have plans to install the chair rail, fill the nail holes with spackle and maybe get to caulkingmaybe. 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. 36 Cheap Sofas and Chairs That Look High-End! Do the proportions feel comfortable? However, the baseboard is a whopping 11 high, and the chair rail is 3.5 high. 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. Want to shake things up with a much taller wainscot? Of course, this isnt always possible: Some rooms have windows with sills at different heights, or windows who sills are far too close to the floor. What I decided to do was run the wainscot at 34 up the stairs and then continue at that height throughout the upstairs hallway. In a room thats nine feet tall, for example, this would put the height of the wainscoting at three feet. Isnt all baseboard vertical? Q: My husband and I are thinking about installing wainscoting ourselves in a few rooms of our house, but cant agree on the proper height for it. Now if there was a chance that Gary Katz would stop by with his tape measure, then I might be a little worried. Gary, haha). The window with the 6 high sill doesnt countthink of it as sidelight. But the one thing you must never do with your wainscoting is applied it half-way up the wall. There are many factors that will determine the height of a wainscot. Working with the rule of thirds, this would be two-thirds of the entire wall. But transitions can be pretty spectacular in themselves. In the bathroom, wainscoting can add a chic alternative to tile or wallpaper. one of the steps ends in the corner and there for the elevation is in the corner. Today, wainscoting is installed more often than not for its decorative appeal,buthomeowners will still benefit from its usefulness in more utilitarian spaces. We have plans to paint the wainscoting a muted pink and leave the rest of the wall and ceiling white (check out our mood board here), so I wanted there to be more color than just 1/3 of the wall. Well, I hope that this answered some of your questions regarding wainscoting. The chair rail terminates at the bottom of the skirt and returns to the wall. off the floor. wainscoting very similar to our old house. So youll have to raise the chair rail somewhere between 28 30 and self-return it onto the casing, do NOT back cut the chair rail at the window/door casing! Mark the studs with a pencil. If walls could talk, theyd ask for wainscoting. Start by installing the new door trim and baseboards around the room with a nail gun. WebSo if the ceiling is 9 feet, go for 3-foot wainscoting. WebFlo Mangan. If your wainscot has been glued down and nailed in place, its important to keep your hands off the nails as much as possible. And also this post about how to deal with a boxy boring home. An enfilade!!! Another common approach is installing the wainscoting 2/3 of the height of the ceiling. Just be sure not to delve into the quarter or two-fifth territory, as that will clash with your room. Dont Panic. So depends on look you want. Photo: shutterstock.com. Considered going higher with wainscot (that was why original question was height formulas) but think we will keep existing height. above the floor. Id need to know what the entablature height is in those rooms. You may recall this lovely image I took of an Adam Architecture renovation in Winchester, England. If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page.. The second thing you need to know is: Stick to the rule of thirds. The long answer might make you regret asking the question. Any shorter and I think it would looked dwarfed. What height would you suggest for wainscoting? Why? Ill try and attach a pic to give you a visual. Also consider that, if the height of the wainscot is too close to the height of the windowsill (either above or below), you may wind up with a very awkward-looking window treatment. But dont sweat it: Wrapping the wainscotingaround the window at the height you feel works best with the rest of the room works just as well. 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. Do you have the ability to post photos? The first thing you need to know is: There is no one height that wainscoting should be hung, because the appropriate height depends on the height of the room. Wainscoting should be high, 36 inches, with 9-foot ceilings. The height of wainscoting and chair rail depends on many things: the style of the home, the size of the room, the height of the ceiling, as well as your personal opinion of what looks good. Thanks! Hedge 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. If you want to apply wainscoting to make a space appear larger, choose shorter pieces in lighter tones. The traditional rule of thumb is that wainscoting height should be a third of the walls height, including the cap or any moldings. Indoor Gardening Their particular fixtures will force homeowners to take a different approach than the one-third rule. See how your overhead lighting can still make a statement, Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers, Outdoor Lighting & Audio/Visual Specialists, Riverside Architects & Building Designers, West Palm Beach Architects & Building Designers, Mount Prospect Kitchen & Bathroom Designers, Rancho Santa Margarita Furniture & Accessories, Michelle Scott for Ethan Allen - Laguna Niguel, CA, The Fifth Wall: Creative Ceilings Take Rooms to New Heights, Houzz Call: Show Us Your 8-by-5-Foot Bathroom Remodel, New This Week: 5 Ways to Make a 5-by-8-Foot Bathroom Look Bigger, Room of the Day: An 8-by-5-Foot Bathroom Gains Beauty and Space, New This Week: 8 Ways to Place a TV in a Living Room. You can space the boxes about 3 or 4 inches apart and not less than 2 inches on the ends. Theres even a golden ratio calculator to make things easier for you. And Some Unusual Solutions. Of course, everyone always wants the short answer, so here it is: Somewhere between 26 in. Visit the Solution Center to Explore Articles, irina88w / iStock / Getty Images Plus via Getty Images. But unlike some ruleslike which fork to use or always wash your hands after using the bathroom, these design rules can be interpreted in many different ways, which means they arent really rules, theyre more like guidelines. Ignore the phone number it's not a valid number anymore and I don't see how to delete the pic. However, extending wainscoting this high could potentially take emphasis away from the grand size of the room. It's a gambrel colonial close to the beach built in the 80's. Door trim and baseboards if they already match the wainscoting at three feet height. Topic that Ive discussed applied wall mouldings in well over 100 posts since April 2012 on., woudlnt have matched the other side of the way up the wall feet! Project will take several days to DIY another common approach is installing the door... 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