Home Home Design & Decor 20 Wainscoting Ideas for Adding Character to Every Room in Your Home Add visual interest—and protect your walls—with these gorgeous techniques. By Blythe Copeland Blythe Copeland Blythe Copeland is a contributing writer with more than a decade of experience as a freelance lifestyle writer. Editorial Guidelines Published on June 28, 2024 Close Photo: Courtesy of Kerrie Kelly Design Lab Wainscoting is both a pretty and practical addition to your home. In addition to adding visual interest and striking detail to your space, the panels and molding protect your walls from dirt and damage. Installing lighter wainscoting on the bottom section of your wall provides balance to darker colors or patterned wallpaper used above it, and allows your furniture to stand out against a neutral area. Chair rail and trim molding define spaces for seating, artwork, and decor, helping small rooms feel larger and cavernous spaces feel cozier. Visualize your own wainscoting installation with these wainscoting ideas for living rooms, dining rooms, bedrooms, bathrooms, and hallways. 20 Wall Paneling Ideas That Feel Fresh and Modern 01 of 21 Frame the Fireplace Melinda Kelson O'Connor Architecture & Interiors, Wendy Concannon Narrow, flat-panel wainscoting rises to meet the mantel in this formal dining room. The intricate woodwork around the firebox is mimicked in the wainscoting design, which includes an upper row of smaller squares set above traditional rectangles. 50 Inspiring Fireplace Ideas That Bring Warmth and Beauty to Any Room 02 of 21 Create Contrast Victoria Holly Interiors A deep navy hue on the walls of this office is balanced by three-quarter-height white wainscoting, which wraps around the window and divides the wall. Keeping the bottom section light allows the workspace to feel airier, while the darker upper portion offers a minimalist canvas for carefully chosen art pieces. 03 of 21 Add a Soothing Hue Anita Yokota, Alex Lepe Photography In this bohemian-inspired bedroom, the wainscoting is painted with a calming sage tone. The top of the wainscoting creates a natural alignment point for the wall-mounted bedside sconces, while fiber artwork spans the transition between the upper and lower sections of the wall. 04 of 21 Mix Patterns ArchiViz / GETTY IMAGES Narrow wainscoting protects the wall surrounding this dining table from dings and dents, scuffs from shoes, and splattered food. The slim lines are echoed in the upper wall's striped wallpaper. 05 of 21 Accent Bathroom Built-Ins Nadia Watts Interior Design Low wainscoting serves as a tub surround in this sunny bathroom. The subtle woodworking details are repeated in the taller storage cabinet that divides the tub and shower. 06 of 21 Add Interest to Stairwells SKG Design Install wainscoting on an angle to add interest to a stairwell. In this home, traditionally framed squares and chair rail molding complement the parallel lines in a colorful runner and the crisp lines of framed photographs and typographic layouts. 41 Beautiful Staircase Ideas That Make a Major Impression 07 of 21 Anchor Entryway Hooks Alicia Treasure Black wainscoting is a practical choice for an entryway, where it protects walls from damage done by tossed backpacks, sports equipment, and kicked-off shoes. Installing a deeper top edge creates a decorative shelf area, while slim gold hooks store bags and jackets. 13 Small Entryway Ideas That Make a Big First Impression 08 of 21 Pair Wainscoting With Pretty Paper Brian Bieder | Maggie Griffin Designs Wainscoting is a traditional element in a formal dining room. These double-edged panels set off the rich mahogany wood of the table and chairs and add a calm contrast against the patterned wallpaper, ornate chandelier, and floor-length draperies. 09 of 21 Incorporate a Window Seat Nadia Watts Interior Design On a wall lined with wainscoting, the panels continue—in a narrower scale—under a plush window seat. Keeping the wainscoting consistent but adjusting the size allows the built-in bench to feel cohesive with the rest of the room. 10 of 21 Mimic a Headboard Courtesy of Kerrie Kelly Design Lab Flat panel wainscoting becomes a visual anchor for the daybed in this guest bedroom. The charcoal color on the upper section of the wall is repeated in the throw pillows and the dynamic black-and-white artwork. 20 Small Bedroom Ideas With Big Impact 11 of 21 Enclose a Freestanding Tub Andreas von Einsiedel / GETTY IMAGES In this pretty-in-pink bathroom, cream-colored wainscoting is a comfortable alternative to sterile tile (that still protects the wall from splashes and suds). The bright, hibiscus-colored tub adds a modern pop of color against the neutral woodwork. 12 of 21 Stick With a Single Shade UnitedPhotoStudio1 / GETTY IMAGES On a smaller section of the wall, wide wainscoting adds visual interest. The bold blue paint—used for both the upper and lower sections and a shallow display shelf—complements the taupe sofa, navy door, and white trim. 13 of 21 Go Higher Nathan Schroder Background colors in a tropical leaf-printed wallpaper are pulled out to accent neat squares of wainscoting. The traditional woodwork techniques are an unexpected complement to the modern mixed prints and patterns in this maximalist lounge area. 16 Living Room Décor Ideas to Create an Inviting, Functional Space 14 of 21 Modernize a Classic Look Tessa Neustadt Traditional dining room wainscoting gets a contemporary refresh with a few key tweaks: Wider trim creates narrower panels; a higher edge sets off sky-inspired wallpaper; and slim-profile furniture and lighting provide a modern accent. 15 of 21 Play With Textured Wallpaper Ryan McDonald While the bones of this living room could skew too formal, the relaxed sofa shapes, lower wainscoting, plush chairs, and textured wallpaper keep it welcoming—not fussy. 13 Wallpaper Ideas That Will Elevate Any Room in Your Home 16 of 21 Create an Illusion Taran Wilkhu Low wainscoting in an unexpected blush-colored paint backs modern, open-frame bookcases. The woodwork serves as a base for soaring rounded accent areas, which soften the industrial look of the furniture and visually extend the height of the room. 17 of 21 Add a Practical Shelf Courtesy Benjamin Moore Coastal white beadboard wainscoting lightens a buttery entryway, while offering prime space for storing beach hats and market totes. 21 Hallway Décor Ideas That Will Fill Your Blank Walls With Personality 18 of 21 Create a Cozier Space Courtesy Benjamin Moore Using a dark color on lower wainscoting creates a cozier surrounding for this bed and nightstands. Contrasting warm neutrals add texture and depth while allowing the space to feel soothing and uncluttered. 18 Bedroom Paint Colors That Will Turn Your Space Into a Haven 19 of 21 Add Drama to a Small Space Aime Mazzenga, Alexandra Kaehler Black wainscoting and trim set off natural-fiber shades and tan-and-aqua wallpaper, adding a sophisticated elegance that highlights the gold fixtures and pipes of the marble sink. 20 of 21 Enclose a Chic Sink Jewel Marlowe, Fine & Dandy Co. A small bathroom makes a big impact with gold wallpaper, rich green wainscoting, and a slim sink. 50 Small Bathroom Ideas That Make a Huge Impact 21 of 21 Keep it Simple Getty Images While more decorative molding is in fashion, going for simple wainscoting adds an elegance all its own. Here, the simple yet pretty paneling prevents the exposed brick wall from dominating the room by connecting it to the perpendicular walls and creating a visual connection to the crown molding. A large photograph leaning against the wall bridges the two materials and draws the eye down to give the illusion of a more intimate space. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit