How much of the wall should wainscoting cover?
Wainscoting traditionally is made of individual tongue-and-groove solid hardwood boards. It typically is either the height of a chair rail (running along the bottom third of the wall) or the height of a plate rail (covering the bottom two-thirds of the wall.) In a room with eight- to nine-foot-high ceilings, wainscoting at chair-rail height typically falls 32 to 36 inches up the wall. For higher wainscoting, at least 60 inches is usually best. To pick your spot, consider dividing the height of your room by three and drawing a line at the point you find most visually appealing. Q. How can I dress up my fireplace mantel? The fireplace tends to be the focal point of a room, so enhancing it with moldings, wainscoting or paneling is well worth the effort. If your mantel features decorative details, choose wall moldings to complement that look. Molding strips will create the look of raised paneling. Use decorative hardwood medallions and other ornamental period-style moldings to add visual i
