What height should my dado rail be?
There is no hard-and-fast rule. Here are some points to consider: • If you are reinstating a dado rail it is usually easy to see where it was originally installed, once the wall is stripped ready for redecorating • If you are installing a new dado rail, it is helpful to consider the overall proportions of the wall: a high wall with a narrow frieze will require a deep dado. • the dado rail originally protected expensive wall hangings from the backs of chairs; the point at which the chair-back brushes the wall determines the height of the rail • a dado rail on a staircase wall should match the height of the handrail on the banisters • if the dado is to be wallpapered, the pattern repeat may influence the height of the rail • wallcoverings specially designed for dadoes, such as Lincrusta, may also dictate the precise height of the rail.
