If you’re renovating or redecorating your home, there are many design trends that will help you achieve the look you want. One of the hottest trends in Toronto design today is also one of the oldest – wainscoting paneling. Centuries ago, it was difficult to build roofs that didn’t leak. Leaks sometimes weakened interior walls, so architects came up with ingenious ways to reinforce walls in decorative ways. One of these is wainscoting, a paneling that extends about a third of the way up an interior wall. Wainscoting prevented dampness from setting in, reinforced walls and also added beauty to rooms. Today, we don’t need wainscoting for practical purposes – although it does prevent nicks and scuffs on your drywall – but the tradition of using it for decoration continues. If you want an elegant, classic look for walls in your dining room, living room, bathroom, hallway or any other room, wainscoting might be exactly what you need.

 

 

Styles of wainscoting range from simple and informal to more ornate versions. The best known types of wainscoting are:

• Raised panel. This type of wainscoting has a simple box edge with a beveled effect and a raised centre. It originated in the European Colonial period and fits perfectly with Colonial or Queen Anne décor. Raised panel is one of the most common and classic styles of wainscoting. You will often see it in formal settings like studies, living rooms or libraries.
• Flat panel. Flat panel or recessed wainscoting looks similar to raised panel, except that the entire panel is flat. It fits well with simpler looks like Shaker or Arts and Crafts and is commonly used in family rooms or bedrooms.
• Beadboard. Also known as"tongue-in-groove”, this type of wainscoting is very popular. The centre panels of beadboard wainscoting resemble shutters, with the distance between grooves varied to create wider "planks” or narrower strips. Beadboard typically has beveled edges. It first gained wider use in Victorian England and is often used in informal settings. You will often see beadboard wainscoting in bathrooms or on the walls of vacation homes.
• Board and batten. This simple style features narrow boards running vertically between a chair rail and the baseboards (these battens do not have a beveled edge). Board and batten wainscoting is also a good fit with rustic styles or vacation homes.

Some homeowners combine styles, making a border with one type of wainscoting run above another type. Wainscoting can be used to create various effects.

 

 

Wainscoting can be made of metal or ceramic tile, or of plastic – but for the classic look of wainscoting, you should use wood. Wood can be milled to fit any space and can be stained or painted to fit the look of the room.

 

While it is possible to install wainscoting on your own, it’s tricky for all but the most skilled of DIY enthusiasts. You will probably want to consult a professional to make sure that you are using the right type of wainscoting and that the length you are using works well for the height of your walls. A professional will also be able to install wainscoting quickly and efficiently.

 

Get a classic look for your home – improve your walls with beautiful wainscoting!