What’s wainscoting? These are wooden panels and trim along the lower part of the wall or a cover for the whole wall. It’s widely used in décor as it fits most of décor styles and is rather budget-friendly.
There are three main types of wainscoting: beadboard, shadow boxes and panel molding. You’ll see mostly beadboard and paneled molding, they are widely used in home décor. Beadboard is the most basic type and consists of simple wooden panels with vertically routered lines and a baseboard beneath. Panel molding features rails and raised panels are used to create classic recessed boxes along the lower part of the wall. Let’s take a look at the pros and cons to consider installing wainscots or not.
Pros
Wainscoting can change the whole look of the room and add interest to the space. Some materials are paintable or stainable, so they can be modified to match the desired decor. Wainscoting combined with upholstery can make for a soft and warm ambience. Your walls won’t be boring with such panels!
Wood is a natural insulator and wood wall panels offer good thermal and acoustic insulation. If you somehow damage the panels, it’s very easy to sand them down and reseal.
Wainscoting conceal flaws and uneven walls and unsightly features like cables and exposed wiring. It’s usually not a costly option, so why not try?
a black bathroom is spruced up with white wainscoting and a marble tile floor - use waterproof sealants
a chic bathroom with marble hex tiles, grey paneling on the walls and a minimalist oval tub
a chic powder room done with moody realistic floral wallpaper and black wainscoting
a cozy nursery with an accent wall in dark green and with white wainscoting to make the wall stand out even more
a gorgeous cozy bedroom with creamy paneling on the walls to add a refined touch and avoid a boring wall look
a moody bathroom with dark green beadboard decor and a black tub plus blush touches to refresh the space
a moody masculine space done with dark textural wallpaper and dark-stained wainscoting for a refined touch
a refined vintage space with light grey paneling up to the ceiling for a sophisticated feel
a small and narrow bathroom with light blue wainscoting on the walls and colorful printed tiles on the floor
a vintage farmhouse entryway with white wainscoting on the walls and a round window that matches
a white ceiling and wainscoting contrast a dark door, floor and furniture and make up a chic space
an airy and lively bedroom with a navy paneling accent wall that brings a bold and chic statement
Cons
Changes in temperature and humidity can cause the panels to expand or contract, affecting the installation and durability. Wood loses natural moisture in dry internal conditions. Apply special products to ensure that the moisture is resupplied regularly.
Wainscots aren’t waterproof and on contact with water, they can show rot. Once rot sets in, the panel should be sanded down or totally replaced depending on the extent of damage. To avoid that, use special waterproof finishes or order wainscots of water-resistant materials, or just don’t decorate bathrooms with wainscoting.
an airy double height ceiling with tall white paneling and a large built-in bench with ddrawers for storage
an elegant farmhouse space with grey paneling, a gorgeous candle inspired lamp and creamy shades
black paneling used as a headboard coming up to the ceiling and to divide the bedroom and the closet
bold floral print wallpaper and aqua wainscoting for a bright and vivacious look with a vintage feel
chic low grey wainscoting adds a slight touch of color and makes it more refined and elegant
graphite grey paneling, rattan furniture, a white bead chandelier and a printed yellow rug for an eclectic dining room
graphite grey wainscoting creates a moody ambience and a white floor and colorful furniture spruce it up
grey paneling and molding on the ceiling create a refined space, and contemporary furniture contrast it
light green wainscoting plus delicate floral wallpaper make up a chic farmhouse bathroom
simple dark green wainscoting and white walls create a great vintage farmhouse bedroom
tall black wainscoting and grey printed wallpaper to create a stylish retro bathroom look
teal colored paneling brings color to the space and makes it feel a bit vintage-like
white wainscoting adds interest and chic to this all-white space and the minimalist style doesn't look boring at all