Wainscoting Styles: How to Choose The Perfect Beadboard

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When it comes to decorating a living room or dining room, there’s an excellent choice to consider – using stylish tiles. Have you taken notice of this option? In the example above, wainscoting is employed.

But what exactly is wainscoting, and how does it differ from beadboard? We’ve got the answers you need right here.

To begin with, beadboard is often used to create a rustic ambiance, evoking a sense of the countryside. However, beadboard can also be quite elegant and refined, providing a captivating contrast to the room.

In the past, installing beadboard was a meticulous task, requiring professionals to place each piece individually. Nowadays, it’s more time-efficient as experts install entire sheets at once. Furthermore, beadboard is available in various materials, including MDF, PVC, and more.

You might be wondering, “Where can I use beadboard?” Well, beadboards can be incorporated into various spaces, including ceilings, cabinets, kitchen backsplashes, and other interior areas.

So, what is wainscoting?

Wainscoting is often employed to cover entire walls, ceilings, and even kitchen cabinetry. It’s commonly referred to as beadboard wainscoting and is frequently seen in bathrooms.

In contrast, beadboard typically covers only the lower third of a wall. The upper portion is adorned with a chair rail, while the lower part features beadboard wainscoting.

These two styles have distinct characteristics, but the terminology is often used interchangeably, which can be quite perplexing. No need to fret; we’re here to clarify the distinctions for you.

Wainscoting vs. Beadboard: The Difference

For centuries, humans have sought protection from the elements, especially during rainy seasons, when walls are vulnerable to rainwater damage. In the past, various materials were used, including boards made from split oak wood that covered entire walls. As time passed, around the 1700s, these panels began to cover only the lower portions of walls.

Now, what sets beadboard apart from wainscoting?

Wainscoting is distinguished by two key elements: a panel and the frame that surrounds it. The frame of wainscoting consists of four components: the stiles and rails (top and bottom).

Furthermore, there are four common variations of wainscoting:

  1. Board-and-batten
  2. Raised-panel wainscoting
  3. Beadboard wainscoting
  4. Flat-panel wainscoting

In contrast, beadboard is not composed of panels but instead features narrow wooden slats arranged vertically. Each slat is defined by a bead, a slender ridge running along its length.

However, modern beadboard is more time and cost-effective, as it is easy to install. Additionally, contemporary beadboard often boasts wider, seamless panels rather than narrow slats.

10 Designs of Wainscoting Style

To begin, the distinction between flat and raised panels is quite evident. Now, after delving into the earlier explanations of wainscoting and beadboard, let’s explore these ten styles of wainscoting board designs.

Beadboard Wainscoting Style

Creating beadboard wainscoting may appear daunting, particularly the trim details, which can seem intricate to construct.

However, this style is surprisingly straightforward. Typically, your local furniture store offers kits for these, simplifying the process to a mere assembly of the provided pieces.

Raised Panel Style

Among the earliest renditions of wainscoting is the raised panel wall covering, which involves the use of panels pre-fitted with flat boards. This amalgamation creates the iconic appearance of elevated panels adorning the wall. The finishing flourish for this style includes the addition of a top cap and a baseboard trim.

Board and Batten Style

Creating this particular style is widely regarded as quite manageable, and the wall takes on a more captivating appearance after the installation of board and batten wainscoting.

There are three distinct methods for installing board and batten wainscoting: covering only half of the wall, arranging it in a square pattern, or opting for a rectangular pattern.

So, what sets this style apart?

Well, as you may have observed, this design doesn’t necessitate back paneling. You simply require pre-installed boards and drywall.

Why does it not pose a significant challenge?

To begin, the board and batten can be conveniently installed using a ΒΌ-inch back panel.

Next, you’ll need to fix the pine board for the frame, maintaining an 18-inch spacing between each.

Meanwhile, the wood should measure 3 inches in width and 3/8 inches in thickness. Finally, the baseboards are affixed to the lower section of the finished product.

Beadboard and Portraits in Frames

Here’s another concept for incorporating a board and batten wall covering. With this board and batten style covering in place, you have the opportunity to enhance the room’s appeal by adding old photo frames and various wall decorations.

This approach lends an enhanced ambiance to the room. You can opt to craft your custom picture frames or acquire them from a store. Once you have the frames, you can affix them to the upper wall using either adhesive or nails.

Barn Door Wainscoting Style

Have you ever come across the concept of using wainscoting boards for a barn door? If this idea is new to you, take a moment to examine the image provided. Upon initial inspection, you’ll notice two wooden slabs intersecting on the front.

Now, you might be wondering how to craft a barn door utilizing wainscoting boards. The straightforward method involves using 3-inch wooden pieces to construct the side frame, resulting in a side-by-side box. Subsequently, the 3-inch boards are arranged to intersect, forming an X-shaped pattern.

One of the advantages of working with wood is that you can securely assemble the pieces using only nails and glue.

Two-tone Wainscoting Style

Let’s clarify the term “two-tone.” What does it entail?

In the realm of wainscoting, two-tone refers to the usage of two distinct colors as wall coverings. Typically, these colors fall within the same shade spectrum. For instance, in the provided image, you can observe a combination of light gray and a darker gray. Your choice of colors should align with your personal preferences.

To enhance the overall design, consider incorporating pictures within wainscoting frames on the upper portion of the wall. If you’re contemplating painting the wainscoting, we recommend employing tape along the edges or in areas where you wish to maintain an unadulterated finish for a flawless outcome.

Elegant Sculpted Wainscoting

Sculpted wainscoting is often regarded as the epitome of elegance and sophistication within the realm of wainscoting styles.

This perception may be attributed to its relative rarity in contemporary settings. In the past, wainscoting of this caliber was meticulously crafted by skilled artisans. However, modern convenience allows us to acquire imitation sculpted wainscoting readily available at local furniture outlets.

Alternatively, you can opt for decorative panels that can be seamlessly inserted into frame moldings, providing a touch of opulence to your interior design.

Off-set Square Style

When dealing with a contemporary home design, consider incorporating off-set square wainscoting. The versatility of this wainscoting style allows for various installation methods, which may prompt the question: why choose this style?

The answer lies in its utilization of board panels akin to traditional wainscoting. However, it distinguishes itself with a modern touch in the form of baseboard trim and top cap. These squares come in varying sizes, offering customization options to suit personal preferences.

Since they are constructed from wood, they can be easily modified to meet specific requirements. This flexibility extends to their placement, whether arranged diagonally, vertically, or horizontally, allowing you to achieve the desired visual effect.

Metropolis Circles Style

Metropolis circles wainscoting sets itself apart from standard, unadorned wainscoting. This particular style incorporates three key components: a baseboard trim, a support board, and a top cap.

What truly distinguishes this style is its distinctive design, characterized by an abundance of wooden circles. These circular elements are evenly spaced at intervals of approximately 24 inches.

Shoulder Height Style

Wainscoting at shoulder height isn’t a standalone design per se, but rather an application option for various wainscoting designs.

One notable example within this category is the introduction of shoulder height wainscoting, often featuring a special molding tailored for accommodating picture frames, typically situated above it.

So, which wainscoting styles are commonly implemented at shoulder height? These include board and batten, beadboard, raised panel, and flat panel designs.

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