There are a great many elements of interior design. Colours, patterns and finishes are often at the forefront of a decorator’s mind but playing with depth and dimensionality are eye-catching and easy ways to add personality and style to a space. One of the best ways to add this depth is with wainscoting, but what exactly is wainscoting? In this blog we’ll take a closer look at this supremely stylish element of home decor, and demonstrate just how easy it is to enjoy in your home.
What is wainscoting?
In short, wainscoting is a type of wall panelling usually found on the lower half of a wall. Made from wood - or a similar material - wainscoting was originally used to make a wall more durable, but as the years have gone by, it’s become a celebrated way of elevating a room’s aesthetic appeal. Available in different styles, many wainscoting panels can also be painted to best harmonise with your chosen decor style. By essentially splitting a wall’s aesthetic in two, wainscoting allows for a fashionable, split decor effect where you can partner the colours of natural wood - or your favourite paint colour - with a selection of different wallpapers. This versatility makes a room feel more structured and luxurious.
Adding texture and a bold visual impact on a space’s presence, wainscoting will also protect your walls from day-to-day wear and tear, and by thickening the walls, improve the thermal efficiency of your home.
What are wainscoting panels?
Wainscoting panels are available in a variety of fashionable styles. From slim-profile, classical dado panels, to more modern block style designs, there is a style of wainscoting panels to suit any interior design theme.
At Naturewall, we have a diverse selection of wainscoting panels to choose from, each of which is very easy to fit yourself with minimal DIY experience required. For example, our Dado Wall Panelling Kit contains mouldings and coordinating dado rails that feature intricate detailing for a more refined, traditional finish.
For lovers of a more contemporary aesthetic, MDF Wall Panelling Kits offer numerous layout options so you can freely design your wainscoting to suit your stylistic preferences and the dimensions of your wall. Whether you choose to cover a quarter, half, or even your entire wall with wainscoting panels, you can rest assured it will refresh your home with nominal effort or investment.
Where can I fit wainscoting panels?
With the wide selection of materials available, you can now enjoy the beauty of wainscoting in almost any part of the home. These are three of our favourite locations for wainscoting…
Wainscoting living rooms
Living rooms are spaces where we relax after a long day and where we entertain loved ones. With so much of our lives spent in these rooms, granting them the beauty they deserve is of paramount importance. Wainscoting is an ideal addition to a living room, making it feel more inviting and impressive while also easier to maintain. Quarter, half and three quarter height panels are all viable options here, just take time to consider which style of panel is best for you.
Wainscoting hallways
Hallways are an often overlooked part of the home, but with wainscoting you can curate the perfect entry to your home. For best results, we recommend half or three quarter height panelling which you can then paint to compliment or contrast with other colours in the space. Whether you have a tiled floor you can synergise your panels with, wallpaper to help stand out or simply want to add a stylish, minimalist detail, wainscoting is the ideal choice for hallways.
Wainscoting bathrooms
As we’ve said, wainscoting has been historically made from wood which isn’t a material that’s well suited to high moisture areas. Today, however, you find specialist moisture-resistant MDF varieties which are perfectly suited to bathrooms. Bathrooms are places synonymous with relaxation and peace so consider half height wainscoting panels, painted in a soothing shade of sage green or cream to create an oasis of peace. Wainscoting panels also look striking in shades of grey, you can learn more about grey bathrooms in our recent blog.
Easy-to-fit, affordable and effortlessly beautiful, wainscoting is a great way to transform the look of your home. Suitable for a wide variety of rooms, and perfect for almost any design style, wainscoting will remain fashionable for years to come. If you’re interested in wainscoting but do know where to start, you can always speak to our friendly customer services team who are happy to help.