- Possible wainscotting materialWooden panel image by andrus from Fotolia.com
Wainscot paneling, according to WordNet, is a "panel forming the lower part of an interior wall when it is finished differently from the rest of the wall." Wainscoting is a practice from the 16th century. At that time, buildings did not include methods of combating moisture, so wainscoting became a way to hide moisture-related problems. The beauty of the wainscoting, which was made from different materials, became a fad used by wealthy landowners, and continues to this day. If you are considering incorporating wainscoting in a room, there are many wainscot paneling ideas from which you can choose. - Beadboard is a wainscot paneling practice that dates back to the 1700s. It is defined as a "raised panel, flat panel and beadboard." Historically, beadboard wainscoting is installed with the panels running perpendicularly with the floor. An idea for wainscot paneling is to install the panels horizontally to the floor.
- Burlap as wainscotting can give your room a rustic look. You can either attach them to the wall as is, or dye or paint the burlap before attaching it to the wall. Install it at the height you wish, then finish it with a piece of molding.
- Made from ceramic, terra cotta, marble or granite, tile is another idea for wainscoting. Tiles can be plain or patterned to create murals or mosaics. Bullnose tiles at the top can add a finishing touch--a transition from the ceramic to the wall--or molding.
- Linen is a wainscoting idea that was popular in the Arts and Crafts era. Formed by dying the linen the same shade as stained wood, the wainscoting is then adhered to the wall with wood battens.
- Barn board is a wainscot paneling idea that, like the burlap, gives your room a rustic look. A benefit to this idea is that the barn board paneling can come from reclaimed lumber. Reclaimed lumber has a nice patina of age and a variation of shades, which adds character to the wood.
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