Dining Room Table Dark WoodChair Rail In Dining RoomGray Dining RoomsDining Table BoardTwo Toned Dining Room WallsTwo Color Dining RoomDining Room With Dark FloorsTwo Toned Gray WallsForwardChair rail molding divides two-toned walls in this neutral dining room. Sheer curtains and white blinds feel crisp and airy against the dark hardwood floor and black dining table. Fresh flowers and a bowl of fruit add a refreshing splash of color.Molding QuarterStandard MoldingCrown Molding AlternativeThin ChairPaint WhiteWhite PaintsPaint EctRound MoldingChair Rail MoldingForwardAlternative to crown molding: quarter-round molding and thin chair rail molding with four inches of white paint on the wall in between. Catch up on the latest HGTV show and design news right here.Edit ArticleHow to Install a Chair Rail Installing a chair rail is a project that you can do yourself with a few simple tools. The original purpose of a chair rail was to guard the wall against damage the backs of errant chairs, but a chair rail can also lend definition and elegance to a space.
Select appropriate molding to be your chair rail. Determine the height of your chair rail. You can place a chalk line or strip of masking tape on the wall to help visualize the height while you decide. It will probably be somewhere between 30 and 36 inches (75-90cm) high, though some go higher for dramatic effect. Here are other factors to consider. The height of your chairs. Whether or not you are installing the chair rail to prevent damage to the wall, compare its height to your furnishings. It will help achieve a unified look. Windows in the room. Will you break the chair rail for windows, or position the chair rail below the windows? The height of any paneling that will go above or below the chair rail. If the chair rail will mark the top edge of wainscoting, for instance, simply follow the top edge of that material. Measure and cut any miters for the chair rail, especially if you are turning any corners that are not 90º. If you have such a corner, look for an angle measuring device at your hardware store.
Measure the angle, divide by two, and cut the chair rail on each side of the corner to the half-angle measurement. Measure the length of the chair rail carefully. Paint or finish the molding. It is easier to finish the molding with it before it goes on the wall. Lay it on a drop cloth or newspapers or across a pair of sawhorses, and finish it to match other molding in your home. Paint, paper, or panel the wall behind where the chair rail will go. Locate the studs in the wall and mark them with a pencil or bits of masking tape. Measure up from the floor and/or use a level to mark the chair rail height at each end of each piece. Have an assistant help hold the chair rail at the marked height. Drive finishing nails through the chair rail all the way into the studs. Use a nail set to recess the nails slightly into the molding, so that the heads are inset. Putty over the nails. Touch up the paint or finish anywhere you have added putty or caulk.
Show more unanswered questions For a cleaner joint at the inside corners, cope the joint instead of mitering. If you're painting or papering the wall behind the chair rail at this point, consider using different, coordinating colors or designs above and below the rail. It is an inexpensive way to add definition and effect. Measure twice, cut once. If in doubt, cut a bit too long. It is easier to trim a little extra than to replace missing material. Appropriate molding for chair rails may not always be sold as such. If you think molding of a particular shape would look good as a chair rail, use it, even if it is labeled for use as a baseboard or something else. But don't use crown molding, because the pre-cut angle is unsuitable for chair rail. Use paint and varnish with plenty of ventilation and according to all package instructions. Make sure you know what you're doing. Hiring an expensive contractor can be a good idea if it means the difference between a small bill (for them) or a large bill from the hospital!
Stud finders can find other things in the wall, such as water pipes. Most construction places the studs at a standard, regular intervals. (Usually 16" to 24" apart) Measure and be careful. Miter saw or wood saw and miter boxChair rail molding is a nice touch that adds a sense of refinement and proportion to rooms, especially if you’re planning to add crown molding, too.But many folks make the mistake of putting the chair rail at the wrong height — a mistake that can make a room feel lopsided and out of proportion.“Moldings are sending you messages,” says Brent Hull, an author and molding expert. “Their purpose is to establish the scale and proportion of a space. And no molding does this job better than chair rail because it visually divides the room and instantly allows you to read the size and scale of the space.The popular myth is that chair rails protect walls from damage caused by the backs of chairs.The truth is that architects as far back as the ancient Romans and Greeks used chair rails and wood trim to divide walls into visually pleasing proportions, often with different colors to accentuate scale.
By the way, the name “chair rail” came into popular usage with the Shakers, who installed boards with pegs on dining room walls to hang chairs off the floor for sweeping and cleaning.Most experts place chair rails at one-third the distance of the ceiling height. For a standard 8-foot ceiling, they should be installed about 32 inches from the floor. Hull cautions that most people install chair rails too high on their walls.“About 28 to 32 inches is an optimum range for chair rail height,” says Hull. “Lower is always better than higher. For me, a good rule of thumb is to install chair rail molding at 25% of the height of the room. In a room with a 10-foot-high ceiling, the chair rail should be 30 inches off the floor.A good baseline width for a wood or composite chair rail molding is 2-3 inches. Chair rail molding is available in other materials, such as metal, polymers, and vinyl. Depending on the width, complexity of design, and type of material, expect to spend from a few dollars up to $100 for an 8-foot length.