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Add a Wainscot Wainscoting is easy to install, versatile and adds lots of architectural detail. For more great ideas for walls, check out Today Show Tips. From "Today Show Tips" episode DTST-101

Wainscoting originated in England as part of outfitting the interiors of coaches. People started installing wood paneling to keep drafts out of their stone houses. By the 17th century, chair rails and wainscots were used to protect the walls from chairs being pushed against them. A wainscot is an easy to install and makes a big impact. Here are three examples.

Figure A

1. A true wainscot is built with a wooden chair rail (usually set about 36 inches above the floor), wooden baseboard molding and wooden infill, such as beadboard (figure A). Using plywood beadboard, which comes in 4 x 8 sheets, will make the job a lot easier. You can get them prefinished in pine and pickled finishes.

Figure B

2. Another option is to use a chair rail with some kind of wall covering below it, such as an embossed wallpaper called anaglypta (figure B), which can be painted. Anaglypta is available in a variety of patterns. It can be tricky to install, however, so you may want to hire a professional. Always use a latex paint on anaglypta. You can use two colors of paint to bring out the pattern.

Figure C

3. Create a custom look by installing two chair rails with a wallpaper border between them (figure C). Install the lower chair rail first, then add the border. The upper chair rail goes above that for a finished look. The upper chair rail should be narrower than the lower one to keep the overall effect balanced. Also consider using other materials, such as metal ceiling tiles, instead of the wallpaper border.