What kind of moulding do you use for wainscoting?
Matthew Wilson
Updated on January 12, 2026
The type of material used for wainscoting can be wood paneling, cope and stick panels, overlapping boards or applied moldings. Wainscoting can be as elegant and formal as a raised panel, or a simple as a flat panel with a chair rail. A chair rail is a horizontal molding attached to the wall above the wainscoting.
What material should I use for wainscoting?
Traditionally, solid wood, but these days wainscoting is also milled from plywood, plastic, and medium-density fiberboard (MDF).What kind of trim goes on top of wainscoting?
Use chair rail molding designed to sit atop paneling. It should have an L-shape in the back to sit flush with the wall and the beadboard. Trim pieces will need to be specially cut to fit seamlessly into the corners (Image 2). Use a chop saw or a circular saw with the blade set to make a 45-degree cut.What kind of trim goes on top of beadboard?
Place a second molding just below the first so the two moldings touch each other and the second one is slightly hidden below the rail cap. Use a plain, pencil molding, rope molding, dental molding or an ogee. This second molding helps add the detail to the beadboard that it might otherwise lack.Do you put trim over beadboard?
They said, "The correct way to do it is to install the baseboard first, then cut the beadboard to butt it." Their reason was so that dust, moisture, etc do not get down into the vertical gaps in the beadboard.How to Install Chair Rail and Picture Frame Moulding
Do you put wainscoting over drywall?
Tongue-and-groove boards make great wainscoting because they're easy to install with just a few basic carpentry tools. We show you how to install wainscoting directly over your existing drywall or plaster so you don't have to cut into the walls, and we include details for making custom brackets and mounting the shelf.What is cap molding?
A base cap moulding is a decorative wood profile applied to the top of a piece of baseboard to create an attractive, elegant look.What is the decorative trim on walls called?
There are many wall trims to choose from. The most popular and functional ones are chair rail, wainscoting, crown molding, baseboards, picture frame wall molding, window and door casing, and picture or plate rail.Does wainscoting make a room look bigger or smaller?
It is known that wainscoting makes a room, look smaller rather than larger, but it does depend on the color you use to paint the panels and the height of those panels. Wainscoting is mainly used to protect the lower part of a wall and to make a room look more elegant, instead of using it for sizing purposes.How do you hide seams in wainscoting?
Apply wood puttyIn order to build up a strong patch over the seam, spread on an ample supply of wood putty. Then use a wide putty knife to feather it out, sreading a portion of putty both above and below the seam. Feathering it out and spreading the wood putty over a larger area will help hide the seam.