23 Wainscoting Ideas That Add Instant Charm to Any Room
Adding this stylish feature is surprisingly simple.
Introducing texture into your home design is a simple way to add charm. Whether it’s draping a vintage quilt over the couch, hanging a set of sheer curtains, or adding a plush rug underfoot, texture is an essential part of any home. And one way to lean into your home’s character is with these wainscoting design ideas. These textured wall elements add visual interest to any space, from the entryway to the bedroom.
Wainscoting is a style of trim that uses wood paneling to add visual interest to the wall. While it was historically used to protect walls from scuffs and stains and provide an extra layer of insulation, today it’s more of a decorative feature.
If you already have wainscoting in your home, we’ve got plenty of ideas for bold paint colors and other ways to make it truly eye-catching. If you’re looking to add wainscoting to a room in your home, there’s sure to be an idea here that inspires your upcoming home makeover.
Ahead, designers share some of their favorite wainscoting ideas. If you’re looking for more ideas for adding something special to your walls, read what designers have to say about the comeback of wood paneling and why pros love this reinvented gallery wall idea.
Classic Picture Frame Panels
Floor-to-ceiling picture frame molding "packs a punch" in this powder room by Maggie Griffin. "With simple molding detail on the walls, the room now has architectural interest, along with more personality through the artwork, a new vanity, and a clever cafe curtain," says the Georgia-based designer.
Photo by: Brian Bieder
Sage Beadboard
Mudrooms are the perfect spot to experiment with beadboard paneling. For this modern farmhouse look, the upper walls are painted white, while the sage green beadboard below adds depth to the space.
Photo by: Sara Ligorria-Tramp
Clean Lines
If you ask designer Sarah Moore, wainscoting can be used to clearly define two different spaces. "We added wainscoting to the stair hall and the adjacent arched doorway in order to give these spaces a distinct personality as you move from the front entry through the home to the main living spaces," says Moore, the founder of Sarah Catherine Design.
Photo by: Caroline Sharpnack
Drenched in Color
Take note from ATX Interior Design and experiment with color drenching, which involving painting everything—wainscoting, walls, and trim—the same hue. Here, a moody navy blue creates a cozy feel.
Photo by: Madeline Harper
Geometric Pattern
Take an unexpected approach by building your own wainscoting with shapes. Blogger Brittany suggests painting the squares and circles before applying them to the wall.
Old Meets New
In this Connecticut colonial home, designer Diane Rath of The Rath Project paints vintage wainscoting and intricate moldings a glossy teal. An antique-inspired gold mirror and console table elevate the home's architectural details.
Photo by: Erin Kestenbaum
Paired With Wallpaper
Apply floral wallpaper above white wainscoting for a cheerful aesthetic. Take note from Jefferson Street Design and paint trim, moldings and the ceiling the same shade as the wainscoting.
Photo by: Angela Newton Roy
Rule of Thirds
In most cases, it's recommended that wainscoting runs up one-third of the wall. In this moody bedroom, blue wainscoting is paired with a dark botanical wallpaper.
Two-Tone Walls
The rule of thirds is only a suggestion—you can take wainscoting up the majority of the wall if you'd rather. Here, designer Meredith Owen pairs gray-blue wainscoting with off-white upper walls—the final look is sophisticated two-tone walls.
Photo by: Molly Culver
Dark and Moody
Pack style into a small powder room by painting panels a rich hue, like Glidden's Purple Basil. A patterned wallpaper above turns it into a striking jewel box.
Neutral Beadboard
Add interest to the entryway with classic beadboard. Take inspiration from Daley Home and paint it a warm gray and decorate the space with wicker furniture and gold accents.
Photo by: Madeline Harper
Beautiful Blue
To brighten her laundry room, this blogger installs vertical shiplap in a wainscoting style and paints it slate blue, Sherwin-Williams' Blustery Sky to be exact.
See more at Jenna Sue Design »
RELATED: 52 Laundry Room Ideas That Make the Most of a Small Space
Floor-to-Ceiling Design
Wainscoting on the entire wall fills a room with texture and dimension. Here, the walls and wood panels are painted Farrow & Ball's Pigeon, a soft blue-gray.
Double Duty
Wainscoting, painted Behr's Muted Sag, on the lower half of this cozy guest room doubles as shelving. The ledge serves as a perfect place to lean artwork and collectibles.
Light and Airy
Brighten up your dining space with sharp white wainscoting, painted to match the ceiling, molding and window trim. The walls above are painted a light gray for a subtle contrast.
Photo by: Jill Weller
RELATED: These Designers Transformed This California Home into an Airy and Open Oasis
Monochrome Moment
Coat every surface—walls, trim, and molding—in a matching hue. Take inspiration from Shannon Eddings Interiors and try a calming green in a primary bathroom.
Photo by: Molly Culver
Complement With Warm Wood
Top your DIY wainscoting with a strip of wood that's been stained dark walnut. It adds warmth to the space and doubles as a shelf—ideal for leaning books and artwork in this cozy nursery.
Pattern Play
From the checkerboard rug and upholstered dining chairs to the geometric wallpaper and picture frame wainscoting, this dining room is loaded with shapes and patterns. Interior designer Liz Goldberg paints molding, trim and wainscoting a glossy blue for added charm.
Photo by: Abigail Jackson
Calming Color Palette
Settle on a nature-inspired color palette—think shades of green and creamy beige. A leafy wallpaper ties the "greige" wainscoting to the plush green sofa.
Match the Trim
Pastel blue walls and trim, paired with a white-and-gold patterned wallpaper, bring charm into this traditional dining room.
Photo by: Raquel Langworthy
Alyssa Gautieri (she/her) leads Good Housekeeping’s gift guide strategy. She writes and edits commerce content, where she analyzes lifestyle trends, shopping data, and works closely with the Good Housekeeping Institute to recommend top-tested products. Previously, she was the associate lifestyle editor for GH and wrote for publications including ELLE Decor, BobVila.com, and Unique Homes Magazine. When she’s not tracking down buzzy products, you can find her walking her dog, Skye, around Jersey City.
Monique Valeris is the home design director for Good Housekeeping, where she oversees the brand's home decorating coverage across print and digital. Prior to joining GH in 2020, she was the digital editor at Elle Decor. In her current role, she explores everything from design trends and home tours to lifestyle product recommendations, including writing her monthly column, "What's in My Cart."
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