How to Use Wainscoting in Your Home Remodel | Learn More
Blog

Wainscoting Ideas for Your Home

If you’re planning on staying in your home for the long term, you want it to match not only your lifestyle and needs but aesthetic preferences as well. Basically, your home should look exactly the way you want it to! While new kitchen cabinets, countertops, and flooring can certainly help you achieve your remodeling goals, the smaller design elements can also have a significant impact. These elements can include anything from appliances to wainscoting, custom built-ins, and décor that adds a pop of color (throw pillows, vases, etc.).

Wainscoting can often be overlooked since it’s an architectural detail that’s meant to enhance larger design elements, but it can be used to enhance nearly any space and complement all types of homes.

What Is Wainscoting?

Wainscoting is often used to enhance an interior space with architectural detail. A typical wainscot involves a wood covering of an interior wall, frequently with paneling that covers the lower portion of a wall. First utilized in the 16th century, the term “wainscot” evolved from high-quality oak imported to England from Scotland for paneling (wain scot-oak). Today, it’s a popular architectural detail and is used in homes of all styles.

Although wood is the traditional wainscot material, a number of different materials can be used, including:

  • Medium-density fibreboard (MDF) engineered wood
  • Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) synthetic plastic
  • Embossed metal
  • Embossed drywall

Wainscoting Pictures & Ideas

Many people think of wainscoting in terms of only traditional styles, but it can be used in modern spaces as well. With characteristics such as raised panels, tongue and groove styling, stained wood, or highly detailed paneling, wainscoting can provide a room with more formal, traditional architecture.

Wainscoting in Bathroom

White Wainscoting

Traditional Wainscoting

Wainscoting can also be utilized in a contemporary style with clean, simple detailing that is more informal.

Contemporary Wainscoting

Home Remodeling in Washington, DC & Surrounding Areas

When you need remodeling services in the Washington, DC metropolitan area, Wentworth is the name to know. Our award-winning team has remodeled homes throughout DC and the surrounding areas in Montgomery County, Maryland and Northern Virginia.

View our portfolio, and contact us today to get started on your remodel!

“ I just wanted to tell you how happy we are with the work you designed and oversaw...We are so proud to show the kitchen and family room to friends and relatives, and love their reactions (gasps of awe and jealousy). Mike and Enio were amazing, working so hard -- every single day, beginning at 7am -- and paying such close attention to details I never would have noticed. They clearly treated this job as their "baby," not wanting to cut corners even if they could get away with it...They also were great about cleaning up; I am positive the garage is cleaner now than before this job started! ”

A.C., Bethesda, MD