32 Wainscoting Ideas That Are Brimming with Charm

In the dining area of this summer home on Long Island, designer Melissa Lee opted for soothing, moody tones sure to calm the spirit, which of course is what you want at the beach. The pale green wainscoting recalls sea mist and balances out the darker antique Thonet dining chairs surrounding an extendable No 3 table from Sibast.

Designer Anne McDonald brought some Nordic notes into the primary bedroom of this Minnesota home. In the cold temperatures of the north, wainscoting would be necessary for warmth, but in this stateside home wainscoting serves a more visual purpose. Doused in blush pink, it lightens and extends the space surrounding a busy floral print headboard and mixes easily with natural wood and wicker tones in the bedside lamp and nightstand.

Studio Peregalli is known for the drama of its inventions. In a London home steeped in history, the studio cooked up the perfect breakfast room that is equal parts opulent and welcoming. The soft white wainscoting here has almost Tudor proportions and pairs perfectly with the 18th-century painted wallpaper covering the ceiling and walls. Adding to the grand tour vibes is a 19th-century Moroccan lantern, a small table covered with a Persian textile, and 19th-century English chairs.

Elsewhere in Augusta Hoffman’s apartment, wainscoting serves as something of a frame for a more involved wallcovering. In the dining room, deep forest-green wainscoting balances the romantic hand-painted mural above by James Mobley. Bringing the room into the modern age is the custom travertine table. The chic vintage chairs are by Afra and Tobia Scarpa, and the sculptural sconces are from Pinch.

When it comes to wainscoting, simplicity doesn’t have to be boring. In this Northern California home, the subtle shiplap paneling pairs nicely with the whimsical Pierre Frey wallpaper.

As this Grey Gardens–inspired East Hamptons home proves, wainscoting can add an air of sophistication to an otherwise quirky space. The gray detailing deftly juxtaposes the Cole & Son’s wallcovering and mirror by Made Goods.

Never underestimate the power of a painted wall. In the House of ELLE Decor, the tonal combination feels elegant yet understated. The wall is painted in Pigeon, the wainscoting in Blue Gray, both courtesy of Farrow & Ball.

If you want to give your wainscoted walls a stylish edge, consider adding beadboard. Defined as a series of narrow wooden planks, beadboard is an effective way to add visual interest to your wainscoting. In this Georgian guest bathroom, the beadboard detailing is coated in Farrow & Ball's Cornforth White.

While an interior’s wainscoting deserves to be celebrated, it doesn’t have to dictate the rest of the room. By propping up a framed painting, installing a towel rack, and adding a strategically placed chair, this Connecticut home blurs the line between form and function.

This Lake Tahoe retreat takes wainscoting to the next dimension, thanks to its recessed beadboard and pronounced ledge.

Pay homage to the element's historical roots by pairing your wainscoted walls with classic features such as a grand staircase, ornate mirror, and white-washed bust. Let this storied Harlem brownstone show you how it's done.

Want to revitalize traditional wainscoting? Take a cue from this 18th century Parisian apartment and douse the walls in a vibrant shade of red.

Design rules are meant to be broken—and, yes, that includes wainscoting your walls. Wainscoting is generally defined as placing wooden panels at the bottom half of your wall, but why stop there? As this Upper West Side prewar apartment proves, the sky (or ceiling) is the limit.

What’s black, white, and chic all over? This powder room in Ernest de la Torre's upstate New York home. The black wainscoting, which is painted in Benjamin Moore's Midnight, picks up the black accents and whimsical illustrations on the Shantell Martin mural.

Flushed in Benjamin Moore's White Dove, the tall wainscoting gives this Oakland home's foyer a dash of drama. Plus, the artwork, pendant light, and brown accent paint create the illusion of a high ceiling.