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So, I am thinking about adding some wainscoting to the walls, but don't know what the thought process is on where to put it. Do you only do room by room or all living area rooms, not bedrooms, etc...If I do the kitchen area, but not the living room or family room, is that appropriate? If there is any rule of thumb for putting it up, I need help. Thanks.
A traditional purpose was to protect a wall from scuffing from chairs and other furniture, with the chair rail at the top taking a lot of the abuse. The school I went to as a kid had wainscoting in all the classrooms with moveable desks and chairs. If form follows function, doing dining and kitchen areas makes sense, as do living areas if there is much activity.
I like the look, and have added some as well. I like that it adds a casualness to certain rooms. And that it wipes up easily. Put it where you want it, but don't over do it. IMO, it does not belong in every room of your house. Plus it would lose some of its "pop" if it was all over your house. I added to a half bath and kids bath, and the family/TV room.
You can put it in any room you want and no, it won't look weird if you only have it in one or two rooms. You can install wainscoting waist high, 3/4 of the way up a wall, or completely panel a room with it. Here's a pic of it 3/4 of the way up a wall, although I think of beadboard as wainscoting and this isn't beadboard:
By the way, this is a miniature room - sorry, I just couldn't find a pic of a real room.
And for me, I personally like wainscoting in the dining room, kitchen, or bathroom, although I've seen it in living rooms and hallways quite often.
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