How to Paint & Wainscot a Room

Paint a room before installing wainscoting.

Wainscoting is a particular style of paneling installed on the lower portion of interior walls. Wainscot is typically constructed of beadboard, tongue-and-groove boards or decorative panels. Adding wainscoting to freshly painted walls can give a room a more traditional and elegant appearance while adding texture and visual interest to walls. Wainscoting also helps protect walls, according to Thisoldhouse.com. Because wainscoting comes in a variety of colors, it's possible to select a color that complements your paint and decor perfectly. For best results, paint your walls completely before installing wainscoting.

Things You'll Need

• Large sponge
• Dishwashing liquid
• Water
• Canvas tarps
• Painter's tape
• Painting trays
• Primer
• Paint
• Paint brushes
• Paint rollers
• Wainscoting
• Cap rail
• Molding
• Pencil
• Level
• Wood glue
• Miter saw
• Brad driver
• Brad nails
• Hammer
• Nails
• Drill

Instructions

Painting a Room

1. Remove all wall hangings, and pull the furniture away from the walls.

2. Use a large sponge that has been dipped in a mixture of dishwashing liquid and water to clean your walls thoroughly; removing all dirt and stains, reports Real Simple magazine.

3. Cover the furniture and floors with canvas tarps. Seal the edges of the tarps using painter's tape, according to Thisoldhouse.com. Use painter's tape to cover all trim, hardware and electrical outlets you don't want to paint.

4. Fill a painting tray with primer. Coat the painting roller evenly by dipping it into the tray of primer. Use the roller to apply the primer to the wall, covering it completely. Allow the primer to dry thoroughly before proceeding.

5. Fill a painting tray with a generous amount of paint. Dip a 2-inch angled brush into the paint, covering a third of the brush with paint. Use the brush to paint a straight line against the edge where wall meets trim.

6. Coat the painting roller evenly by dipping it into the tray of paint. Use the roller to roll the paint onto the wall in a "W" or "M" shape, according to Thisoldhouse.com. Use vertical strokes to fill in empty spaces, covering the wall completely.

7. Remove the painter's tape once the wall is dry to the touch. Allow the paint to dry thoroughly before beginning the wainscoting installation.

Installing Wainscoting

1. Place a wainscoting board vertically against the wall. Set a 4-inch level horizontally on the board. Using a pencil and the underside of the level as your guide, create a continuous layout line around the room where the wainscoting will go, according to Thisoldhouse.com.

2. Apply a generous amount of wood glue to the back of each panel of wainscoting, and stick it to the wall. Use the level to be sure that the wainscoting is straight and level. Use two nails to nail the wainscoting to the wall.

3. Continue installing the wainscoting until you reach the electrical outlet. Measure the outlet, and use a combination square to mark the outline for the cutout on the wainscoting board.

4. Use a jigsaw to cut out the notch to accommodate the electrical outlet. Position the wainscoting board around the outlet, and apply it to the wall using the same method you used on the other boards. Repeat this step on both sides of the outlet.

5. Place two pieces of cap rail flush to the wall, overlapping them at the corner. Use a pencil to draw a line on both sides of the wall where the top rail overlaps the bottom one.

6. Remove the top rail, holding the bottom rail against the top of the wainscoting. Create a diagonal line representing the angle of the miter joint by using a combination square to connect the two lines, according to Thisoldhouse.com. After cutting the first miter, use the rail to mark the angled cut on the other rail.

7. Use glue and compressed wood biscuits to join both rails at the corner. Miter and glue all joints, and nail the cap rail to the wainscoting. Apply the molding to the underside of the cap rails using brads and a brad driver.

References

• This Old House: How to Paint a Room
• This Old House: How to Install Wainscoting
• Real Simple Magazine: How To Paint a Wall