- Wainscoting, when used in living and dining rooms, tends to be more formal. Try using raised panel wainscoting in a rich, brown color in the dining room. Extend it only a third of the way up the wall. Then, paint the wall above it burgundy for a very traditional and formal look. Dark wainscoting in a living room also gives the room a more formal feel, and can be used in dens and libraries as well. For a more cottage country look, choose white wainscoting in the living room. Extend it two-thirds of the way up the wall, and paint the walls above it a light gray-blue color. Top it off with a thick molding, and hang up some country artwork, such as framed pressed flowers.
- The most common type of wainscoting used in a bathroom is white beadboard wainscoting. Not only does this give any bathroom a cozy beach look, but it creates a clean, crisp feeling and goes with any accent color. Try installing it a third of the way up the wall. Top it off with a thin piece of molding, and paint the wall above it a cheery yellow or bright blue. If you really want a beach or cottage look, cover one of the bathroom walls entirely in white beadboard wainscoting. Then, hang some hooks for robes, and a dried starfish or two directly on the wainscoting.
- In the kitchen, beadboard wainscoting often is attached to the front and sides of cabinets. In addition, it can be used as a backsplash instead of tile. You can purchase unfinished beadboard wainscoting and paint it to match the kitchen. For example, a bright red backsplash created from painted beadboard wainscoting is dramatic against white cabinets. Most local home and garden centers have white and unfinished wainscoting panels for sale at inexpensive prices.
