Installing a chair rail will create a dramatic addition to any room. A chair rail is basically a piece of molding that runs along the middle of your room’s perimeter. Not only does a chair rail protect your walls from furniture, but it can be a creative addition to your interior design, as well.
Many people like to dress the walls above and below the chair rail differently. For example, you may wish to paint the sections of the wall different colors or wallpaper one section and paint the other, as shown above. You may also paint or stain the chair rail the same color or a different color as the background wall – it truly is versatile!
Traditionally installed to protect walls from chairs as they were moved away from the table, chair rails also provide both a decorative finish and a means to separate two different colors or finishes on a wall.
Generally installed at around 36 inches high, chair rail is very simple to install and can easily be handled by most homeowners. The material used is a strip of molding available at any home center. Simply match the style with that of either your crown molding or the overall style of your room.
Problem: The backs of the chairs in your dining room are damaging the wall.
Solution: You can install a chair rail to protect the wall and add a more polished look to your dining room.
Equipment list:
power or manual miter saw
level
stud finder
hammer
nail set
pencil
measuring tape
sliding T-bevel
paintbrush
drill
safety glasses
Chair railing is available in several different styles and is usually sold in lengths up to 16 feet.
Make a sketch of the room, and label each wall with the exact measurements. You can use this sketch when you make your cuts.
Place a chair against the wall, and hold a scrap piece of molding on the wall at the height at which the chair hits the wall. Mark a light line on the bottom edge of the molding, and then use a level to draw a level reference line around the wall.
Locate and mark the wall studs.
Prime and paint the molding.
Use a miter box to cut the molding to size. Most corners will require a 45-degree cut. Continue reading…
Crown molding will do the trick in a hurry. Working overhead can be tiring, but the results are dramatic.
Steps for Installing Crow Molding:-
Take measurements to get the linear footage needed to span the distance to be trimmed out. Add 10 percent to this figure for waste and mistakes.
Select the style and finish you want for your new crown molding. There are many shapes and sizes to choose from.
Pick a style that suits your decor and personal taste. The finish that you put on should be purchased and applied before you start any cutting and fitting.
Try to buy your trim in lengths that will need as few splices as possible. In some cases splices are unavoidable but the fewer there are the better the finished job will look.
Stain or paint to your satisfaction, allow it to dry thoroughly.
Doing trim work is easier and more accurate with a comfortable place to work. This should consist of a long bench set up at a comfortable height – this can be as simple as several long 2-by-4s laid out on top of saw horses. This will hold your miter saw (electric or manual) and support the trim as you work on it.
Cutting the needed angles for the corners of your trim is handled most accurately with a miter saw .
Set your work station where there is power readily accessible and plenty of light.
Working over your head is tiring and awkward – a solid working platform makes the work much safer and easier. Use a heavy plank and two sturdy sawhorses or rent scaffolding on wheels to use as a platform to stand on while installing the molding.
The Chair rail is used as a decorative border 32 inches off the floor. Chair rail moulding protects the
wall from chairs, but this is only one of the uses of this versatile style of moulding. Chair rail can be
used as casing, base, wallpaper border, or panel moulding.
Chair rails is applied to a wall anywhere from 24 to 48 inches from the floor they are a beautiful accent to the room, running horizontally to form a wainscot look, while also protecting the wall from scuffs and dents from the backs of chairs.
Chair rail Molding can also be used as a Panel Molding to form panels on walls or ceilings. For larger Chair rails, use Casing with Backbands. Chair rail molding is available in MDF, Ultralite (lightweight MDF), Finger joint Pine (wood) and Polyurethane. All Chair Rail Moldings come primed.
Wall Sconce Styles
Installing a wall sconce in kitchen, bath and hallway settings is a great way to provide general lighting and accent your current decor. Wall sconces come in a wide variety of styles and finishes, from traditional to contemporary.
You can add even greater functionality by installing a wall dimmer to control the lighting level from your new wall sconce. Wall dimmers are available in a wide range of decor colors and are easy to install. Match your new wall sconce lighting a LAMPS PLUS table lamp, floor lamp, or ceiling fixture.