Chair rails protect your walls and add a decorative touch.
A chair rail is a thin strip of wood that goes around the perimeter of the room, located about chair height on the wall. The idea of this rail is to protect the wall if a dining room chair is pushed out and makes contact with the wall. Many chair rails are installed in dining rooms for decorative purposes to add a look of sophistication and to give the room a polished look. Chair rails can be classic and traditional or very bold depending on your taste.
Two Colors
A chair rail is a great way to add a distinguishing line between two separate wall colors. Make these colors as bold as you wish, by using bright contrasting colors such as yellow and gold, blue and gray, or use more subtle color choices such as taupe and light brown or beige. Use a white or off-white chair rail for a bright contrasting between the colors.
Bold Color, Neutral Rail
A chair rail is a great way to break apart a bright, bold wall color to make it less overwhelming. Paint the wall in a bright color such as red, bold blue, or green, and then choose a neutral-colored handrail to separate the top half of the room from the bottom.
Wall Frames
Wall frames are additional paneling used in conjunction with the chair rail. Wall frames add a sophisticated and classic look to your dining room. Choose a white, decorative chair rail around the perimeter of the room, and then install square or rectangle wall frames on the bottom half of the wall, beneath the rail. You can use large, wide wall frames, or use several smaller wall frames to make a repeating pattern around the room. If you want an edgier look, use diamonds instead of square shapes.
Bold Material
If you enjoy a modern decorating style, and want to add a bold look to your dining room, use a chair rail that is made out of a different material than the traditional wood rail. Metal chair rails can be found at home decorating stores in polished pewter and bronze. Some store also have marble chair rails, or glass rails in colors such as opal, aquamarine or peridot.
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