How to figure out wainscoting spacing
November 08, 2009
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Yes, this is yet another post about picture frame molding. I got so many questions about determining the size of the boxes, so I thought I would answer that, and while I'm at it, show you the various ways I've used molding around our home...
I used the foam molding in this room, and many of you who have seen pictures of our family room have asked about these boxes. I used a large stencil (I get mine from Hobby Lobby) to make the design inside the boxes. I wanted it to be really light and barely noticeable, so I used my faux iridescent paint only for the stencil.
I never even painted them!:
Say your wall is 14 feet. (They are rarely a perfect number like that, for explanation purposes, let's go easy.) Fourteen feet is 168 inches. So maybe you want six boxes on that wall -- take out the three inches next to each box and figure out the final number. If we did six boxes, there would be seven three inch sections equalling 21 inches. Take 21 from 168 -- the number you have to work with is 147 inches.
The family room I worked on just weeks after the Bub was born. I was itching to get back to "normal" -- doesn't everyone feel like that? So a home improvement project was in order to scratch that itch. :) The Bub was in his bouncy seat the whole time I did this room -- and he slept through the whole thing!:
I used the foam molding in this room, and many of you who have seen pictures of our family room have asked about these boxes. I used a large stencil (I get mine from Hobby Lobby) to make the design inside the boxes. I wanted it to be really light and barely noticeable, so I used my faux iridescent paint only for the stencil.
I have loved it for years, but every once and a while I want to get rid of the swirls. They are fun and very subtle, but now I have a new look in mind. I'm thinking I'm going to paint the insides of those boxes with a color slightly darker than the walls. Stay tuned for that one!
In our chocolate powder room, I used real wood for the chair rail (I wanted it real thick and chunky) and the foam stuff for the boxes:
I never even painted them!:
Love that stuff!
The million dollar question -- how big do you make your boxes? It's a bit of math (ewwww!!) and some trial and error. First, you'll need to measure the wall. Then, decide how many inches you want between all of your boxes. I do a standard three inches all the way around:
Say your wall is 14 feet. (They are rarely a perfect number like that, for explanation purposes, let's go easy.) Fourteen feet is 168 inches. So maybe you want six boxes on that wall -- take out the three inches next to each box and figure out the final number. If we did six boxes, there would be seven three inch sections equalling 21 inches. Take 21 from 168 -- the number you have to work with is 147 inches. Like this:
3" (box) 3" (box) 3" (box) 3" (box) 3" (box) 3" (box) 3"
Take the remaining 147 inches and divide it by six boxes -- each box will be 24.5 inches wide. Does that make sense? If you want to vary the sizes of the boxes (I do this often) -- decide on the larger size first and then figure out what you have to work with to determine the smaller sized boxes.
I highly suggest starting at each end of the wall, and working in. So if any are slightly off, it will be the middle box on the wall. If it's off just a bit, it will look like it's supposed to be, since it's in the center. This has saved me a couple of times. ;)
I also use molding to highlight parts of our home -- the columns between our living room and dining room:
Our super duper tall staircase:
And the half wall in our loft:
This molding was from Home Depot and is plastic! Can you believe it?
It's in the molding area, but down at the outdoor trim area. It's got a great shape:
They cut like butta with a miter box and saw. Awesome.
They cut like butta with a miter box and saw. Awesome.
Oooo, I almost for got our master bathroom!:
Told you I need a support group for this stuff. Don't worry, there are plenty of rooms in this house that don't have it. Darn it.
Told you I need a support group for this stuff. Don't worry, there are plenty of rooms in this house that don't have it. Darn it.So I hope that helps! Did I make sense? Remember, you do not need a nail gun to do this in your home. It just makes it a heckuva lot more fun. ;) If you do it with a hammer and nails, you'll want long finishing nails and a drill bit to match. Drill into your wood first, then put the nail in and hang the molding. If you pound a nail in without a hole first, it will most likely split the wood.
Let me know if you decide to do it!! I'd love to see. You'll be hooked, watch out. Serious.
I really like the moulding posts lol feel free to do more. Im debating whether or not to put it in the house we just bought. We have relatively low/average ceilings and a funky open layout so I'm not sure what it would look like. Do you think this type of moulding only works with certain styles of houses?
ReplyDeleteI too love the molding posts. I love the look of your house. It looks soo classy and expensive, And I have really expensive taste, and the fact that the molding projects don't have to cost that much makes me love it even more!
ReplyDeleteI somehow don't think I'm ever going to get around to doing this myself.
ReplyDeleteSo, when you run out of walls to do more of it in your home and need a fresh wall to work on...just stop on over. Thanks.
Janell
What a real difference molding makes! So custom and finished. You've inspired me Sarah. I really love the swirls. I can't wait to see what else you with the colors.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for these molding posts! I have been dreaming of doing this myself but was in need of a good teacher. You have really helped answer so many of my questions. Now I just need a nail gun. Hmmmm...Christmas present?
ReplyDeleteMy goodness, you REALLY love molding! I think the first swirls are the prettiest and adore your staircase. How lovely :)
ReplyDeletei have alot of molding in my house as well, hubby does it though. the foam stuff we use is called MDF and looks like beautiful wood when painted. i love you stairway and master bath! i wish you could come over for a day and help me with my master bath and bedroom, ugh, that's the only downside to blogging friendships. have a great week! oh, and i am also a proud band mom! it's great isn't it?
ReplyDeleteOooh, marching band weekends! *dreamy sigh* I miss them. Did your hubby's band have championships this weekend? I wasn't able to go to the WA State championships to root for my alma mater :-( Winterguard season will be here soon; maybe I'll get my "fix" in then.
ReplyDeleteP.S. I pimped your blog on my Facebook profile today. I wondered if I could OD on moulding "how to" videos and then said I would mainline you & your blogs if I could, lol.
ReplyDeleteYes, I'm weird like that.
Thanks so much for the measurement info! Now I can finally finish my dining room! Just need a miter box and saw...
ReplyDeleteI see a dining room project in my future. ;) Love that iridescent look :) (hate the math)
ReplyDeleteWell, if you need "MA", I need "BBA".
ReplyDeleteYou KNOW what I'm talkin' about!
BEAD BOARD ANONYMOUS!!!!!!!!!!!
AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!
:-)
Layla
That's fabulous !
ReplyDeletei just love every single stinkin post about moulding. every one. we are gonna be selling this house (hopefully this spring/summer) and i can't wait to get started in the new house. so many ideas (from you...i'm not that creative ha!!)
ReplyDeleteHope you are feeling better!! Both of my girls have been under the weather. Fortunately, it doesn't seem to last long. I love all the moulding projects!! Keeping them in mind for when we get done with the other bajillion projects we are in the middle of. Why do we always do this right before the holidays???
ReplyDeleteHope you are feeling better!! Both of my girls have been under the weather. Fortunately, it doesn't seem to last long. I love all the moulding projects!! Keeping them in mind for when we get done with the other bajillion projects we are in the middle of. Why do we always do this right before the holidays???
ReplyDeleteI really love the molding. I am seriously contemplating adding to my living room / dining room combo. I hate that I no longer have a separate dining room and I want to create a bit more of a separation between the two areas as there really is no definition between the two. Just not quite sure how to accomplish it yet. It took all that to tell you I love your molding posts and to keep them coming! I am also thinking about adding bead board. Oh yeah, and all this needs to be accomplished before Thanksgiving! Yikes!
ReplyDelete~ Tracy
I have been looking for molding for my dining room - can't seem to find the great stuff like you have! Maybe I need to look in a different area at Home Depot. What is my problem??
ReplyDeleteDanielle
hi! I've been following your blog since we started remodeling our house. i'm loving the molding posts since i'm planning to use molding on our doors. So here's my question - I have very old - circa 1982 - completely flat doors. I want to put molding on the doors to bring the style closer to this decade...any suggestions on how to figure out the size of that molding?
ReplyDeleteYay, thank you soooo much for posting this about the boxes! I'm glad I'm not the only one that had this question. You make it look sooo easy, now we feel like we can do it! Loving your blog and telling everyone about it!
ReplyDeleteI lurve moulding as well. Since our house was an 80's tract house that had none! I have added it everywhere!
ReplyDelete300 band kids, wow that is a big band! Ours is only 115, but when going to a tournament with 30 bands as we did this weekend, seems like much more. We are hosting our own tournament this coming weekend, 30 bands from all over CA and one from AZ. It is crazy, and State Championships the next weekend in Fresno. Crazy buy I do love Marching SEason.
Ok I am done. ")
Well duh!!! (talking to myself) My house is 20+ years old and has a chair rail in the den, kitchen, and dining. An interior decorator told me to take it down, but I just couldn't. For the past 5 years I've been stumped on how to change it up a bit. Thanks to your post, I will be a molding box maniac. I want to do the glossy white on white for the den and dining...then maybe some open boxes for the kitchen. WORD!!! Thanks sister!!!
ReplyDeleteOk..so here is a question...
ReplyDeleteOur master bedroom has a chair rail at the very top of the wall, about 6 inches from the ceiling---where a wallpaper border used to be. (open mouth insert finger) Sorry if you have borders, but not a fan.
WWSD?? What would you do??
I missed a day! Somehow I never read Friday's post about the difference molding makes. I'm so glad I got back to it--the molding looks WONDERFUL! I do remember when your tree fell last year. That was back when I was just a lurker, before I ever ventured into the world of blogging myself. So I never left a comment saying that I felt your pain. I've lost some things in a couple of tree falls over the years. But I'm quite sure that no tree will ever dare fall in that beautiful new room! Besides, the tree will want to hug the wall to be close to the beautiful molding!!
ReplyDeleteHope you're feeling fit as a fiddle by tomorrow. Bless you.
We wanted to do molding in our dinning room since we moved in and b/c of your blog post on that MDF stuff I got hubby to bite the bullet!! It turned out awesome, love it! Another tip I would include is make sure when you are measuring for your boxes that you aren't going to run into any of your outlets!! (little prob. we had)
ReplyDeleteAnd yes, we are hooked! More molding on the way!
Great tips! I'll definitely be doing some of these. Question: On your half wall in your loft, did you do the molding at the top of the wall, or did it come with the house? If you did, how? I have a half wall in our new home, but there's nothing to finish it off. I LOVE molding too and am so glad I found your blog. It's made me daring enough to try it at my new house. We just have to move in first!
ReplyDeleteI lurve the detail inside the moulding. Wow- I'm definitely going to try that!
ReplyDeleteI am going to do some molding in my foyer! The chair railing is already there and I think the boxes would make it look so formal. Right now it is painted a light yellow just like the living room, and I am thinking of painting underneath the boxes all white? Not sure yet.
ReplyDeletethanks so much for the details! Sorry you are sick :( bummer.
ReplyDeleteCan't wait to try out the picture frame molding! One day I am seriously going to send you pictures of all the home makeover projects you have inspired! lol!
If I had a molding shaped award to give you - I would - you rock! But instead I have another little award for you in my blog! KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK! ox
ReplyDeleteBeautiful ... and great instructions!
ReplyDeleteYou are so cute! I feel as though I am over at your house having a cup of coffee. Love the instruction, still wanting to do my island in black board!
ReplyDeletehmm, love the tips, love molding!
ReplyDeleteSarah
Thanks for sharing! I'm inspired to give this a try in my master bath around the tub... it's so blah in there right now.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion you could talk about your gorgeous molding all day long and I would be happy!
ReplyDeleteI hope you get to feeling better soon!!
This really is a great way to really add some class for very little money. I have always loved adding moldings like that. But I never thought to use a different color paint to accent them. Thanks for the great ideas.
ReplyDeleteI have to ask, what do you do with marching band? My husband is a band director...just had his last football game this past weekend, and his last competition for the season the week before!
ReplyDeleteI have to ask, what do you do with marching band? My husband is a band director...just had his last football game this past weekend, and his last competition for the season the week before!
ReplyDeleteThank you for all this info about molding! My husband and I are renting right now, so I'm taking all my pent-up renovation ideas out on my mom's house. I've just about got her convinced to buy a nail gun. :)
ReplyDeleteThe swirls in the box molding is amazing!! I love it!
ReplyDeleteEvery year after Christmas I get involved in a project....think I've found the one for this year!
ReplyDeleteLoving the molding.
ReplyDeleteBtw, what is the paint color of your gorgeous chocolate powder room?
Hi Thrifty Decor Chic-
ReplyDeleteYou have been nominated for the next blogger up for KREATIV blogger award. We hope to learn seven new things about you that we may not know:) Check out http://design2explore.blogspot.com/2009/11/kreativ-blogger-say-what.html as I nominated you as one of my fav's.
Hi Thrifty Decor Chic-
ReplyDeleteYou have been nominated for the next blogger up for KREATIV blogger award. We hope to learn seven new things about you that we may not know:) Check out http://design2explore.blogspot.com/2009/11/kreativ-blogger-say-what.html as I nominated you as one of my fav's.
SOooo, I need advce on how to tell my husband I CAN DO THIS TOO!!!, lol I am completely crafty and love love love the molding thinking it would JAZZ up what we call the Chocolate room...UGH, you and me, the chocolate room while my husband is at work...what do you say?
ReplyDeleteHi Sarah! I just finished the squares on my walls and linked back to this post. I found a shortcut you might be interested in too!
ReplyDeleteI love the stencils!! They are really "in" now.
ReplyDelete