Decorating
Inspirational Ideas for Dado and Picture Rails
No pressure, but what you decide to do above and below a dado or picture rail can change the whole look of a room...
These architectural features are beautiful in themselves. Realise their full potential, though, and they can define a space and extend it, reflect progression through a house, and provide framing devices for the boldest of prints.
Lift a ceiling
Picture rails not only provide a hard edge for painting, they can give the illusion of a higher ceiling if painted in the right way.
In this living space, the deep blue below the rail is instrumental in creating the character of the room, but it’s the white at the top that keeps the room airy and bright rather than dark and moody.
Picture rails not only provide a hard edge for painting, they can give the illusion of a higher ceiling if painted in the right way.
In this living space, the deep blue below the rail is instrumental in creating the character of the room, but it’s the white at the top that keeps the room airy and bright rather than dark and moody.
Swap in a peg rail
A picture rail doesn’t have to be, well, a picture rail. This modern country-style bedroom uses a peg rail as an alternative. It’s a great idea that allows artwork and decorative pieces to be hung in a less traditional way. It also sits comfortably with country style.
If you don’t fancy having an all-around-the-room peg rail, confine it to a single wall or alcove.
Find more wall storage in the Houzz Shop
A picture rail doesn’t have to be, well, a picture rail. This modern country-style bedroom uses a peg rail as an alternative. It’s a great idea that allows artwork and decorative pieces to be hung in a less traditional way. It also sits comfortably with country style.
If you don’t fancy having an all-around-the-room peg rail, confine it to a single wall or alcove.
Find more wall storage in the Houzz Shop
Highlight by contrast
Use one single paint colour at the top and bottom of a wall to allow a dado to stand out. In this hallway, deep Prussian blue sets off brilliant white woodwork perfectly, allowing the run of the dado to be mirrored by the skirting board below.
Continue the use of white onto the staircase spindles, stringers and risers, too. Using a mix of dark and light like this creates a hallway with a dramatic feel.
Use one single paint colour at the top and bottom of a wall to allow a dado to stand out. In this hallway, deep Prussian blue sets off brilliant white woodwork perfectly, allowing the run of the dado to be mirrored by the skirting board below.
Continue the use of white onto the staircase spindles, stringers and risers, too. Using a mix of dark and light like this creates a hallway with a dramatic feel.
Tile at half height
If your bathroom lacks architectural features, try a dado with a run of half-height tiling. These metro tiles, laid brickwork fashion, add a hint of Victoriana with a modern edge. Go for contrasting grout for added impact.
Continue around the room to create a splashback behind the basin, then take them to full height in a shower or around a bath.
If your bathroom lacks architectural features, try a dado with a run of half-height tiling. These metro tiles, laid brickwork fashion, add a hint of Victoriana with a modern edge. Go for contrasting grout for added impact.
Continue around the room to create a splashback behind the basin, then take them to full height in a shower or around a bath.
Contain a bold design
Dado and picture rails have the benefit of framing areas, allowing you to choose bolder designs that might be too much across an entire wall.
It’s also less expensive to cover restricted spaces, so you can splash out on your favourite design. Match below-dado walls to a leaf shade on a large-scale floral, as the designers of this room have, to create a nicely balanced feel.
Dado and picture rails have the benefit of framing areas, allowing you to choose bolder designs that might be too much across an entire wall.
It’s also less expensive to cover restricted spaces, so you can splash out on your favourite design. Match below-dado walls to a leaf shade on a large-scale floral, as the designers of this room have, to create a nicely balanced feel.
Combine pattern and colour
Team a deep, saturated paint shade with a coordinated wallpaper design and counterbalance both with crisp white.
Pattern and deep shades can work together like this when used in the right proportions – and dados and picture rails provide that for you.
The space between a picture rail and a dado is the sweet spot that can carry all manner of pattern. The wallpaper design in this sassy living room picks up on the deepest blue below the dado, and is saved from turning garish by the white elements in its own design and by the white upper walls and ceiling – a good design trick to keep in mind.
Team a deep, saturated paint shade with a coordinated wallpaper design and counterbalance both with crisp white.
Pattern and deep shades can work together like this when used in the right proportions – and dados and picture rails provide that for you.
The space between a picture rail and a dado is the sweet spot that can carry all manner of pattern. The wallpaper design in this sassy living room picks up on the deepest blue below the dado, and is saved from turning garish by the white elements in its own design and by the white upper walls and ceiling – a good design trick to keep in mind.
Opt for a picture shelf
If you don’t have a dado or picture rail, why not combine the function of the two with a narrow shelf at dado height that can display framed artworks? This has the advantage of a display without the need for picture hooks or fitting hanging wire.
A shelf like this works particularly well in rooms with low ceilings or loft spaces, where a narrow shelf has the visual appeal of both a picture rail and a dado.
Tell us…
Have dado and picture rails helped you transform a space? Share your decorating experiences in the Comments section.
If you don’t have a dado or picture rail, why not combine the function of the two with a narrow shelf at dado height that can display framed artworks? This has the advantage of a display without the need for picture hooks or fitting hanging wire.
A shelf like this works particularly well in rooms with low ceilings or loft spaces, where a narrow shelf has the visual appeal of both a picture rail and a dado.
Tell us…
Have dado and picture rails helped you transform a space? Share your decorating experiences in the Comments section.
Use beading to create the look of wainscotting, then paint the wall from dado down to skirting board.
In white like this, it’s perfect for a landing, but in high-traffic areas such as stairwells or hallways, go for a dark colour that will easily disguise knocks and scuff marks.
Some heavily textured Anaglypta and Lincrusta wallpapers can create the illusion of Georgian wood panelling, too, as well as attractive period and contemporary patterns.
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