Everything You Need to Know About Chair Railing and Picture Frame Moulding 

Moulding and wall treatments make a huge difference if walls are boring, basic and architecturally uninteresting. It’s an easy way to add personality, depth, and highlight specific areas throughout your home. It also makes your space look 100 times more custom and expensive than it actually is.

What the heck is Chair Railing? 

Apparently, a long time ago back in the 1800s people used to stack their chairs against the walls after meals to create space. Because the wall plaster of the walls back then wasn’t strong, the chairs would damage the walls. And the solution to that was chair moulding which would prevent the chairs from digging into the wall plaster.

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What is it made out of?

It’s a long piece typically made of wood or composite material that is usually placed in a horizontal parameter around the wall. As for the design, all the trim (trim refers to all the decorative details that can be added to walls) in a room should be part of the same family, with similar detail and proportions.

Why should you care about it? 

Adding a chair railing these days is less of a protective measure and more decorative. Chair railing is great for adding architectural interest to the walls.  if you have long walls, it’s a clever way to provide separation to a vast expanse of walls that may otherwise seem overwhelming. Dividing the larger area will help you feel more comfortable mixing up colour, pattern or texture.

Where should a chair rail be positioned on a wall?

The general rule of thumb is to place the chair railing on about a third of the length of a room. But it is better to be guided by the orientation of the room than with a rule which may not be valid in different situations

What colour should the chair rail be? 

Some people paint the entire wall the same colour and use the chair railing to provide some shadows on the wall. Others paint the wall below or above a different colour. It could also be a way of introducing some pattern and texture into space by adding wallpaper or some other wall treatments like wainscotting. The chair rail itself can be stained instead of painting over it – the possibilities are infinite.

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What is picture frame moulding? 

Picture frame moulding or Panel moulding is wood or composite material trim that goes over preexisting walls. It is usually raised and decorative to accentuate flat walls. Panel moulding is designed in different profiles and styles and is commonly used on doors, walls, mantels, and cornices.

The most common use is when you find four pieces of moulding assembled to create the look of a picture frame. The moulding can be painted a different colour from the wall, but if it is painted the same colour as the wall, shadow effects are pronounced.

Where to Install:

Mostly in the formal public rooms, such as dining or living rooms.

Pros: This is a unique look that few homes have. Plus, it is very easy to build. Adding picture frame wall moulding is one of the quickest and easiest ways to make a room look more elegant.

What you need

• Chair Rail
• Caulk Gun
• Miter Saw
• Tape Measure
• Level
• Safety Gear
• Caulk
• Painter’s Putty
• Painter’s Tape
• Paint Brush, Roller, and Tray
• Corner Clamps 

How to install 

Step 1: Measure and plan

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The first thing I did was to measure correctly the entire wall. Then I created a mock-up of the wall and played around with the numbers to figure out how I was going to install the moulding. For the chair railing, I decided to continue with the window frame level because that made sense and would be more aesthetically pleasing. Finally, I marked up all the points on the wall using my water level and pen. 

Step 2: Make your cuts and dry fit.

I didn’t want the stress of cutting and measuring so I made sure the precut trims I bought were cohesive with the measurements of the panels I wanted on the wall. I was able to get away with minimal cutting on this step 

Step 3: Level and glue.

I always begin by installing the top piece of the rectangle first. I then double-check with my handheld level. I also had to constantly keep an eye that my spacing was the same throughout! Because I might have to remove these railings from the walls, I only placed the glue on the edges so that they’re not completely secured to the wall. 

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Step 4: Caulk and paint.

After you’ve sanded the trim, caulk the edges to make it look custom and finished. Once the caulk has completely set, then you can move on to painting! I prefer using a nice paintbrush with good self-levelling paint to eliminate brush marks.