Generic selectors
Exact matches only
Search in title
Search in content
Post Type Selectors

DIY

DIY Custom Layered Wainscoting

January 27, 2022

The wainscoting in the study is finished! When we do a project like this, we always like to bring it back to our DIY roots and share a tutorial! The fun thing about wainscoting is that there's really no wrong way to do it, and you can customize it however you'd like. We've done wainscoting 5 OTHER times, and they've all been different! From really basic, to more layered. We wanted the wainscoting in the study to look like it has been there all along, so we used more substantial materials and went for a very clean, yet intricate design. Here's how we did it!

Gather materials

These are the materials we used, but you can swap these out to achieve any look you like!

1x4-in poplar board for creating the box shape (vertical pieces are ripped down to 2-1/2-in)
1-3/8-in base cap moulding to create the chair rail
1-1/16-in stool material also to create the chair rail (typically used for window sills, but we ripped the back little nob off)
3/4-in poplar edging for the decorative pieces used inside the boxes

Hopefully this diagram is helpful in identifying what we used, and where we used it.

Gather tools

Table Saw
Miter Saw
Brad Nailer
18 Gauge Brad Nails
Wood Glue
Laser Level (our favorite!)
Laser Level Tripod (this tripod is a must because you can use the little crank to raise and lower the height)
Torpedo Level
Shims
Stud Finder
Wood Filler
Caulk

Plan out the dimensions for your wainscoting

The study has 10 ft ceilings, and we wanted the wainscoting to come up about one third of the way. Rule of thirds is a general design principal I constantly use as a guideline! We measured 36-in from the floor up and marked the height! That's where we want the top of the chair rail to sit.

Next we determined where the top poplar board will be by subtracting the 1-1/16-in thickness of the stool material by the 36-in height.

From there we marked how far up we wanted the bottom poplar board to sit. Sometimes people will install wainscoting directly above the baseboards, but in this case, we want the baseboards to be installed in front (creating an overlap). The poplar board we used for the bottom is 4-in wide (or high in this case), and will partially get covered by the baseboard, revealing our desired 2 1/2-in. The height of the baseboard, plus the 2 1/2-in height is how we determined where the top of that bottom board will sit.

Next we just measured the distance between to determine how tall our vertical pieces should be.

Again with the rule of thirds, we wanted there to be 3 "boxes" on the back wall and the side wall. The window wall was done a bit differently, and technically there are 5 boxes (one on either side of the windows, one below each, and one in between). To determine the placement for the vertical pieces, we took the total wall width and subtracted the sum width of all the vertical pieces. Then we divided that number with the amount of boxes we had (3). For example one of the walls was 175-in, and each vertical piece is 2.5-in wide and there's 4 of them. So subtract 175 by 10 (which is 2.5 multiplied by 4), then divide that number by 3. This is the distance between each vertical board.

The last thing we did was mark out where the studs are using a stud finder! This makes installing the horizontal pieces a breeze.

Install the poplar boards

Figuring out the dimensions for everything can be a bit of a headache, but it gets easier from here! Starting at the bottom, we used a laser level and tripod as a guide for the first piece. Nail the board to the wall using the Brad nailer, being sure to line up your nails to the studs for a more secure fit.

Repeat the exact steps for the upper poplar board.

For the vertical boards, we ripped the 1x4-in poplar to 2-1/2-in wide. We first installed the corner pieces and and worked our way in from there. To install we first applied wood glue before brad nailing since the boards didn't line up with any studs. We also used shims beneath some of the vertical pieces to keep the front surface flush (seen in the picture below). This isn't always essential, but this makes for a really clean end result. You can cut off the excess with an oscillating tool or just a razor blade.

Install the chair rail

Once the boxes are installed, it's time for the chair rail! If you refer to the diagram, you'll see we used stool material and base cap moulding to make our own chair rail. You can customize this with whatever material you'd like. Starting with the stool material, you'll see there's actually a little nob that we ripped off on the rear so it wouldn't stick out so far. We didn't worry about mitering any joints on the poplar boards, but we did miter all the chair rail joints, and then installed the stool material by glueing and nailing it down into the poplar boards.

After all the stool material was in, we installed the base cap material by glueing and nailing it in below the stool material, but over the surface of the poplar board.

Install the edging detail

By now you should be a pro! We made our cuts being sure to miter the edges, then installed using the same glue, nail method we've been using!

Re-install baseboards

We installed the baseboards in front of the wainscoting, partially covering that bottom poplar board. Since the baseboard is no longer sitting flush against the wall, we did periodically use wood scraps to fill the gap between the baseboard and the wall, giving more of a secure fit.

Prep for paint!

Lastly we filled all the holes and seams with wood filler, let it dry, and sanded. We used caulk to fill any gaps between the wainscoting and the wall, and also the baseboards. And that's it!

Sounds like a lot, but we did it over 2 days! Next up! A glossy mossy green paint. :)

 

See more DIY Wainscoting Right here!!

— Hide Comments
+ ShowComments
What do you think?

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

  1. We're planning on re-doing some of the cheap looking wainscotting that was existing in our house. I think the additional intricate layers would look great.
    Whenever I see the word "wainscotting" I think of the podcast episode where you guys were talking about how to pronounce it. So funny🤣

What We're

Loving

Right Now

What We're

Loving

Right Now

Looking for our favorite things? A place to shop our home room by room, or just catch up on what Julia's wearing / loving right now? Browse the CLJ shop
Shop All

Love Stories

Love Where You Live

In an industry that often feels designed to make you discontent, we want this to be place you come for inspiration, ideas, and encouragement to make the space you're already in feel like home.
Read All Posts
let's break this thing up

BROWSE BY CATEGORY

01

Portfolio

Befores, afters, mood boards, plans, failures, wins. We’ve done a lot of projects, and they’re all here.
read more
02

Projects

We have a long-standing relationship with DIY, and love rolling our sleeves up and making it happen.
read more
03

Design

Even when you don’t want to rip down a wall, you can make that space in your home better. Right now.
read more
hello world!

looking for inspiration?

Beautifully wrapped traditional presents stacked in a doorway
Gift Guides!

Holiday Gift Guides for Everyone in Your Life {2024}

Remember the thrill of unwrapping a gift that felt just right? Let's bring that magic back this holiday season!! Our curated gift guides for 2024 are filled with thoughtful picks that will make your loved ones feel special. That's what it's all about, after all. Whether you're shopping for your main guy, your clutch coworker, […]
Modern traditional kitchen with marble island and gold barstools
round up

The Best Cyber Monday Deals for Holiday Hosting

This post is sponsored by Wayfair. By the time Cyber Monday rolls around, I've usually grabbed the Christmas gifts I plan to buy for others and have moved on to home decor (my other favorite thing to shop for). My head is spinning with ideas on what my home needs for holiday parties on the […]
Sales

The Best Black Friday + Cyber Monday Deals in 2024

We collected all of the best deals of the holiday season—from tech to home decor—in one place for easy reference. Whether you want the lowest price on one of the best gifts of the year or you have a furniture item in your cart waiting for a discount, we’ve rounded up our recommendations. We're also […]
A white dish of peppermint brownies next to a red & white tea towel
Chris Cooks

Holiday Peppermint Brownies (Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free)

Baking Dish | Striped Dish Towel (similar) I have a few recipes that are perfect for the holidays, and this is one of them. I make a really delicious brownie that can be made gluten-free and dairy-free, but you won't even know it's missing those elements when the peppermint flavor hits. It's really simple, and […]
Learn With Us
Want to do what we do? Get the tools, mentorship, and training to be a Good Influencer professionally.
Learn More
Looking for Something?

SEARCH THE BLOG

We've been doing this since 2009 and we've posted a whopping 24145+ blog posts and counting. You might need a little help searching, huh?

Can We Send You Our Love Letter?

Another way for us to stay in touch! Joining our weekly newsletter gives you access to exclusive content, never-before-seen photos, your questions answered, and our favorite DIYs. Sign up below!

hello world!
Follow Along on Instagram
Welcome to our online community where we've posted home, DIY, style, renovations, and family since '09. Renovating our #cljmoderncottage in Idaho and headed for new adventures in Raleigh, NC. #cljfam #cljtransformations
© 2024 Chris Loves Julia, LLC
PRIVACY POLICYTERMS & CONDITIONSAFFILIATE DISCLAIMERSITE CREDITCOMMUNITY GUIDELINES