Does Wainscot Look Good With a Modern Vanity?

Tongue-and-Groove Boards

• Tongue-and-groove wainscoting boards are long vertical wooden boards that have small seams or indentions between each board. They can be installed one board at a time, or as a pre-made sheet cut to fit your bathroom wall. Even though tongue-and-groove wainscoting has been around since the 1800s, its casual charm complements a modern vanity. Tongue-and-groove boards are sturdy and resistant to warping even in damp bathroom conditions. To modernize this style, paint the boards white for a crisp fresh appeal.

Beadboards

• Beadboard is another wainscoting style that is constructed with narrow vertical boards that have strips, also known as beads, that flow the length of each panel. It is similar to tongue-and-groove wainscoting, but it has more texture and the boards are generally closer together. Beadboard has a classic appearance but it can be painted white or stained a wood color like oak, pine or maple for a contemporary vibe. A modern vanity with a pedestal base looks eye-appealing with beadboard wainscoting.

Raised Wooden Panels

• For a contemporary wainscoting idea, install raised wooden panels in your bathroom. Paint or stain the raised wooden panels white to match your walls and vanity. This unified look is modern and expands the visual size of a bathroom. To create an artistic design in your bathroom, paint the raised panels a complementary color. For example, if your walls are white, paint the raised panels beige, soft brown or silvery-turquoise and add matching hand towels, a soap dispenser and a throw rug in a similar color. Raised wainscoting panels add a cozy contemporary feel to a bathroom design.

Framing

• Install framed panels in your bathroom for a modern motif. Framed wainscoting panels have an open design that allows the underneath wall to show through behind the wooden frame. Since the wall around and inside the wooden frame is unchanged, the framed panels have a three dimensional contemporary design. To complement a modern vanity, paint the framed wainscoting a brushed nickel, satin nickel or bright white color.