What Is Correct Height for Chair Rail Moldings?

Height

• Chair rails can still be used in dining rooms to protect walls and, for that use, the rail should be placed at the height on the wall that aligns with the backs of the chairs in that room. For other purposes, a general rule for chair-rail height is one-third of the total height of the wall, according to Good Millwork. So, for 8-foot ceilings the chair rail height is 32 inches. In some cases, a chair rail might be mounted higher to create a special decorative effect, such as when it is mounted at eye-level as a ledge to display pictures or other objects.

Chair-Rail Size

• Chair rails should be thinner than the door-casings in that room. A door casing is the trim installed around the perimeter of the door. A 1/8-inch difference is ideal, according to Good Millwork, although sometimes, a thicker chair rail works, too. The overall width of the chair rail should also be in proportion to both the casing and the room's baseboard. As an example, Good Millwork notes that a 6-inch chair rail might be too large to blend in with a 2 1/4-inch casing or above 3 1/4 inch baseboard. A better proportion is achieved with a 4 1/2-inch casing and 8-inch baseboard.

Wall Division

• Modern chair railing is typically made from molded wood, fiberboard, metal or vinyl. Particularly with today's walls, which are made of substances tougher than plaster, chair rails function primarily as a clean line and division to walls, inspiring decorative flair to rooms. The wall below a chair rail may be painted a different color or may be a different material from the wall above the chair rail, for example. Traditionally, the material below chair rails was wainscoting, a wood paneling.

Style

• Woods commonly used for chair-rail molding include poplar, oak and maple. Molding styles and materials should be appropriate to the house. Elaborate, more decorative-looking chair-rail moldings work well in large rooms, but simpler styles are typically used in small rooms, according to Home Addition Plus. Chair rails can also match room themes. Consider using a chair rail for a Victorian theme by painting multilevel railing in deep color tones with gold accents, Just Moulding suggests. Chair railing with a natural wood finish can help to provide a rustic touch to a room.