How to Imitate Wainscoting

Wainscoting is widely used in interior design. It is a form of paneling that is traditionally added to the bottom half of the wall. Most people use beadboard, but you have other options to achieve this look. Wood is the best material to use, but it may be pricey. A very inexpensive way to complete this project is to use balsa wood. You can find this material at any craft store and it comes in a variety of different sizes.

• 1

  Purchase 2- to 3-inch-wide wood slats and have your local hardware store cut them to the proper height. The traditional height is 3 to 5 feet. For a modern and rustic look, use different wood slats of different widths so the design isn't so uniform. It will bring a fun and eclectic feel to the room as well.

• 2

  Adhere the slats to the wall, side by side, with a nail gun or a hammer. Make sure you use small nails.

• 3

  Cut lengths of wood molding to size and apply to the top and bottom of the rows of wood slats with the nail gun or hammer and nails.

• 4

  Fill all nail holes with wood filler, sand if necessary, and paint the wood slats and molding the color you want with a brush or a roller.

• 5

  Purchase wallpaper that looks like beadboard, as an alternative, and apply a border of thin molding to the top edge. Retailers sell the product for a very fair price and the project is somewhat easy. Some even come paintable, so you can customize it to any color.