What Is the Right Bathroom Wainscoting Height?

Wainscoting is an architectural wall design that can add visual interest and a touch of elegance to any room. In the bathroom, wainscoting can add a chic alternative to tile or wallpaper. The appropriate bathroom wainscoting height stands at one-third of the entire wall height.

What Is Wainscoting?

Wainscoting is a type of decorative wall molding made up of wood panels. Originally, wainscoting was more than just an aesthetic. It started in the 18th century as a way to insulate a room, but in time, it was used to only cover a portion of the wall instead of the entire wall.

Now, it’s more decorative than functional, but it can make any room look upscale and traditional. It looks great with many colors of paint or even patterned wallpaper. If you are replacing older trim, wainscoting may boost a home’s value.

What Is the Best Wainscoting Height?

You want to work with the rule of thirds for wainscoting. Typically, wainscoting works best on the lower portion of the wall, so plan to install it on the lowest one-third section.

Depending on the room, you can also make a statement by installing wainscoting on a majority of the wall. Working with the rule of thirds, this would be two-thirds of the entire wall. In a smaller space, like a bathroom, it’s best to stick to the shorter wainscoting on one-third of the wall to keep the space from looking cramped.

For shorter walls, stick to the rule of thirds or keep wainscoting to at least 32 inches high.

How to Measure Wainscoting

When measuring for a third of the wall, you should include the baseboards and crown molding. So if your wall is 12 feet from floor to ceiling, you’ll install wainscoting from the top of the baseboard to the four-foot mark.

Things to Consider When Installing Wainscoting

Before jumping into a wainscoting project, you’ll need to consider the bathroom layout, traffic patterns, and other design elements to properly install and design the wainscoting. A nearby bathroom designer can help you iron out some of the details if you’re not comfortable DIYing it. Several common room features can cause problems when installing and calculating the bathroom wainscoting height if you’re not prepared. 

Lofted Ceilings

Lofted ceilings typically stand 15 feet high. If you divide 15 by three for the rule of thirds, that puts the wainscoting at 5 feet. However, that’s an awkward height to divide the room at because it draws the eye away from the ceiling, minimizing the effect of its height. 

You can opt to bring the wainscoting height to anywhere between 32 and 48 inches, though bathroom panels are typically 38 to 42 inches high. The wainscoting design and other design elements like window location and height can help you further narrow down the right height within that 32- to 48-inch range.

Wall Outlets

Wall outlets present two challenges when installing wainscoting. First, you have to cut the wainscoting around the outlet, and second, you have to add an electrical box extender because of the added thickness of the wainscoting. 

Cutting around the outlets requires careful marking and precise cutting, involving a measuring tape, chalk, colored caulking, or a marking pencil and a jigsaw or handsaw. Box extenders come in different depths and box sizes, so you’ll need to measure to ensure you get one that will align the outlets with the exterior of the wainscoting. 

Windows

Windows complicate adding wainscoting to the bathroom, though some types of wainscoting, like beadboard, can be easier to manage. Wainscoting requires creating equal-width panels. You may need to change the panel sizes around the windows to create a uniform appearance. 

The window width and height can also factor into your bathroom remodel design. You’ll need to factor in how much of the window’s trim will be visible, or you may need to adjust the panel height throughout the room to keep the wainscoting underneath the windows. 

Countertops and Backsplashes

Countertops and backsplashes can be handled in different ways, depending on the bathroom design. You can install taller wainscoting and use it as a backsplash. In this case, you might have to move the vanity to install the wainscoting behind it, which could increase your bathroom remodel costs because of extra materials. Another option is to install the wainscoting just below counter height so that it lines up with your vanity and doesn’t require cutting to line up with the backsplash.

How to Install Wainscoting

Installing wainscoting is possible to do yourself, although you can ensure it is aligned evenly and applied quickly with the help of a professional. If you decide to install it yourself, you would save $2 to $4 per square foot for labor, but it might not look as nice if you aren’t experienced.

Note that this project will take several days to DIY. For a professional, it may take 10 to 15 hours to install wainscoting in a bathroom.

1. Remove Trim, Baseboards, and Outlet Covers

Start by removing the trim around the windows and doors of the room, if you are replacing them to match the wainscoting, as well as the outlet covers. Be sure to switch off the electrical circuit in the room before touching the outlets.

2. Make Marks For Wainscoting Height and Studs

First, measure the wall, then measure to the height you’d like for the wainscoting. Use a pencil to mark the wainscoting height for each wall.

Use a stud finder to find the studs, which you’ll need for nailing in the wainscoting. Mark the studs with a pencil.

3. Install New Trim and Baseboards

Start by installing the new door trim and installing the baseboards around the room with a nail gun. You don’t have to replace the trim and baseboards if they already match the wainscoting.

4. Add Wall Panels

Now, it’s time to glue and nail in the wainscoting panels. The common method is to move left to right. Start in a left corner, and line the panel up with the baseboard and the line you made for the wainscoting height.

You’ll glue the wall panels until you reach a stud, where you’ll nail in the wainscoting with the nail gun.

When you come across an outlet, you’ll need to cut notches into the panels to make room for the outlet.

5. Install Corner Panels

Depending on the size of your panels and length of your walls, you might not have the perfect amount of paneling to reach from corner to corner. You’ll need to cut panels to fit the corners.

How Much Does Wainscoting Cost? 

The cost to add wainscoting to your bathroom walls depends on the wainscoting material and labor. This molding and trim style was traditionally made from wood panels, and that material is still used today. For humid or wet rooms, like bathrooms, you can also opt for ceramic tile wainscoting, which can withstand moisture better than wood.

Materials

There are several types of wainscoting materials available. Different types of wood are popular for living or dining spaces, but stick to something moisture-proof like ceramic tile or plastic for bathrooms.

• Plywood: About $1 per square foot

• Plastic: $5 to $10 per square foot

• Regular Hardwood: $10 to $20 per square foot

• Ceramic tile: $10 to $30 per square foot

• High-End or Intricate Hardwood: Up to $40 per square foot

Labor

If you are hiring a local handyperson to install wainscoting, you’ll spend about $2 to $4 per square foot or around $90 per hour for labor.

Paige Bennett contributed to this piece.