Recessed Wainscoting Wall
I’m excited to say we’ve finished the recessed wainscoting wall. The last part of this project I shared was the DIY Transom Window Entryway Before and After.
We started this last project for the wall in much the same way as when we built the entryway. There are certainly many ways to make a wainscoting wall. A lot of techniques are complicated and can get expensive. The wall we built is simple and inexpensive. Total price: $83.00 plus paint that we already had.
Before and after. Ignore the front door that sticks out like a sore thumb now. I’ve known from the start that we’d need a new door. Pretty soon the door will be white with a beautiful decorative glass window.
Jump straight to the wainscoting photos by clicking the below links. Watch the 3 How-To Videos.
Here’s a list of how we did the wainscoting project:
- First we drew the recessed wainscoting pattern on the wall with a pencil using precise measurements being square and level and to get an idea of how it would look.
- Next we used the wall measurements to draw the wainscot pattern on the birch plywood for exact cuts.
- Cut four exact rectangular openings in the 1/2 inch birch plywood to create the recessed appearance.
- Cut moulding pieces. We used base cap pieces and made miter cuts to fit inside the rectangular openings.
- Installed the 1/2 inch plywood using glue and nails.
- Glued and nailed all miter cut moulding pieces.
- Added chair rail
- Primed and painted using painter’s caulk on all the seams.
DRAW PATTERN ON THE WALL 
Humor me because I know it may be hard to see the pencil drawings on the wall and plywood below.
DRAW SAME PATTERN ON THE BIRCH PLYWOOD 
We used a 1/2 inch 4×8 sheet of birch plywood.
After making all the cuts we laid out on the driveway and placed the moulding pieces to make sure they fit.
An easy way to organize the miter cuts is to number each group. Here we’ve numbered them 1-4 to correlate with the openings. This made it super easy to grab and install, as you will see in the video below.
Wainscot Wall
Nailed and glued the recessed panel to the wall.
NEW WAINSCOT WALL
The fun part after painting was standing back and admiring our new white wall.
We are really pleased with how it all turned out and happy to finally be done.The wall color is Palladian blue by Benjamin Moore.
The next project is the front door.
A new fiberglass door with decorative glass is around $1200. Our DIY idea is to order just the glass window that is about $327.00, saving at least $800 dollars. I think I’m more excited about the door now than the entryway. The idea is to cut out the opening in the door and insert the decorative glass window and then paint the door white. So stay tuned.
That’s what is on our list. What on your list of to-dos?
EASY RECESSED WAINSCOTING
What more details on how we built the recessed wainscoting wall?
Videos: How to build a recessed wainscoting wall Part 1-3
It all started here:
Gray Paint Colors with Wood Trim
Paint the Dining Room and Build an Entryway
DIY Transom Window Entryway Idea
Hello. It looks very nice. What did you use to cut the opening in the birch plywood? Thanks.
Hi The Smiths, We used a jigsaw to cut the opening in the birch plywood.
Hi! I stumbled upon your website in a Google search. I’ve enjoyed touring your posts and seeing you lovely projects come to fruition.
Thanks for some great ideas!
Your welcome and I am happy to hear from you today Jane.
The decorative glass is a nice touch. It really just adds that extra ambiance to the rest of the woodwork. Great work!
Thank you so very much Drew, you just made our day with such a nice compliment. You have an eye for detail with noticing the glass.
Hi Sue,
Just stumbled across your site today looking for wainscoting ideas. I just started mapping out a lot of it in my own home but want a thick appearance almost exactly like you have here. I was wondering how wide your stiles were without the shoe molding please? Just looking at it, seems to be about 5 inches? Also what is the overall height floor to rail please? Thank you! Loving the rest of your site!
Hi Steve, it is nice to hear from you today. The height floor to rail is 34 1/2 inches. You have a very good eye as the width of the stiles without the shoe moulding is 4-1/2 inches. Hope this helps and let us know if you have any other questions.
Thank you Sue….so fast on the reply!. I know there is no norm but I feel the wider stiles with thick interior molding make it look so much better. Have a great day and thanks again!
Hi there,
Can you please share what type of moulding you used for the miter cuts?
Hi Brian, the moulding is from Menards, a store like Home Depot, and is 11/16 inch x 1-3/8 inch pine base cap moulding that comes in 8 foot lengths. Available in Pine or Oak.
So beautiful! You guys did a fantastic job. Love the color of the walls too. Thank you for this tutorial Sue. I look forward to all your future projects.
Well thank you so very, very much Chrissy. The color of the walls are even more beautiful in person and is kind of dreamy. I will be painting the bow window white soon too believe it or not.
Sue, The wainscoting came out beautifully! Hubby did a phenomenal job on cutting and installing the panels. The white paint against the blue is lovely. Bravo lady, I hope you take a bow for a job well done! I really want to thank you for all of the detailed how to pictures that I can use for reference when I start my project. Thank you so much….. Candy
PS: Happy Easter!
Happy Easter to you too! Can’t wait to come see the bunny table. Thank you for the compliments Candy, it means a lot to us. I’m happy to hear the photos are of good use for you as it is hard explaining as well I’d like. I hope you’ll share your room with us when it is done or it can be featured here for sure if you don’t share it on your page.
Hi Sue, Just to let you know your comment on my post came as a no-reply blogger . That happens to me every couple of weeks…. Have wonderful afternoon.
Just saw your blue bunny table and everyone needs to hop over there to enjoy it!
He reminds me of Norm Abram from This Old House. It looks amazing.
Since you’re a design expert Jenny Lynn, I am honored you think it is amazing. I can’t wait to tell him about your comparison to Norm Abram- you rock!
This is remarkable!! He did an amazing job. I love the videos too!
Thanks Crystal especially since you do so many videos. I can’t wait until the door is done.
Lovely just plain lovely! When I own a house again someday I would want it that way!
Thank you Suzie! We plan to do the hallway sort of like this too. It all takes too long and I am impatient and want it done yesterday.
Now that’s a transformation! What a great job your hubby did! As I said before, he needs to go into business he will have endless work! I just love the thing! Awesome vids too!
Thank you for such a rave reviews Carolann. Tim is now your biggest fan and appreciates your comments.
Sue, it looks great! I like your money saving idea for the door too – it’s amazing how pricey front doors can get!
Thank you Cyndi, we are loving it. We could get a steel door for a song, but he wants fiberglass. The door project is exciting, but makes me nervous as one wrong cut and we don’t have a door.