When clients ask about chair rails, I often suggest that they paint everything below it a glossy white so that it becomes more of an architectural element in the room. I also love how the crisp white looks against a really bold color on top.
(This photo is Conan O'Brien's dining room, btw. Who would've thought?)
However, after an online client recently shared this inspiration picture with me, the look of flip-flopping this idea and using a really dark color on bottom and a lighter color on the top is growing on me:
It's a really bold statement that works well in this small foyer and makes the white trim stand out even more.
Here are some other ways to achieve this look--whether you have an actual chair rail to work with or not. . . .
It's even more dramatic when paired with a shiny black floor (and a black painted vanity):
Desire to Inspire
This designer created a low "chair rail" by taping off a line around the room:
TradHome
In kids' rooms, this effect can be created and can serve double duty by using chalkboard paint:
What's your take on this look? Would you do it in your home?
Thanks for the inspiration....I like it flip floped....I am getting ready to redo a dining room....maybe this is what I will try!!!
ReplyDeleteI love the 1st picture and to be honest, I'm not a big fan of the dar ones. It feels too dark, too much of a contrast for my taste. It looks okay, but not to have at my home. Now, the 1st one is a show stopper!
ReplyDeleteHave a great day!
xo
Luciane at HomeBunch.com
I've always been a fan of the clean white on the bottom, but it looks very interesting when flipped! Thanks for sharing:)
ReplyDeleteI have found that color on the bottom is great for a high-traffic area, like a mudroom.....it hides scuff marks from the kiddos and dog. Love chalkboard paint for this purpose as it already has an imperfect, cloudy appearance!
ReplyDeleteIn my son's room, I taped the walls and painted the bottom half white, the top red, and am just pretending there's a chair rail there until I find the time to put one up (or board and batten!)
Love the images you find to share. So inspiring.
I am loving the high contrast look of the black paint below the chair rail... the second image is just to die for! It keeps the space bright while still bringing in a lot of drama!
ReplyDeleteabodelove.blogspot.com
Loving this look!
ReplyDeleteThe image of the hallway is fantastic. I wouldn't have thought to go that route until seeing that one. I also like the painted one (I pinned it on interest a while back). Conan's room is pretty sweet too!
ReplyDeleteI really like both ways and cant decide what I like better. I am partial to Grey Black and White soo Maybe if different colors were used in the second photo of the hallway I might take a side.
ReplyDeleteIn Europe they use the darker colours below the chair railquite often. It was not something I had ever considered either, but after living abroad for some time and seeing it a lot, I really love the idea.It is actually quite practical as well. Little sticky fingers can't make as much of a mess on a darker colour!
ReplyDeleteOh, I love the second picture with the hallway. I really like either way as long as it's done beautifully because I love a good contrast.
ReplyDeleteJessie
www.mixandchic.com
That's exactly how our dining room/kitchen is! White on top & charcoal gray on the bottom. We love it!
ReplyDeleteI have a chair rail in my bathroom and did white on top with a pretty blue on the bottom...and who knew Conan had such style?
ReplyDeleteI agree with you Emily, I usually feel it should be painted a glossy white...but I am loving the dark and light contrast. The first image is right up my alley! Thank you for sharing a new perspective.
ReplyDeleteI think it's a great look. I have stuck to the white below, but I LOVE this look for a hallway. In fact, my wheels are turning for our upstairs hallway. Really striking look. And much cheaper to paint below then to do full wainscoting on the bottom half.
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness! I love the inspiration picture that your client sent you! I'm collecting pics for an inspiration file for when we build our next house and this one is going in it - for sure!!! :-)
ReplyDeleteGreat post!
Emily Hewett
A Well Dressed Home
awelldressedhome.com/blog
It works really well with the black and white. I still like the crisp clean white on bottom in my own home though. The kids space with the chalkboard paint is my favorite!
ReplyDeletegreat tips and photos! i love chair rails! xoxo jillian:: cornflake dreams
ReplyDeleteI love painting under the chair rail...I did it in my home when we first moved in and I love it. Great pictures!
ReplyDeleteI think white below the chair rail looks lovely---if there is wainscoting. Otherwise a darker shade, pattern, mural or wall paper looks more pleasing to the eye.
ReplyDeletei'm not a huge fan of chair rails, but i absolutely love that hallway/foyer! gorgeous! pam
ReplyDeleteYou know, I think this look would be good for a room that doesn't get a lot of natural light (i.e.: hallway, bathroom or my DR). I like it - it's cool.
ReplyDeleteI love how this look is a traditional look when painted white, but it suddenly becomes more modern if you paint it another color. I'm helping my friend redo her nursery for her new baby girl and the chalkboard chair railing is a great idea I'll have to mention (:
ReplyDeleteI love the idea, in fact we are looking at a house that has chair rail in the dining room, I'm going to do dark on the bottom and link back here...just give me a month or so.
ReplyDeleteI have a question for anyone that can help me regarding my chair rail in my dining room.
ReplyDeleteIt currently looks something similar to this
http://anthonyspringerfinewoodworking.com/images/anthonyswork221_r3wr.png
I always assumed when looking through pictures that when the whole chair rail was white on the bottom, the entire thing was wood. So I was a little bummed that I only had the thin wood lining. But can I paint the dry wall white too to make it look like the example of Conan's dining room?
Or would that look bad?
I would and have done this in my home before!! Love the navy and white and that black and white hall way is amazing!! Love that too!! Kathysue
ReplyDeleteI'm loving this look. I especially love that black and white dining room.
ReplyDeleteLooks really beautiful either way depending on the look you're creating. Great photos!
ReplyDeletePaula
I always do dark, or a wallpaper, below the chair rail unless it is a very large room. It feels more grounded. But I will keep Conan's DR in mind, thanks for the inspiration.
ReplyDeleteI would be much more apt to do this on the bottom rather than the top because it feels lighter and airier. And it really grounds a light airy look too.
ReplyDeleteCamille
We moved in to a rental last July and there is TERRIBLE maroon and navy striped wallpaper in the dining room. The lower half of the wall is "builder beige" and I am DYING to correct this problem. The biggest challenge I face is that I've never painted drywall/sheetrock, much less removed 20 year old wallpaper... so I got to thinking.. what if I put beadboard above the chair rail and then paint below?!
ReplyDeletewow, conan must have had that done a few years ago, cause that is way out of style. The darker color, almost always go beneath the chair rail. Obviously, in his dinning room, he had wainscotting... which changes things.
ReplyDeleteI would have prefered pictured frame box moldings beneath the chair rail in white, with white chair rail, with the dark blue, and then i would either have kept the same color blue or lightened it a few shades by adding white.
No doubt the blue is beautiful and it pops extremely well with the white, however, that is just too much white, all of the wainscotting accents dissapear, so why even have them?