How to: Country Decorating With Wainscoting
- 1). Paint the wainscot panel prior to installing it on the wall. Paint it a country color to match your decor. Choose a color like sage green, soft yellow or creamy white to work with most country color schemes. Let the panel dry overnight.
- 2). Pull off existing baseboards. Use a pry bar and a hammer to pry them away from the wall. Remove light switch covers and outlet covers and set them aside.
- 3). Locate and measure the positions of obstacles on the wall like outlets and light switches. Measure their location from the floor and from the edge of the wall.
- 4). Mark those measurements on the panel of wainscoting and cut them out with the hand saw.
- 5). Place a generous amount of construction adhesive to the back of the wainscot panel and press the wainscot panel into position. Use a caulk gun to apply the adhesive to the wainscoting.
- 6). Return the outlet and light switch covers to their original location.
- 7). Dress windows with checked valances in the same color as the wainscoting.
- 8). Add lace table toppers and runners to end tables and coffee tables. Choose lace to match the window treatment, if available. Top the tables with lamps that match or coordinate with the wainscot color.
- 9). Toss throw pillows on upholstered furniture that are color-coordinated with the wainscoting.
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