Dado rail is a wooden moulding seen in most Georgian, Victorian and Edwardian houses where period features have been preserved or restored.
What era were dado rails?
Over the Georgian period it was common to lean dining chairs up against the walls, with dado rails there to protect the décor from damage. Once the Victorian era arrived, trends evolved and these rails began to disappear, before returning at the start of the 20th century as a form of decoration.
Are dado rails old fashioned?
Are dado rails and picture rails in fashion? Despite originally being an 18th century trend, these decorative interior fittings have made quite the comeback in recent years.
What is another name for a dado rail?
chair rail
A dado rail, also known as a chair rail or surbase, is a type of moulding fixed horizontally to the wall around the perimeter of a room.
Are dado rails Georgian?
Georgian Dado Rail is available with a depth of 15mm, 18mm or 25mm. The height of dado rail is typically 70mm and we sell these in lengths of either 3050mm or 4200mm.
How high is Victorian dado rail?
Dado rails are an important feature in the interior design of your period house and are usually used at a height of around 1m. The original purpose of dado rails was to prevent the back of chairs from damaging wall coverings hence their height at around the height of the top of a chair back.
Did Victorian bedrooms have picture rails?
In the Victorian era picture rails were often only present in downstairs reception rooms and not those utilitarian Victorian rooms such as kitchens and bathrooms where practicality was the order of the day.
Is dado rail still in fashion 2022?
Although the trend for installing dado rails ebbed away when we started tucking dining room chairs under the table, with the 20th century seeing a real decline in dado rails being added, this feature is having a real renaissance. So to answer the question are dado rails in fashion, the answer is an emphatic yes!
Should you keep a dado rail?
Blank walls especially can really benefit from a dado rail as they help introduce more colour and break up what can otherwise be quite a dull view. However, do remember that they are commonly used within taller and larger rooms, as otherwise, it can contribute to the wall space looking a little cluttered.
What is the point of a dado rail?
The dado rail, also referred to as a chair rail, protected the wall in areas that would be of high traffic and have people passing or furniture touching the wall. The protection of walls was clearly very important within historical interiors.
Did Edwardian houses have dado rails?
Dado rail is a wooden moulding seen in most Georgian, Victorian and Edwardian houses where period features have been preserved or restored.
How do you Modernise a dado rail?
How to Decorate a Room with a Dado Rail
- Create space with the right positioning.
- Match the ceiling colour for added height.
- Get artistic with colour blocks and clashing.
- Combine wallpaper and paint.
- Experiment with the rail itself.
- Try a vertical or unusual placement.
- Find unique and on-trend dado rails for your home.
What is the significance of a dado wall?
A dado wall is when the lower section of the wall is different to the top section. This is usually concrete dado (lower) panel and iron upper section. Dado walls are commonly used for security reasons, however they are also used for storage requirements e.g. bulk storage buildings – Grain, Fertiliser etc.
Why is a dado called a dado?
In architecture, the dado is the lower part of a wall, below the dado rail and above the skirting board. The word is borrowed from Italian meaning “dice” or “cube”, and refers to “die”, an architectural term for the middle section of a pedestal or plinth.
Why is a dado rail called a dado rail?
The dado represents the die (also known as a dado) in classical architecture which sits above the base of the pedestal. In pre-industrial design books, the dado rail was called the dado or the wainscot cap. The term “chair rail” only came later.
Did Georgian houses have skirting boards?
Interior design in the Georgian period was notoriously minimalist in characterisation, but did feature large skirting boards, with elaborate mouldings in their rooms, setting an elegant tone for the period.
What is the difference between a dado rail and a picture rail?
Picture rails offer the option to hang decorations around your home, whilst offering decoration themselves. Dado rails are a simple way to add decoration to your walls. Both are available primed or in pine, ready to be painted or finished to match your home.
Should you paint above or below dado rail?
If a small room features a dado rail, use a strong colour below the rail and the lighter colour above. This gives the impression of the room ‘opening out’ and appearing larger than it is. If the stronger colour is used on the top area it can feel as if the walls are closing in on you.
Should I remove my dado rail?
Leave them alone! Far too much work/expense/mess to remove them if you are just after a quick update. Leave them in the hall. If they are at picture rail heights in other rooms, definitely leave.
What are 3 characteristics of Victorian design?
Interior design in the Victorian period was layered, cluttered, ornate, and eccentric.
What is the main feature of all Victorian housing styles?
These homes are identifiable by the fact that they’re primarily made of wood, which was a cheap and plentiful material in their heyday. These homes feature angled wooden framing, which is overlaid by wood decorative trim known as “stick work.” They also typically have pitched, shingled roofs and double-hung windows.