Chair rail height?? At the sill or below or around?

Question

I am running chair rail around a bedroom. The marble sill is 40' from the floor the window is 39' high. Putting printable wallpaper on the bottom.  Painting the bottom a shade darker than the top.

Julies1949 · Answer

https://www.houselogic.com/remodel/remodeling-tips-advice/chair-rail-height/

Shari · Answer

While the article juiles1949 linked has good advice (1/3 the ceiling height), I don't really think it is a 'one size fits all' solution. Besides the window, I think you should also consider the furniture that will be in the room too. More than likely, your ceilings are only 8 feet, right? Following the 1/3 example, that would mean your chair rail would be approximately 32 inches from the floor. Many dressers are around that height, and beds and headboards can be even higher so, at 32 inches from the floor, most of your chair rail would not even show. Measure the height of the furniture pieces that will be in the room and if they are falling anywhere near the lower 1/3 of your ceiling height, I would place the chair rail a bit higher so it is not hidden behind all the major pieces of furniture. While I wouldn't fret too much about the bed/headboard hiding some of it, you probably would not want it all covered up if you have a lot of other furniture going in the room. (I've lived in houses with small bedrooms and small closets so sometimes you need multiple pieces of furniture for clothes storage.) If the chair rail is so low you can't see it, that pretty much defeats the purpose of having it, in my humble opinion. I say plan your chair rail placement according to your furniture.

William · Answer

To determine the height of the chair rail, measure the height of the wall, floor to ceiling and divide it by three. The general rule is that the chair rail should be about 1/3 of the way up from the floor (between 32' and 36' for an 8' ceiling).

Shari · Answer

Using MN Mom's formula with 8 ft. ceilings, the chair rail would fall at 24 inches, which even night stands would cover. Twenty-four inches is way too low!

CK · Answer

If it was me, I'd put up painter's tape at the sill on one side to the wall and below the sill on the other side to the wall. See which height you like better :-) I used to measure and measure until I realized there are hardly ever rooms that are perfect from one side to the other. Now I just eye-ball a lot of things. When they look right to you, they're right.

Shari · Answer

And what kind of window treatment are you planning? That could make a difference too.

TJ · Answer

Aesthetically it would look best running along the bottom edge of the window. I would forget the 'rules' about chair rail height.

Chrissie · Answer

the initial function of a chair rail was to protect the wall - it's not just a rule there was a reason too - so the height should be governed by the height of the top of your chair backs - as your window looks quite high this would probably fall beneath it

Becky Vaughn · Answer

My husband has been a carpenter for 50 years. Chair rail is standard at 34'. He also stated if running 4 x 8 sheets of breadboard or other paneling you can go 32 inches high so you get 3 cuts from the paneling instead of so much waste. Hope this helps

Nancy Heil · Answer

I agree that 'chair rail height' should be serviceable to the chairs or whatever is involved. I also agree that aesthetically it would look best directly below th window sill. Otherwise you are going to have 6' between the chair rail and the bottom of your window.

Sue Kiene · Answer

About 28 to 32 inches is an optimum range for chair rail height,” says Hull. “Lower is always better than higher. For me, a good rule of thumb is to install chair rail molding at 25% of the height of the room. In a room with a 10-foot-high ceiling, the chair rail should be 30 inches off the floor.

Sophia,M.,McConnery · Answer

Why are you running a chair rail in the bedroom?

Johnchip · Answer

Do standard height. But you may consider framing the window and putting a piece of wood below the window to 'attach' it to the railing.

CrowEyes · Answer

There is no 'standard height' for a chair rail when it is being used for visual effect (not a dining area/office seating area, etc.).  It really depends on the overall effect you are trying to achieve.  Take a 4' level and painters tape and try different heights of 'break' on the wall and see what feels best to you.  I have seen/implemented everything from below window/into window line/high window-line...all depends on the overall effect you are seeking.

MadameRã · Answer

Place mirror tiles along the bottom of the window (illusion to make bigger & brighter;& no need for measuring there, just place them with equal ends sticking out at sides).. Place a lovely light opened ruffled lace curtian with the length going almost to the floor (curtians opened of coarse for the effect): add small circle hooks to attach thinly rolled tight alumnium pieces made into a bendy wire, tie curtians carefully back this way with one fold only(you can bend into an interesting shape @ both ends to be different)..this tie effect looks great against mirror tiles, the whole room will come alive & the window looks automatically bigger. Madame Ra

Marie Hummel-Eisner · Answer

I would run. It in line with the sill. That way it wouldn't interfere with an end table, etc.

Int2363025 · Answer

Yes, there is a standard height.   8' ceiling is 32' from floor.  9' ceiling or taller is 36' from floor.

CrowEyes · Answer

It is the horizontal line that 'fools the eye' into making it look wider...I have seen very small rooms utilizing either just a chair rail or a full wainscot...and it entirely changes the whole, initially-closed up feeling of the room.

Cynthia · Answer

I'd love to see you frame out the window with trim to finish it off, then I'd add chair rail to the height of the lower dimension of that trim- good luck!!

David · Answer

The correct height is the middle of the rail to be centre of the top of the chair, if you are not having any chairs in the room,  you can place it where you like.  The idea of a chair rail is to stop the chair damaging the wall when placed near to the wall.

Jim L · Answer

Run the chair rail even with the sill. This way you will have one clean line around the room.

Diana Deiley · Answer

Your house, your rules! Tape up a few scrap pieces and see which one you like the most. You could go up 3/4 of the wall to create an optical illusion of a higher ceiling, one color above, another color below! Have fun. Great question.

CrowEyes · Answer

I do not believe there is any hard and fast rules when moulding is used for decoration.  When utilized for the need of a rail to protect the wall, yes...the 'rule' applies...however, relative to interior design, there are no rules...unless you want them😉

Helen Konz · Answer

If you are trying to protect the wall from chairs hitting it, do measure where the chair hits the wall and use that height, if not then choose the aesthetic that most pleases you.

Nancy · Answer

A chair rail is usually 2/3 of the wall either from the top or the bottom but never exactly in half because it makes the room look awkward. But as far as yours is concerned I would run it at the sill. From a designer and decorator😊

Deanna Mills · Answer

The correct height of a chair molding should be 33' from the floor.

Suellen Hintz · Answer

I'd tend to go with lines that incorporate the lines of the window just so your eyes don't have so many horizontal lines to look at.

Dharrisc · Answer

i believe chair rail molding was originally created to protect the wall from chairs scraping on them ... so, whatever your chair height is the height of the chair rail molding ... i think ...

Nancy · Answer

Can I ask what kind of window treatment you are planning. I have the same style windows in my bedrooms, sliders that are 3 feet high by 6 feet wide. I'm just looking for ideas to replace unsatisfactory shutters. Thanks!

Mike · Answer

Chair rail is a decorative and/or protective addition to a room. So it will either go at chair back height or at the most aesthetic height, preferably both will be close to the same height.

Chair rail height?? At the sill or below or around?

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