Does chair rail in room with 8' ceiling make room appear smaller??

12 years ago

My mbr has 8' ceilings with a 2 step tray. There is currently chair rail throughout the bedroom. The sitting room has a vaulted ceiling. Chair rail is there also.. I am repainting the entire room and wonder if I should remove the chair rail to make the room appear larger/lighter. Does it help or hurt. Will be painting same color above and below rail. It is a north facing bedroom and I thought chair rail helps add any interest to room. Looking for suggestions. Thanks..

Featured Answer

PRO

lickity split

12 years ago

Some bad advice on here with some word of mouth knowledge. Chair rails are not dated just people don't know what they are or how they should be. If anyone really cares to know more than the designer, carpenter, builder down the road here it is. I'm a framer so trim was new to me this guy saved my a@@ on a 20s style home I built new for myself. Even my final building inspector though it was a remodel with original trim. The proportions are perfect. I have talked to trim carpenters that didn't know this stuff that have been in the business 40 years.
Buy the book it will blow your mind and make you hate everything you've done in the past.

http://www.thisiscarpentry.com/2010/12/03/misused-confused-chair-rail/

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Comments (10)

farmgirl101
12 years ago
I recently repainted mbr (9' ceiling) and I took down the chair rail. I wasn't sure either at the time but I'm glad I did.... I think my room looks better without it. Good luck.
dmbnwb
Original Author
12 years ago
Thanks farmgirl
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PRO
Dytecture
12 years ago
Chair rail is a bit outdated.
dmbnwb thanked Dytecture
PRO
Patricia Colwell Consulting
12 years ago
I agree this a an outdated element
dmbnwb thanked Patricia Colwell Consulting
PRO
Lampert Dias Architects, Inc.
12 years ago
Actually, if you look up the history of chair rails, they weren't for chairs.................but to define a room and add interest to the space...............

I agree with the others that they are outdated and you might want to remove them in your house.
dmbnwb thanked Lampert Dias Architects, Inc.
PRO
User
12 years ago
I would for sure remove the chair rail. good luck!
dmbnwb thanked User
lefty47
12 years ago
HI -- Take it off ! Chair rails only make sense for dining rooms which is what they were designed for .
dmbnwb thanked lefty47
Valerie Brophy
10 years ago
last modified: 10 years ago
I have a heritage house (1911) it is basically a farm house with tall narrow windows (36" ×64" throughout the house.. It has a bay window consisting of three of those windows in the living/dining room....there is a large picture window in the front of the room and a window along the side...the space is further broken up with a couple of doorways....when we bought the house in 1990, we put chair rail throughout the house since it was the rage then, complete with wallpaper....I have been stripping it all off and painting...should I be taking down the chair rail to make the space appear larger and more open, or would I be ruining the heritage look...I'd like to take it down, especially in my living room...any ideas or advice? I forgot to mention the ceilings are 11 ft.
HU-462190266
4 years ago
It definitely chops up the room. I like things to flow.