- Chair rails were originally designed as a necessity to protect the walls of one's home. Spaces were much smaller, and often times people would bang the walls getting in and out of chairs. Originally, a strip of wood was nailed to the length of the wall, just at the height where a chair would hit. This strip was about 2 inches thick, and though not very attractive, it served it's purpose.
- Today's chair rails serve more of a decorative purpose instead of offering any actual protection, as our spaces have gotten bigger and bigger. With time, came modern machines that turn out intricate designs on the once plain strip of wood. People now add the chair railing to the entire room instead of just the wall where the chairs sit.
- Chair rails used to be measured and nailed into place according to the height of the chair itself. This was usually in an area of about 28 to 36 inches from the bottom of the floor. Today's designs allow for the chair rail to be placed at any height that the home owner or designer desires.
- The chair rail's main purpose today is design appeal. Some people like the look of breaking up a large solid colored wall. Some even paint the top half of the wall and apply wainscot or some other type of paneling to the bottom half. This design is separated by a chair rail trim board.
- Chair rails can be made out of narrow strips of wood that you paint or varnish yourself before nailing them on. You can also buy very intricate chair rails that have grooves that snap over the paneling piece at the bottom. Their use depends solely on the preference of the homeowner or designer of the room they are going in.
- Placing the chair rail at the level of the chair backs will give the room a certain old fashioned appeal that some prefer. For a more stylish and modern appeal, the chair rail is placed higher on the walls. You can even add a small shelf to the top of the chair rail to accent and display things like plates and small collectibles.
- Installing a chair rail is just a matter of measuring, marking and then checking the line with a level to ensure that the chair rail is level. This is very helpful in older homes, where the floor or ceiling may not be perfectly level. Chair rails are a quick, inexpensive way to change the look and appeal of a room.
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