Dado Rail / Chair Rail
A horizontal moulding fixed to a wall at roughly chair-back height, originally designed to protect plaster from furniture damage and now used as a decorative feature.
A dado rail (called a chair rail in the US) is a horizontal strip of moulding that runs around the walls of a room, typically at around 75-90cm (30-36 inches) from the floor. It divides the wall into two sections: the dado (below the rail) and the upper wall (above the rail).
Why dado rails exist
Originally, dado rails had a purely practical purpose — they stopped the backs of chairs from damaging the plaster when pushed against the wall. The lower section of the wall (the dado) was often finished with more durable materials like wood panelling or thicker paint to withstand knocks. Today, dado rails are primarily a decorative feature used to add character and visual interest.
Using dado rails in a renovation
Dado rails offer a way to create visual interest without major structural work:
- Two-tone walls — paint above and below the rail in different colours for a striking effect
- Mixed finishes — wallpaper above with painted wood panelling below (or vice versa)
- Period character — in Victorian, Edwardian, or Georgian properties, dado rails are architecturally appropriate and can restore original character
- Modern twist — contemporary homes sometimes use a simple, square-profile dado rail at a lower height for a modern panelled effect
Proportions
The traditional rule places the dado rail at one-third of the wall height. In a room with 2.4m (8ft) ceilings, that puts it at about 80cm (32 inches). You can adjust this to suit the room, but keeping the rail roughly at chair-back height tends to look most balanced.
Installation
Like skirting boards and architraves, dado rails are a second-fix item. They are glued and pinned to the wall, then filled and painted. For the best result, use a spirit level or laser level to ensure the rail runs perfectly horizontal — even a slight slope is very noticeable on a long wall.