Before listing your house for sale, are you considering a few chic improvements? Or perhaps you simply wish to give your interiors a little more personality and charm? Wainscoting could be the elegant touch your walls have been begging for. But the big question is—does wainscoting increase home value? Due to its potential return on investment as well as its aesthetic appeal, homeowners nationwide are investigating this sophisticated wall treatment.
In this post, discover what wainscoting is, the benefits of having it and how it adds value to your home when you want to sell. It will help you figure out if you should invest in wainscoting, for either your living space or when you sell.
What Is Wainscoting?
A type of paneling applied to the bottom half of interior walls is known as wainscoting and it dates back to the 16th century. Usually, it was a large, solid wood panel hung on walls to help protect and insulate formal rooms. It kept the plaster used in older houses from receiving regular damage and elevates the rooms. But it has become a style that brings together sophistication and usefulness, just as similar design trends did from the past.
Walls paneled with modern wainscoting often can be made from wood finishes, MDF or even PVC, depending on how often the setting comes in contact with water. Although it might be taller for special reasons, wallpaper is generally installed at the bottom one-third of a wall. Some popular styles that you may recognize include:
- Beadboard is ideal for cottage or farmhouse design because it is made of narrow, vertical planks with subtle grooves.
- Board and Batten creates a transitional or rustic appearance by using narrow battens to divide wide vertical boards.
- Traditional, formal, and aesthetically pleasing, elegance of raised panels are frequently found in formal spaces like dining rooms and libraries and they enhance the overall appearance.
- Flat panels are sleek, contemporary, and ideal for modern interior design.
Practical Benefits Of Wainscoting
What, then, makes wainscoting installation a popular design feature against plain walls? Let’s examine the advantages that extend beyond simple wall décor.
Versatile Designs
Almost any interior design style can incorporate raised panel wainscoting. Both traditional colonial and architectural style often look great with a certain type of wainscoting. Wood paneling can be designed in any way you like as a homeowner, so you might choose a minimal look with dark single-panel boards or rich texture with thick moldings and trims. This material stands out for stage actors and interior designers because it can be adapted to many purposes.
You can match the color and style of your wainscoting to your overall décor to increase your value of your home and room feel. Sellers find that neutral white, lighter colors wainscoting can add a touch of decorative element, attract buyers, create a timeless aesthetics and increases the room’s value.
Durability
Other then to enhance your home’s look, wainscoting offers added features to any room. Since mudrooms, stairwells and hallways are high-traffic areas, paint is important in protecting your walls there. If you’ve seen your toddler crash a toy into a wall or knock a chair into it, you know how quickly wear and tear will pile up.
You can make a wall that is tough to harm and simple to clean from stains with intricate raised panels for an understated look. When you are selling, clean interiors with painted walls make sure guests see your house at its best.
Insulation
Wainscoting is not always installed for its layer of insulation now, but having it throughout the house can give it visual appeal, mainly when living in an old house. When contemporary wall insulation is absent, adding another layer can help keep rooms warmer and less draughty. Matching it with suitable caulking and trim helps it become a decorative upgrade that uses less energy and the space feels more beautiful.
The use of PVC-based wainscoting can significantly keep bathroom walls dry and makes the room appear like a spa.
Increasing Perceived Square Footage
Unbelievably, wainscoting is crucial to enlarge a space and make it decorative. By drawing the eye upward, vertical styles like board and batten give the illusion of height and offers both aesthetic. White or light-colored panels and strategically placed trim work also reflect more light, significantly impact spaces and make them appear lighter and larger and give it elegance.
Customers will sense the spacious effect even if they are unaware of what is causing it by choosing the right wall paneling styles. You can gain practical benefits from that extra sense of space, particularly in cramped or small spaces.
Increased Market Appeal
This brings us one step closer to addressing our main query: does wainscoting raise the value of a home? Your home’s market appeal is unquestionably improved, even though it might not alter your appraised square footage.
Craftsmanship is suggested by wainscoting. This makes your house feel more like your personal style instead of just like anyone else’s. Paneling is usually associated by buyers with high-quality construction and airy look, especially when used along with other features such as tray ceilings or crown molding, adding a layer of sophistication.
Realtors agree that buyers in the right market can grow so fond of a property that they will pay more or compete with other buyers to purchase it.
Does Wall Paneling Increase Home Value?
The million-dollar question—does wainscoting increase home value?
The response is complex. Wainscoting undoubtedly affects how buyers view a property, even though it may not be a direct line item on an appraisal. Perception can be crucial in the real estate industry.
Consider it this way: You enter two houses that are almost the same. In one, the drywall is exposed, while in the other, there is exquisite white wainscoting complemented by matching trim. Which seems more luxurious? More carefully planned? More ready to move in? The house with wainscoting will make a bigger impression and won’t detract if you’re like most buyers in a competitive market.
Real estate experts claim that buyers are willing to pay more for homes that feel finished and stylish, or at the very least, move faster. Does wainscoting raise the value of a house, then? Perhaps not always directly. But indirectly, with better deals and quicker sales? Of course.
Tips To Maximize Salability With Wainscoting
A few wise choices can guarantee that your investment is worthwhile if you’re thinking about adding wainscoting to improve market appeal.
Limit Where You Put It
Wainscoting was made as an accent. An excessive amount of it can look dated or overpower a room. Select dining areas, powder rooms, bathrooms and kitchens that stand to gain the most from functionality with style and elegance.
If the architecture and style of your house don’t support it, don’t put it in every room. Strategic, subtle applications of wainscoting can create a more sophisticated vibe and it is easier to clean and maintain.
Don’t DIY Unless You Are A Professional
Wainscoting calls for accuracy. It will be easy to spot uneven cuts, misaligned panels, or shoddy caulking. Customers can tell when something has been do-it-yourself without proper training, and it may backfire rather than add value.
It’s best to hire an expert unless you know how to use woodworking tools and navigate a level. The perceived value is significantly altered by a neat, well-done installation rather than a DIY installation.
Take Care Of Your Color And Style Selections
Think classic rather than trendy when choosing your wainscoting color and style. White, off-white and light gray panels normally attract the most buyers. If you’re planning to live in the house for a long while, navy, sage and even black are good choices, but for selling, choose neutral shades.
Similarly, adapt the style to your house. While shiplap or flat panels are more appropriate for modern settings, raised panels look great in traditional homes.
Conclusion
So, does wainscoting increase home value? While it won’t necessarily make your home worth more, curb appeal can still make your house more attractive and appealing to buyers. It’s an inexpensive way to upgrade your space, bring in a timeless touch and preserve your walls.
Homebuyers adore wainscoting because it adds that extra “wow” factor to everything from grand panels in a formal dining room to cozy beadboard in a powder room.
It’s time to speak with an expert if you intend to list your house and want to make thoughtful improvements that will truly make a difference. We are fully aware of the needs and desires of local buyers. Get the most out of your house sale by getting in touch with us right now.
FAQs
Q. How Much Time Does It Take To Install Wainscoting?
A: How long the installation takes depends on the room and how complex it is, but a usual time if you hire a professional is 1 to 3 days. Time can be affected if you pick complex millwork or craftsmanship and attention to detail.
Q. Will Wainscoting Blend In With The Modern Design Of My House?
A: Absolutely. Simple flat panels or vertical slats are particularly beneficial for modern, simple or contemporary settings, especially in high-traffic areas spaces like dining rooms and living areas. It’s all about the material, the finishing and the overall visual interest.
Q. Is It Possible To Put Wainscoting In A Bathroom?
A: Yes! Remember to select materials that won’t soak up moisture such as PVC or MDF sealed with a finish and have buyer appeal. Tile wainscoting will guard your bathroom walls against wetness and give them a cozy charm.
Q. Before I Sell My House, Is Wainscoting A Wise Investment?
A: If it’s done properly. It improves the impression every home makes which helps it sell quickly for the price agreed upon. Just make sure the style remains low maintenance and that the installation is done well to make a space.
