Chair rail molding isn't just about aesthetics. Learn its historical protective purpose and how it's become a key design ...

Run the chair rail above and then a thicker baseboard up the stairs. Next, select another molding to use to outline the shape of the door; you'll have four pieces that form a square or rectangle ...

Chair rail molding and wainscoting are not the same thing, but they complement each other. In a dining room, for example, a wainscot cap, which is molding, may top the wall panels.

Wooden wainscoting often runs along the lower walls, topped by a chair rail. This area gets the most wear and tear from furniture bumps, and the wood and rail are good protectors.