Wainscoting Design Trend in Malaysia

Do you know what wainscoting is? It’s one of the latest design trends in Malaysia and for a good reason. Wainscoting can add soul and character to your home while protecting the walls. It makes a house more desirable, especially when combined with an excellent interior design.

Wainscot paneling typically consists of wooden panels attached to interior walls. This sophisticated wall paneling makes the room feel luxurious and elegant. It has a more polished and graceful interior look than plain cement walls.

The wainscoting design trend in Malaysia became popular over the recent decade because it is cost-effective and easy to install. However, you must install the wooden panels correctly to achieve the desired classy look, or they will appear unsightly. Wainscot paneling also suits some rooms better than others. 

As such, you may wonder if the interior design trend of wainscoting is the right choice for your home. Don’t worry; we can help you to decide that. Information is power, and we ensure you have all the details. This blog elaborately talks about the benefits of wainscoting and offers tips on installing it in your home. 

A Brief History of Wainscoting 

Wainscoting was a German term initially referring to “fine-grade oak wood for paneling.” Traditional wainscoting usually obscured the bottom half of walls. Walls often got damp from constant rain, especially in the European climates. Back then, wainscoting served the practical purpose of covering up water damage. 

Over the decades, there has been considerable improvement in house piping, insulation, and rainwater drainage. As such, there was no more practical need for wainscoting to hide water damage in most homes. Eventually, wainscoting was used abundantly in old palaces and manors as a decorative element to symbolize luxury.

Should You Install Wainscot Panelling in Your Home Too?

Wainscot paneling is a timeless design that fits most contemporary and traditional interior design themes. Wainscoting can add texture to walls and generate visual interest in the room. It can also extend to cover walls from floor to ceiling and is lauded for its fresh and modern aesthetic. 

Wainscoting tends to fit bigger spaces like the dining room or living room. If you have a large area and love the aesthetics of wainscot paneling, then go for it. Wainscoting reduces the emptiness of a big space by making it feel cozier. The color of wainscot panel paints can alter the mood and aesthetics of a room. Soft paint colors and warm wood tones make a large space feel homey. Wainscot panels also divide large walls into smaller sections and provide a structure that the eye can easily follow. 

But, think twice about wainscoting if you have a small room. Wainscot paneling doesn’t fit smaller rooms because adding panels over the walls makes a small space even smaller. Cramped furniture may also obscure wainscot panels in small rooms. If you’re still unsure, consult an interior designer to discuss whether wainscot paneling is suitable for your smaller room.

While wainscoting is used more for decorative purposes in modern interior design, don’t ignore its practical benefits. Wainscot paneling also protects drywall from scuff marks and accidental bumps, which is excellent if you have young children.

How to Install Wainscot Paneling in Your Home?

Before you begin, browse some interior design websites for wainscoting ideas. Try to seek an interior designer’s advice on which wainscot design best fits your room.

You can install wainscot paneling yourself if you want to reduce costs. You could buy ready-made wood or plastic panels online to save time. After that, you can do the installation, painting, and priming yourself.

Choose good-quality paint for your wainscoting. You can use regular wall paints on the panels and rails. However, you must choose a premium paint range that is ideal for a better-quality result. You may also select enamel or melamine paint to waterproof the wainscoting, depending on the finish you want.

If you find the DIY method too labor-intensive, hire professional painters, contractors, or interior designers. Wainscoting costs slightly more than installing traditional paneling because of the elaborate artistry. Professionals charge by wall area; additional costs differ by panel length, paint color, quality, and work detail. The more intricate the work is, the higher the price.

Watch Out for These Common Risks

Damp walls are an unfortunate common risk in a tropical climate like Malaysia. Ensure the walls which you will be wainscoting are not wet or regularly exposed to rain. Dampness in the wall will quickly destroy the wainscoting finish. 

You must also ensure the wainscoting installation does not permanently destroy the walls. Avoid directly nailing the panels to the wall. It causes paint and concrete to crack where you inserted the nails, damaging your walls. Instead, screw water-resistant base panels to the wall first and paste the wainscot paneling onto these base panels after.

Interior design trends also change frequently, and you may want to replace the wainscot paneling with something else next time. Be prepared to remove the wainscoting when you crave a new look for your home. 

This article has introduced you to the wainscoting design trend in Malaysia and offered tips on what to consider when installing wainscoting. If the ideas inspire you, try this look out in your home for a refreshed and elegant interior aesthetic.