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Cori is a freelance writer who covers interior design, gardening and houseplant care, DIYs, and trending style topics. She writes for publications like Apartment Therapy, The Spruce, and Better Homes & Gardens. When she’s not working on the next story, you’ll find her enjoying a…read more
I cover home upgrades, DIY projects, hacks, how-tos, and plants. I’ve written about home decor and renovations for more than a decade since earning my degree in Magazine Journalism from Northwestern University. Before AT, I was an editor at HGTV Magazine and This Old House Magazine.
When I read this Apartment Therapy story last year about hinge heads, decorative toppers for your door hinges, I was smitten. Tiny camouflaged secrets hidden around my home? Little whimsical surprises where you’d least expect them? Sign me up.
I didn’t buy any right away, but I couldn’t stop thinking about them. Now that it’s fall, I started, as I usually do, to think of ways to make my family’s home just a little bit cozier, which goes hand in hand with ways to make our days more whimsical in my mind. So as I began feathering my nest for the cooler weather, I thought of the hinge heads, and I decided to finally try them out.
Hinge heads are tiny pieces of decor placed atop your door hinges, meant to add a bit of whimsy in an often overlooked space. You can find ready-made ones online, like this adorable set on Etsy. Or, you can even make your own using a little trinket, a dot of hot glue, and a tiny magnet (if your hinges aren’t magnetic, you could use a small piece of sticky tack instead).
I decided to take the DIY route and began thinking of ways I could make my own hinge heads. I thought about making tiny clay figures so that I could make whatever I wanted, but I wanted that “dopamine decor” hit sooner than a trip to Michaels (and a whole new set of craft supplies) and many polymer clay tutorials later.
Next, I looked into buying sets of mini game pieces, since I’d seen people spray-painting Monopoly game pieces, but I couldn’t find exactly what I was looking for. I looked into woodland fairy garden sets, and I felt closer — adorable, whimsical, but still not quite right.
That’s when I had the brilliant idea to look at dollhouse accessories, which I have always pined after but never had the occasion to have any of my own. I spent way too long searching on Amazon and thinking about what I’d like to try for my hinge toppers. I considered lanterns and desserts before finally adding a tiny gumball machine, some flowers in glass vases, and a set of playful cats to my cart.
I also bought small magnets and ended up using some adhesive magnet tape I already had instead of hot glue. It took me about 20 seconds to cut a piece of magnet tape to shape and stick it on the bottom of the dollhouse pieces.
Then came the fun part of sprinkling them around the house. I ended up putting a smug kitten on a hinge in my girls’ room, the gumball machine in the bonus room, and a flower vase in my husband’s and my bedroom. Now comes the excitement of waiting for my kids and guests to discover them. Already, it’s made our home feel so much more whimsical — and for just a few minutes and a handful of dollars.
I’m originally from a small beach town in West Michigan, but I moved to NYC for college where I got my BS in Fashion Media from LIM College. Brooklyn is now my permanent home, where I love exploring celiac-friendly cafes or bakeries, and I’m constantly reading and bringing my…read more
Wainscoting is a beautiful and classic addition to any home architecture. This design style includes adding wood panels, chair railing (framing), or decorative moldings to the lower half of the walls. Used to make a space feel enchanting, it’s also practical because it protects the walls from everyday wear and tear.
Whether you are remodeling a traditional, modern, or eclectic home, wainscoting is a versatile way to add character and charm to your living room, bedroom, and more.
Check out our list of 21 wainscoting ideas, each with unique tips on how wainscoting can take your interior design game to a whole new level.
The classic raised panel look of traditional wainscoting is all about a timeless look.
The design includes raised panels, creating an aura of elegance. It’s a perfect choice for formal dining rooms and living spaces and can even serve as a beautiful feature of your entryway.
You can select from different panel profiles to match your own home’s overall style.
Beadboard wainscoting gives off a relaxed, cottage-style feel. Forming narrow vertical planks with beading in between, it’s ideal for coastal, rustic, or country-themed interiors.
Beadboard wainscoting is often chosen for kitchens, bathrooms, and bedrooms, creating a warm and charming energy.
The board and batten wainscoting design is a rustic and straightforward choice. It features wide vertical boards interwoven with thin battens (a strip of solid wood).
Complimenting farmhouse, country, or shabby-chic aesthetics, this design can be painted in various colors to align with your decor.
Picture frame molding adds an artsy touch by creating a series of rectangular frames on your walls. You can adjust frame size and spacing, making it a great choice for your entryway or hallways.
The frames can be highlighted with opposite colors to add depth and personality to your space.
Shiplap wainscoting has grown in popularity in recent years because it gives off a rustic, cozy feel. It is often used to create an accent wall or infuse a cottage-inspired vibe.
Featuring horizontal wooden planks with slight gaps in between, its versatility makes it a suitable choice for both traditional and modern homes.
For a clean and contemporary look, modern flat panel wainscoting is a go-to option. This design features smooth, unadorned panels, creating a sleek, minimalistic aesthetic.
This one is for you if you live in an urban apartment or a modern home and its simplicity allows it to adapt to various interior styles.
Recessed panel wainscoting adds depth and dimension to your walls.
Achieved by installing panels that are set back within a frame, it creates a three-dimensional effect that’s well-suited for formal dining rooms, libraries, and offices.
If you’re on a budget or feeling up to a do-it-yourself project, faux wainscoting can provide the illusion of wainscoting using trim pieces.
This technique adds visual interest to your walls while keeping costs in check.
While it may not offer the same level of wall protection, installation might be easier, and it’s a creative way to enhance your home’s aesthetics.
French boiserie can make any room feel luxurious with intricate, ornate details.
This style includes richly carved woodwork, gilded accents, and elaborate decorations, making it a perfect choice for elegant living rooms and dining spaces.
It also adds a touch of opulence and historical charm to any room.
Combine function and style by adding shelves to your wainscoting design.
This feature is especially useful in kitchens, home offices, or family rooms, as it provides storage and display space while adding a custom touch to your walls.
Shelves can be changed to meet your specific needs, thus adding an element of personalization to your space.
Two-tone wainscoting adds a beautiful visual while also creating contrast to your interiors.
By painting the upper portion of your wall a different color than the color below, you create a dynamic, dramatic effect.
This method adds depth and personality, making it an ideal choice for rooms in need of a bold and unique touch.
Mirrored wainscoting is where functionality meets sophistication.
In spaces like powder rooms and entryways, mirrored wainscoting adds an air of elegance and creates an illusion of more significant space by reflecting light. This choice provides both practicality and aesthetic appeal.
Feeling bold?
Try varying wall panel sizes.
Want to grab attention?
Try geometric patterns!
Whether your vibe is herringbone, chevron, or hexagonal patterns, it will add a contemporary twist to your home.
Geometric patterns are also great for modern or mid-century styles.
Elevate your room’s aura by adding hidden LED lighting to your wainscoting.
This subtle and modern touch offers a warm glow in your home, perfect for bedrooms, media rooms, and home theaters.
Hidden lights can change the atmosphere and draw attention to your room’s design.
Want walls you’ll want to touch?
Try textured wainscoting.
Materials like metal or wood can be used to create a dramatic design.
This style is perfect for spaces in need of a layer of depth, such as formal dining rooms or studies. Plus, guests won’t want to keep their hands off these panels.
Upholstering adds an opulent and cozy feel to your space. It incorporates padded panels covered in fabric or leather, offering both a tactile and inviting experience.
Upholstered wainscoting is a luxurious choice for bedrooms and dining areas, adding a touch of warmth and comfort.
If you’re feeling more of a rustic vibe in your home, reclaimed wood is the way.
The character of aged wood, complete with its knots and spots, offers a sense of history and charm. Reclaimed wood wainscoting is ideal for eco-conscious homeowners looking for a sustainable and rustic aesthetic.
Adding a pop of color to your wainscoting design by using colored panels can inject personality into your space.
In areas like the kitchen, colored panels can be used to add light to an eating area or create an accent wall, adding a focal point to the room’s design.
This choice is expressive and can tie into your overall decor.
Full wall wainscoting extends from floor to ceiling, making a bold statement.
This design, often picked for grand entryways and formal dining rooms, captures attention and boosts a room’s aesthetics.
In spaces with high ceilings, full wall wainscoting can serve as a gorgeous focal point.
Vertical strips can add height to your walls and make your space feel bigger.
This style is very useful in rooms with low ceilings.
Consider adding mirrors, wallpaper, or even playing with different colors to help maximize the space.
Wainscoting with plate rails combines function and form by adding a convenient ledge for displaying decorative plates, art, or collectibles.
This design is well-suited for dining rooms, kitchens, and cozy breakfast nooks, offering storage and a personalized touch.
22. Pair it with wallpaper
We also have an amazing collection the best floral, toile, gingham, nature-inspired, vintage, and botanical wallpaper options for every budget.
If you’re looking to update your home or simply add more elegance to a room, wainscoting is a versatile design element that can enhance the beauty and character of your home.
No matter what wainscoting idea you try, it’ll be worth the compliments. Thinking about adding wainscoting to your bathroom? Check out this post, From Chic to Cozy: 25 Bathroom Wainscoting Ideas.
We’ve also found ourselves surprisingly fascinated by podcasts about entrepreneurship, money management, and the world of business. They’re not nearly as stiff as they sound, and can lead to a lot more understanding about certain topics that we might not fully get (or get at all) when we press play.
In 15-20 minutes, The Economics of Everyday Things peels back the curtain on industries you might not think of as intricate, fine-tuned businesses – things like self-checkout machines, car colors, cemeteries, and houseplants. You’ll hear from an expert and gain a much better appreciation for the hidden decisions that go into creating everyday items.
How I Built This tells the origin stories of popular brands like Built-A-Bear, Scrub Daddy, Crumbl cookie, and hundreds more. You get to hear about their entrepreneurial beginnings, early struggles, and the keys to their eventual success – all from the founders themselves. It can be fun to hear backstories on companies you hadn’t thought much about, and even glean some business tips along the way.
We almost put The Journal in the “News” category because this daily podcast from The Wall Street Journal follows a similar format. But the topics do tend to have a business- or financial-slant, like “How Weight Loss Drugs Are Gobbling Up Small Town Budgets” or “The Big Business of Holding Back Eighth-Graders.” The hosts are also friendly, relatable, and make complex topics easy to understand.
Planet Money from NPR is probably the OG economics podcast. They joyfully and nerdily show how everything ties back to the economy and how that shapes our lives. They do a mix of explainers, experiments, and investigations. Recent episodes range from “What makes a toy go viral” to “The leaked tapes that show how the rich avoid taxes,” making it a fun smorgasbord of topics big and small.
What We Spend is a voyeuristic podcast where you get to peek into someone else’s finances. Each episode, an average person talks through what they make, what they spend it on, and what factors impact their finances. Beyond just breaching this taboo topic, you also get to learn about different careers (Broadway actress, long haul trucker, etc) and what it takes to make it in those jobs.
Money For Couples takes the What We Spend concept up several notches. Not only do you get the nitty-gritty details of someone’s finances, you basically get to sit in on a marriage counseling session. Real-life couples lay out their money troubles – overspending, mounting debt, meager savings, etc – in exchange for practical advice without any sugarcoating.