Jaybee Posted August 11, 2018 Share Posted August 11, 2018 So I have another new (to us) house question. In the family and dining rooms, there is a chair rail that has been painted over the same color as the walls. I think it looks rather tacky myself. We are no good at fixer upper tasks (beyond simple things like painting), and really want to get the house painted before we move in. We also do not need to hire out too many jobs. I'm afraid if we try removing the chair rail, especially after it has already been painted over, that we will end up damaging the wall and creating a much bigger issue. We could, of course, just paint over it again--that would be the easiest and quickest--and most of it will not be seen. Another option might be to paint the chair rail a satin finish white. I am not sure if that would look better or worse. ? Any ideas? Remember--NOT fixer-uppers here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arctic Bunny Posted August 11, 2018 Share Posted August 11, 2018 Are the paint colours above and below different right now? Or the whole wall and chair rail are the same colour? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaybee Posted August 11, 2018 Author Share Posted August 11, 2018 Just now, arctic_bunny said: Are the paint colours above and below different right now? Or the whole wall and chair rail are the same colour? Same colors. Most of it is kind of an ugly tan, with one wall a dark grayish blue. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mlktwins Posted August 11, 2018 Share Posted August 11, 2018 (edited) Our chair rail is white semi-gloss paint and the walls are a beige flat paint. Edited August 11, 2018 by mlktwins 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pawz4me Posted August 11, 2018 Share Posted August 11, 2018 I'm no expert but I'd probably tape it off and paint it with a nice bright semi-gloss or even gloss white paint. Finish off each side with a clean bead of caulk if needed. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sherry in OH Posted August 11, 2018 Share Posted August 11, 2018 I think painting the chair rail white and the upper and lower wall the same color would make the rail standout too much. You could paint it white (or any other color) if you plan to put wallpaper either above or below the rail. If you want to do both, put a larger print on the bottom portion and a smaller coordinating print on top. An easier fix would be to paint both lower portion of the wall and the chair rail one color and paint a lighter shade on the upper wall 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaybee Posted August 11, 2018 Author Share Posted August 11, 2018 I meant gloss--I wasn't thinking. I definitely do not want wallpaper. The kitchen/dining/family are kind of open plan--they run into each other, and the kitchen cabinets are white. Due to the color of the kitchen countertops and fireplace, I think the paint will need to be a light beige/taupe shade, so there would be some contrast, but not like there would be with dark colors. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arctic Bunny Posted August 11, 2018 Share Posted August 11, 2018 If you go here, and scroll down to “Size matters”, you’ll see what I and a PP are thinking with a slight colour difference http://www.sarahrichardsondesign.com/get-inspired/makeovers/2012/12/21/finishing-touches 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pawz4me Posted August 11, 2018 Share Posted August 11, 2018 (edited) All of our houses that have had chair rails have had the walls (upper and lower) painted the same color and the rails painted white. I find multiple wall colors visually unappealing (although I may be in the minority on that) but I do like all moulding and chair rails to "pop." So I favor a bright, clean, glossy white for those. Edited August 11, 2018 by Pawz4me 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaybee Posted August 11, 2018 Author Share Posted August 11, 2018 I'm wondering about a cream on top and beige on bottom--just a couple of shades darker, which might be a bit dated, but fits the house. But like Pawz, I don't want too many different shades/colors. I prefer to add most of the contrasts through accent pictures and pieces rather than the walls. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arctic Bunny Posted August 11, 2018 Share Posted August 11, 2018 Oooo.... this site has lots of chair rails, some same colour as wall, some different! http://paintedroom.com/blog/ 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaybee Posted August 11, 2018 Author Share Posted August 11, 2018 Those don't actually look bad! Maybe what bothers me the most is the ugly tan. I'll have to think through that... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arctic Bunny Posted August 11, 2018 Share Posted August 11, 2018 4 minutes ago, Jaybee said: Those don't actually look bad! Maybe what bothers me the most is the ugly tan. I'll have to think through that... Ugly tan can do that to you! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KungFuPanda Posted August 12, 2018 Share Posted August 12, 2018 What if you paint the chair rail a few shades lighter than the walls? It’ll look better without being too contrasty. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaybee Posted August 12, 2018 Author Share Posted August 12, 2018 10 hours ago, KungFuPanda said: What if you paint the chair rail a few shades lighter than the walls? It’ll look better without being too contrasty. I'm playing around with some ideas. There is a built-in bookcase that they painted green, and I don't like it that color. So I was thinking about a blue. But I do think I prefer neutrals in fixed parts of the house, so am musing over a light tan/beige for the walls, and a darker shade for the bookcase. And then had the thought that using that same darker shade on the chair rails might look nice. It's the opposite of what you suggested, but the concept is the same. I'd also already have the paint, because I will use semi-gloss for the bookcase. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted August 12, 2018 Share Posted August 12, 2018 17 hours ago, Jaybee said: Same colors. Most of it is kind of an ugly tan, with one wall a dark grayish blue. 16 hours ago, Jaybee said: I'm wondering about a cream on top and beige on bottom--just a couple of shades darker, which might be a bit dated, but fits the house. But like Pawz, I don't want too many different shades/colors. I prefer to add most of the contrasts through accent pictures and pieces rather than the walls. I would paint the chair rail white so it stands out and then paint the upper and lower walls off the same color chip, but a darker shade on the bottom. So, when you go to a paint store and look at a paint chip, it usually has six or so colors of the same hue, but the uppermost is the lightest and the lowermost is the darkest. Pick one you like and use a light hue for the upper wall and a few shades darker for the lower wall. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaybee Posted August 12, 2018 Author Share Posted August 12, 2018 31 minutes ago, Quill said: I would paint the chair rail white so it stands out and then paint the upper and lower walls off the same color chip, but a darker shade on the bottom. So, when you go to a paint store and look at a paint chip, it usually has six or so colors of the same hue, but the uppermost is the lightest and the lowermost is the darkest. Pick one you like and use a light hue for the upper wall and a few shades darker for the lower wall. As I'm working through this, I think I want to stay with one wall color because the area is kind of "busy" with various colors and textures. There is white in the kitchen, stonework on a wide fireplace wall and a shorter wall across the room, two different kinds of flooring, plus the countertops. Your suggestion is definitely what I would do in a room that needed more interest. I'm trying to tone down the interest a little in this one, ha. But I'm still keeping that option open. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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