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How to Create an Impressive DIY Wainscoting Entryway

Aug 19, 2024 by Brooke Larsen · This post may contain affiliate links · Leave a Comment

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Spruce up the front entrance in your home with a beautiful traditional wainscoting entryway.

Are you looking to add some charm and character to your entryway? DIY wainscoting is a great way to embellish your wall space. Traditional wainscoting has been around for centuries and continues to be a popular choice among homeowners looking to add a touch of elegance to their interior walls.

In this article, we'll dive into creating a beautiful wainscoting entryway that is affordable and functional. So grab your tools and get ready to elevate your home's design style with a much-needed makeover.

Adding wainscoting to the entryway

Why I Love Wainscoting

There are a few who don't love the look of traditional batten wainscoting. It is a stunning way to create a timeless look in any room, whether that is a home office or living room, and without being overbearing like a bright paint color. I also love that it can be easily customized in different styles, like with using beadboard wainscoting or simple flat wood panels. You can opt for wainscoting on your lower walls or entire wall. And best of all, it is easy to create a wainscot wall yourself.

Supplies Used for Wainscoting Entryway

Most of the pieces I used were scraps from casing our doors which really helped the budget. However, Home Depot or your local supply store should also have what you need.

  • Baseboards - ½ " thick
  • Batten wood (vertical) - ½ " thick
  • Casing for the middle piece - ⅝" thick
  • Header material for the top (horizontal)
  • Level
  • Measuring tape
  • Nail gun by Ryobi, 16 gauge
  • Ryobi miter saw or this one with the stand
  • Ryobi sander
  • Spackle
  • Caulking

Shop all of my favorite tools here

You can also see similar wainscoting ideas here in our downstairs powder room but with using different products.

DIY wainscoting in the entryway

How to Build a Wainscoting Entryway

Follow along to see how I created my own DIY wood paneling look in my front entry. I love white walls and so these wood accents add a beautiful visual interest.

Install Base Molding

First, measure and cut your baseboard and install it with a nail gun. My baseboard is ½" thick.

Wainscoting entryway

Bottom Batten

Next, you'll want to measure and cut out all of your vertical batten slats that are on the lower portion of a wall. I spaced mine 16" apart and they are all 42" tall. It doesn't have to be perfect because you can cover up very minor imperfections and nail holes with caulk, but you'll want it pretty close. My batten boards are also ½" thick so it creates a flat panel.

building a wainscoting wall

Don't forget to use a level as you nail these pieces to make sure all of the vertical slats are the same.

Install Middle Casing

Then cut and install the middle casing. This piece was 6 ½" tall and ⅝" thick.

wood design entryway

Top Battens

After the middle casing is installed, cut and install more vertical batten slats for the upper walls. I wanted these to be different sizes from the bottom length, so I cut these to be 21" tall. And again, spaced 16" apart.

Header for Wainscoting Entryway

The final piece to install is the header for the top rail. This header is also 6 ½" tall, but you can really use another piece of casing or header that you prefer to complete your desired look.

Finishing Touches

When everything is installed, pull out your spackle for all of the nail holes. Sand and wipe everything down before caulking. Before you paint, look at your color options. You can paint your wainscoting the same as your wall color, or choose a different color. I have used color on wainscoting in two powder rooms, one wall green and another wall black. They both look stunning! I really wanted this front entry to be a bright space and kept it all a soft white wainscoting.

For more ideas on DIY wood wall treatments go here.

wainscoting entry

Completed Entry

The finished entryway! Look at how these architectural elements really dress up the space. Waincoting was the perfect choice!

To add a splash of color I found this beautiful rug . It adds that vintage cottage feel I was going for and is so soft on the feet. To keep this rug from moving around I used a dual purpose rug pad, also from Mohawk. This pad keeps the rug in place and adds a bit of cushion too.

decorating entryway

It is always fun to change up the decor too.

  • Halloween entry
  • Christmas entry
  • 9 Welcoming entry ideas
  • Pinterest-worthy entryway table decor
Shop Here

Easy Wainscoting Entryway

To avoid a dull abode, why not try sprucing up your interior with a lovely wainscoting entryway to make your home warm and inviting? Creating a custom detail like this will add value and embellishment to your space. So give it a try and take your home from blah to beautiful with a stunning wainscoting wall to impress all of your guests.

Happy DIYing!

Brooke

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About Brooke Larsen

Hello Friends! I love anything DIY and home decorator! On my blog I hope you will find home inspo. Whether it is for your next DIY project or home decor. If I can do it, anyone can!

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Hi I am Brooke I am an avid DIY-er and home decorator! I share home inspo and all of my DIY projects with step-by-step directions. I sprinkle in a few recipes to help out all of us busy moms too. If I can do it, so can you!

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