Dado rail

Dado Rail: To Quench your thirst to add a decorative splash to your spaces!

The love for dadoes never ends! It’s because these architectural features are inherently graceful, and unique, and stuns every eye. Redefine the structure of your room, welcome the vintage vibes, and add a wow factor to your living room or dining room walls with this secret weapon – Dado rails!

What is a Dado and Dado rail?

The term "dado" originates from the Italian word dado, which means "dice", "cube" or “plinth”. Dado is the bottom part of the wall which lies above the mopboard, skirtings, or base of the pedestal. While, skirting boards act as a junction between the floor and the wall protecting it from damage, dirt, or moisture penetration.

A Dado rail is a waist-high molding that sits right above the dado or wainscot and can be used around the perimeter of a room for decoration purposes or to protect the wall from damage. Dado rail is also called chair rail or surbase.

History of Dado Rail

Did you know that in the olden days, chairs were laid towards the edge of the room and not in the center? That’s why those walls needed protection! Dado rails can be used in combination with dadoes or simply as chair rails to protect expensive walls from furniture damage. Though dado rails lost traction at the beginning of the Victorian era they made a great comeback, as an aesthetic choice in both residential and commercial spaces.

Where to install Dado tiles?

You can select spaces that need protection, a design element, or a decorative accent and install dado tiles. The common applications of dado tiles are

• In living rooms and dining areas to protect the surface from scuffs or damages caused by furniture or foot traffic.
• On the foyer or entryway to create classic and welcoming interior designs.
• Along the walls near staircases to add a decorative element.
• Behind countertops in the kitchen backsplash area to shield from stains or oil grease.
• On the lower section of the bathroom wall, protecting it from water splashes.
• In steam rooms to give a spa-like appearance with a great aura that is satisfactory.
• In fireplace surrounds to create a catchy space apart from functionality.
• In business areas like offices, restaurants, and hotels, increase the durability and aesthetics of the walls.

You can install dado tiles at 36 inches from the floor in homes and between 47 to 59 inches in commercial areas like retail outlets, shopping centers, malls, galleries, museums, or hospitals. They are also used to divide the walls into different sections through color blocking, providing more definition, and honoring the original architectural details of any property.

Varied Materials for Dado Rails

We offer high-quality materials for durable and stylish Dado rail tiles:

• Ceramic: Lightweight and versatile, ceramic dado rails are perfect for wet areas like bathrooms, shower walls & floors, steam rooms, and kitchens, ensuring lasting performance.
• Marble: Our black marble chair railis a luxurious option that’s suitable for high-traffic areas or as a focal feature in busy spaces, and also increases the value of your property.

Maintenance is a breeze when it comes to these tile varieties, moreover, proper grouting and sealing would ensure durability and longevity.

Different Color and Size Options for Dado Rails

We have Dado rail tiles in convenient tile sizes, including 4x12, 2x12, and 1x8. You may also choose from a simple palette of colors to ramp up your design scheme:

• Neutral tones like black, gray, white, and beige tile would add to the rustic feel and give a natural look to your spaces.
• Twin shades like gray and white bullnose tile trims, baseboard tile trims, or chair railsthat give a subtle contrast with eye-catching aesthetics.

Whether you're going for a bold, modern look or a classic, understated style, our color options allow you to achieve the perfect balance.

Finishes for Dado Rails

At our tile store dado rails come in a range of stunning finishes to suit various interior decors and themes:

• Glossy Finish: Perfect for adding a sleek, polished look to walls and creating an easy-to-clean surface.
• Matte Finish: Ideal for achieving a subtle appearance thus complementing modern and minimalistic designs.
• Honed Finish: Provides a smooth yet non-reflective surface, blending elegance with practicality for both traditional and contemporary spaces.

Whether you're looking to enhance a bathroom, backsplash, or fireplace, our finishes offer the versatility to match your dream vision.

Inspiring Ideas to Use Dado Trim

• When you wish to create a full panel installation, make it cost-effective by mimicking the look of paneling or wainscoting using our decorative dado rails. Then paint the wall from the rail to the skirting board in white for an elegant look or in darker shades for high-traffic areas.
• Create the illusion of a higher ceiling by placing dado tiles at a height of 12–20 inches below the ceiling and painting them white to make your spaces open, bright, and airy.
• Place a dado rail in the center of a hallway wall and make it pop up by painting the top and bottom with a single color. Say for ex: our white dado rail with a blue highlight on top and bottom, while extending white to skirtings, staircase spindles, stringers, and risers will create a dramatic effect on your entryway or foyer.
• If you can add a white marble dado tile to a half-height bathroom tiling, extend its use to the splashback behind a basin, or create a partition in a full-height shower or tub surround wall, it will look awesome.
• Rather than using dado tiles across the perimeter of the wall, you can pick to frame a border for bold designs highlighting both the design and the dado trim.
• Dado and picture rails go hand in hand. You can create a sassy living room by decorating the area between the dado and picture rail using a unique wallpaper and making a bold statement.

Do you need help in deciding what kind of Dado rail is best suitable for your space? Get in touch with our experts by calling us at 415-316-0898 or email info@apollotile.com . You can also become a pro member to avail discount offers. We are here to make your tile trim selection a simple process so you can bring your dream visions to life.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Do you wallpaper above or below dado rail?

Both ways would work. When wallpaper is placed above, it draws attention upwards and is suitable for dining rooms. Whereas, when textured wallpapers are placed below the rail, it adds depth to your space and is a great option for hallways.

2. Where should a dado rail sit on a wall?

The standard proportion to install the dado rail is 2/5ths or 1/3rd of the wall height. It is normally placed 36 inches from the floor.

3. What is the best saw for cutting dado rail?

You can use a miter saw to cut them. A budget-friendly option would be to use a miter box with a hand saw, which also helps to cut in accurate angles and is much easier to handle for DIYers.

4. What is another name for dado rail?

Dado rail is also called a chair rail or surbase, which can be used around the perimeter of a room.

5. Is the wainscot also called dado?

Yes, the terms are used interchangeably, but generally, wainscoting refers to broader decorative paneling, while dado is the lower section of the wall that is positioned above the skirtings.

6. Do dado rails make a room look smaller?

No, they can be placed at a lower level on the wall which helps in creating an illusion of a much bigger space.

7. Do we need to grout and seal dado rails?

Grouting is recommended for both ceramic and marble rails whereas sealing is a must for marble rails to prevent water penetration and ensure durability in your surface.