picture rail

downshifted

Our 1960s bungalow has ceilings that are 8 feet high. There is currently a picture rail.

We are refurbishing in a modern style - starting on the main bedroom - think boutique hotel with a feature wall behind the bed head, 3 plain creamy walls and plush curtains and bedding

So - would you replace the picture rail and paint white above (after the re skimming job) or not? It's north facing so could do with some light - but I guess the same question applies to the sitting rooms too.

Basically - are picture rails old fashioned?

phill99

Dn't think there are any hard and fast rules about picture rails being old fashioned or not. If you like the look of it then go for it. The white feature above the pic rail and a white ceiling does have an optical illusion and makes the room look larger than it is. Do what you want!!

ormus

picture rails are very old fashioned and i dont see any trend for them to come back either.
my view is to remove them and skim over/fill any damage.

DVardysShadow

Picture rails may be old fashioned, but this is because they take some skill to mount, which does costs too much for newbuilds. If you want to hang pictures without banging nails into your walls, they are the way to go. And white above the rail with white ceilings does make for a light spacious feeling room

dander

I've got a picture rail in the main bedroom of my house - and it's white above that and white on the ceiling and the room has a wonderful light bright feel. I've wallpapered below the rail in a big bold print and the amount of bright whiteness up high, means the wallpaper doesn't look overbearing down below.

Wish I had them in more rooms, I love the effect.

wallbash

We are refurbishing in a modern style

are picture rails old fashioned?

How many modern houses have picture rails ?

If you hang picture ? would you use a picture rail ?


To sum up , dump the rail.

Mrs_Imp

I love our picture rails. We bought lovely wallpaper and rather than bash holes in our hard work, we can hang pictures from the rail. Then if we fancy changing the location of the picture we can simply shift it and don't have to worry about fixing nail damage. It also means we can move the pictures once a year to help prevent the funny fade maks you get from a picture that's been on a wall in one place for too many years. The last thing you want is to put a picture up, stand back to admire it and realise it's half an inch too far to the left but you can't move it because you've already put the nail in.

In short, if you want pictures on your wall without the hassle you get with bashing nails in, keep it. If you don't want pictures up, or don't care about nail holes and fade marks then remove it.

suisidevw

Agree, I love our picture rails too, really add some character to the rooms (1935 house). Many people buying houses are after period features so if you're thinking of selling in the near future I'd keep.

Our house we have painted below picture rails in desired colour, painted the pic rail in an eggshell and above in white........ looks great IMO.

downshifted

Funny thing is, this bungalow has far less room to hang pictures than almost any of our previous homes and we will probably have to get rid of some! Maybe one or two of the Athena originals will have to go! There are windows everywhere here - for example in the bedroom we are decorating there is a large bay at the front and a smaller window to the side - the third wall will have a range of fitted wardrobes and the last one is where the bed head will go - so hardly any space for pics.

I just wonder if the ceiling height means the proportions will be wrong if I don't keep the picture rail?

suisidevw

Would like to see a pic of some of ours?

Plasterer

suisidevw wrote: »

Would like to see a pic of some of ours?

yes please