Modern wainscoting featuring black board and batten paneling transforms this office into a handsome space. Get all your work done at a stained wood desk with a brown leather and gold desk chair placed against the wall.
31 Modern Wainscoting Ideas That Are Full of Style
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Published: January 11, 2023
Updated: November 30, 2023
Nothing adds visual interest to your walls quite like wainscoting. Modern wainscoting comes in a variety of beautiful and minimalist looks that do not skimp on style. Defined as wood paneling that is fitted along the lower portion of a wall, wainscoting was originally designed to protect walls against scuffs and damage. Nowadays, wainscoting remains a popular decorative element thanks to its aesthetic appeal.
For modern homes, board and batten is commonly used because of its clean lines. The paneling can be painted in different colors, such as pink, beige, black, or gray to give the wainscoting extra oomph. It can also be painted white and paired with a colorful wall for a contemporary look. Whether for your stairway, living room, bathroom, dining room, office, or entryway hallway, a modern wainscoting wall will give your home the extra style points it needs.
02 of Two-Story Living Room with White Wainscoting
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This modern two-story living room with white wainscoting boasts an electric fireplace fitted under a flat-panel TV. A gray vintage rug laid in front of the fireplace creates the perfect space for gathering.
03 of Dining Room with White Modern Wainscoting Wall
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An autumn leaf centerpiece is arranged inside a blue glass vase perched on a light wood dining table. The dining table is paired with white upholstered chairs in this dining room boasting a white modern wainscoting wall.
04 of Entryway with Modern White Wall Paneling
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A rustic wood sawhorse console table is perched against white modern wall paneling in this beige entryway. The table stands on dark stained wood flooring under a round black frame mirror.
05 of Bathroom with Wallpaper and White Wainscoting
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A gray cabinet vanity with gold hardware is topped by a white countertop and a white vessel sink. The vanity is accompanied by a white frame mirror in this bathroom boasting white and gray patterned wallpaper with white wainscoting.
06 of Living Room with Modern Light Gray Half Wall
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A rustic two-toned white chest coffee table is perched in front of a light brown leather sofa. The sofa is seated against light gray modern wainscoting paired with white and gray printed wallpaper.
07 of Modern White Decorative Wainscoting Under Stairs
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The area under your staircase can look fresh with modern white decorative wainscoting. Fill the space with a round stained wood table displaying pink flowers arranged in a glass vase for a bright accent.
08 of Office with Dark Gray Walls and White Wainscoting
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This elegant office boasts a black-painted wood office chair seated at a black desk. A black and glass etagere is perched in the corner against dark gray walls with white modern wainscoting.
09 of Dining Room with Off White Board and Batten Wainscoting
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A gold and white chandelier is mounted above a stained wood rectangular dining table. The table is paired with beige upholstered dining chairs in this white dining room with modern off-white board and batten wainscoting.
10 of Elegant Modern Blue, White, and Gold Bathroom
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- arinsolange
A white freestanding bathtub with gold hardware sits beneath a modern squared gold candle-style chandelier in this elegant bathroom. A white-paneled focal wall and dusty blue floor tiles with white grout give the room a traditional yet modern air.
11 of White Board and Batten Modern Wainscoting
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A braided jute rug is laid in front of a light wood console table standing under a frameless circle mirror. The mirror is mounted to a beige wall with white board and batten wainscoting. Wicker and fabric baskets are set along the table’s lower shelf, while a glass vase with eucalyptus leaves accessorizes the surface of the table.
12 of White Board and Batten Half Wall with Ledge
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A gray sectional is paired with a white coffee table standing on a beige and gray vintage rug. The couch is seated in front of a white board and batten half wall with a ledge. White-framed family pictures are arranged on the ledge.
13 of Family Room with White Board and Batten Wainscoting
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This farmhouse family room with white board and batten wainscoting features a beige sectional sofa. The sofa is paired with a white coffee table. A white fireplace is fitted into a dry stacked stone wall opposite the sofa.
14 of White Shiplap Entryway with White Board and Batten Wainscoting
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An aqua door with glass is opened to reveal a white shiplap entryway with white board and batten wainscoting. Black metal coat hooks are fitted above the wainscoting under the wood window frame wall decor.
15 of Modern Dining Room with White Wainscoting
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A black metal chandelier is mounted above a stained wood rectangular dining table in this modern dining room with white wainscoting. The table is paired with blue velvet dining chairs standing on a beige area rug.
16 of Bathroom with White Modern Wainscoting
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These white bathroom cabinets with a white countertop are fitted under white medicine cabinets. A gray marble subway tile backsplash is fitted between the cabinets in this bathroom with white modern wainscoting.
17 of Hallway with White Board and Batten Half Walls
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This entryway hallway boasts rustic, herringbone brick flooring leading towards a white entrance door with glass panels. The cream-colored walls are fitted with white board and batten half walls.
18 of White Wall with Decorative Wainscoting
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A white, interior, two-panel pocket door with nickel hardware is finished with white trim. The door is fitted into a white modern wainscoting wall built next to white frame windows.
19 of Light Blue Walls with White Wainscoting
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A stained wood and black metal console table stands under a round gold frame mirror in this foyer. The foyer boasts a black-framed gallery mounted to light blue walls with white wainscoting.
20 of White Board and Batten Wainscoting with Printed Wallpaper
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A brown leather, chaise lounge sofa is paired with a beige tufted ottoman coffee table in this cozy, modern sitting room. The sofa is seated in front of a wall with white board and batten wainscoting and vibrant green and orange printed wallpaper.
21 of Gray Living Room with White Wainscoting
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This two-story living room features a beige stone floor-to-ceiling fireplace. The fireplace is flanked by black circle mirrors mounted to a gray wall with white wainscoting. A rustic wood and bronze metal square coffee table stands in front of the fireplace.
22 of Muted Blue Walls with White Wainscoting
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This hallway boasts beautiful color contrasts with white wainscoting fitted along a muted blue wall. A white bench seated under a black circle mirror creates a place to sit and admire a light wood frame gallery wall on the other side.
23 of Delicate Wallpaper in a Baby’s Nursery
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Brown decor hangs on a nursery wall with delicate wallpaper and white shiplap wainscoting. White blankets are draped over the rail of a white crib on a pink rug on the warm wood floor.
24 of Modern White Half Wall with Patterned Wallpaper
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A chrome lantern pendant light is mounted above a round, stained wood dining table with beige and wood oval back chairs. The dining set stands in front of a white modern half-wall paired with white and gray patterned wallpaper.
25 of Black Dressing Room Door with Coat Hook
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Nickel coat hook is mounted to a black door with brass door knob in this dressing room with light gray board and batten wainscoting. A black and ivory wishbone chair is tucked into a black and ivory makeup vanity.
26 of Wall with White Board and Batten Wainscoting
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This cream-colored wall is given an update with white board and batten wainscoting. A light wood floating shelf mounted above the wainscoting is ideal for displaying stylish wood frame artwork.
27 of Modern Light Pink Board and Batten Wainscoting
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Update your bathroom with modern wainscoting in a pop of color. Gold towel hooks mounted to light pink board and batten wainscoting give this bathroom wall a stylish place to hang bath towels.
28 of Gray Dining Room Walls with White Wainscoting
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A stained wood X-base dining table is lit by a modern black chandelier. The table is paired with beige and black upholstered dining chairs in this dining room featuring gray walls with white wainscoting.
29 of Staircase Landing with White Decorative Molding
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This staircase landing with white decorative molding is fitted with stained wood flooring. A gray vintage rug is laid on the landing under a black and white chandelier. Stairs with wood treads and white balusters are attached to the landing.
30 of White Board and Batten Half Wall for Laundry Room
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This farmhouse laundry room features a white, board and batten half wall fitted with black metal coat hooks. A wood frame laundry wall sign is mounted to a light gray wall above the coat hooks. A wreath of cotton bolls and gray plaid, fabric pumpkins add to the decor.
31 of Pink Drapes in White Wainscoting Bedroom
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Board and batten wainscoting occupies the walls of this slanted ceiling bedroom. Bench with white cushion sits at the end of a beige bedframe. Pink throw pillows are arranged on pink, white, and blue bedding and match pink window drapes.
