inspiration · Picture Frame
Charcoal Walls with SW Alabaster Trim
Charcoal Walls with SW Alabaster Trim: wall elevation, color data (LRV 4.9), living room layout for 12, 15, 18 ft walls, cut list, calculator and pre-cut kits
Project calculator
Overview
Charcoal is a dark purple with a violet undertone and a calculated LRV of 4.9. With SW Alabaster trim the molding has strong, graphic contrast (contrast ratio 8.77:1).
Picture Frame layout on a 15 ft living room wall
Molding over the full wall height, upper and lower rows divided by a chair rail. On a 15 ft wall with an 8 ft ceiling this gives 6 frames per row, each 25.3 in wide, with 50 in upper and 21 in lower frames. The layout uses about 45.82 m of 2.5 cm molding, or 20 sticks of 240 cm, including 10% waste. Center the layout on the sofa or TV rather than the wall when furniture is off-center.
Building the picture frame pattern
Each frame is four pieces of 2.5 cm molding with 45 degree miters. Set the frames out from the center of the wall, keep every gap equal, and let the margins at the corners match the gaps.
Painting molding in Charcoal
Muted violets work tone-on-tone in bedrooms; keep the sheen low on the wall.
Wall elevation
Color data
| Color | Brand | Code | Hex | Calculated LRV | Undertone | Depth | Contrast vs white trim | Contrast vs black trim |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charcoal | Generic | #36404A | 4.9 | violet | dark | 9.5:1 | 1.56:1 | |
| SW Alabaster | Sherwin-Williams | #EDEAE0 | 82.2 | warm (yellow) | white | 1.08:1 | 13.69:1 |
Living Room wall sizes: picture frame accent wall layout
| Wall width | Frames per row | Frame width | Frame height (upper / lower) | Molding incl. 10% waste | 240 cm sticks | Chair rail pieces (300 cm) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 ft | 5 | 24 in | 50 / 21 in | 37.27 m | 16 | 2 |
| 15 ft | 6 | 25.3 in | 50 / 21 in | 45.82 m | 20 | 2 |
| 18 ft | 7 | 26.3 in | 50 / 21 in | 54.37 m | 23 | 2 |
Cut list for a 15 ft wall
| Piece | Quantity | Length |
|---|---|---|
| Frame top and bottom (lower row) | 12 | 25.3 in |
| Frame sides (lower row) | 12 | 21 in |
| Frame sides (upper row) | 12 | 50 in |
| Frame top and bottom (upper row) | 12 | 25.3 in |
| Chair rail | 2 | 300 cm lengths |
Pre-cut kits for this wall
Pre-cut kits that fit this project. Open a kit for photos, options and pricing.
01 / KITLiving Room Ready to Assemble Wall Paneling Flat Wall Molding Kit, for Living Areas | Pre-Cut & Primed
From $205.00
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02 / KITPicture Frame Wall Molding Kit, 2 Upper & 2 Bottom Frames | Easy Installation
From $75.00
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03 / KITShadow Box Contemporary Wall Molding Kit, Easy Assembly for Living Room Areas
From $240.00
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04 / KITPrecut Bedroom Wall Trim Molding Kit, Ready to Assemble Wall Paneling | 2 Side Frames & 1 Middle Frame
From $235.00
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05 / KITFrench Accent Wall Trim Molding Kit, Picture Frame Paneling | Easy Installation
From $232.74
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06 / KITPicture Frame Pre-Cut Flat Wall Molding Kit for Living Areas | Factory Primed & Paintable
From $235.00
View kitQuestions
How much molding do I need for a 15 ft living room wall with picture frame frames?
About 45.82 m (150 linear ft) including a chair rail and 10% waste, which is 20 sticks of 240 cm. That assumes 6 frames per row, 25.3 in wide, on an 8 ft ceiling.
Is Charcoal warm or cool?
Charcoal has a violet undertone and reads as a dark purple. Its calculated LRV is 4.9, so it absorbs light, so tone-on-tone molding reads as deep relief.
How high should the chair rail be in a living room?
About one third of the ceiling height: 32 in on an 8 ft ceiling, 36 in on 9 ft and 40 in on 10 ft. Center the layout on the sofa or TV rather than the wall when furniture is off-center.
Trace the details
Sources & dates
Prices, options and photos come from our product catalog on the date shown. Layout tables are planning estimates; measure your wall before ordering.
- Paint color dataset (screen approximations; LRV calculated)Recorded November 11, 2026
- DecoMoldings product catalogRecorded November 11, 2026