inspiration · Picture Frame
SW Alabaster Bathroom Wainscoting
SW Alabaster Bathroom Wainscoting: wall elevation, color data (LRV 82.2), bathroom layout for 5, 7, 9 ft walls, cut list, calculator and pre-cut kits.
Project calculator
Overview
SW Alabaster is a white with a warm (yellow) undertone and a calculated LRV of 82.2. Against white trim the contrast ratio is 1.08:1, which gives almost no contrast, so the molding reads through shadow alone (a tone-on-tone look); painted tone-on-tone, the picture frame pattern shows only through its shadow lines.
Picture Frame layout on a 7 ft bathroom wall
Molding on the lower third of the wall under a chair rail; the upper wall stays plain. On a 7 ft wall with an 8 ft ceiling this gives 3 frames per row, each 22.7 in wide, 21 in tall. The layout uses about 9.67 m of 2.5 cm molding, or 5 sticks of 240 cm, including 10% waste. Use moisture-resistant polystyrene outside the shower spray zone and a bathroom-rated paint.
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 SW Alabaster
Whites show molding through shadow only, so side light (a window or wall sconce) brings the pattern out. Use satin on trim and eggshell on the wall to add a slight sheen difference.
Wall elevation
Color data
| Color | Brand | Code | Hex | Calculated LRV | Undertone | Depth | Contrast vs white trim | Contrast vs black trim |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SW Alabaster | Sherwin-Williams | #EDEAE0 | 82.2 | warm (yellow) | white | 1.08:1 | 13.69:1 |
Trim color pairings
| Pairing | Trim color | Hex | Contrast | Effect |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| tone-on-tone | SW Alabaster | #EDEAE0 | 1:1 | Trim painted the same color as the wall |
| matching white | SW Greek Villa | #F0ECE2 | 1.02:1 | White with the closest undertone |
| contrast | Black | #1F1F1F | 13.69:1 | Dark trim for a graphic outline |
Bathroom wall sizes: picture frame wainscoting layout
| Wall width | Frames per row | Frame width | Frame height (upper / lower) | Molding incl. 10% waste | 240 cm sticks | Chair rail pieces (300 cm) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 ft | 2 | 24 in | 21 in | 6.71 m | 3 | 1 |
| 7 ft | 3 | 22.7 in | 21 in | 9.67 m | 5 | 1 |
| 9 ft | 3 | 30.7 in | 21 in | 11.68 m | 5 | 1 |
Cut list for a 7 ft wall
| Piece | Quantity | Length |
|---|---|---|
| Frame top and bottom (lower row) | 6 | 22.7 in |
| Frame sides (lower row) | 6 | 21 in |
| Chair rail | 1 | 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 / KITWainscoting Accent Wall Kit: Effortless Elegance with Precut Factory Primed Wall Molding, Create 1 Upper and 2 Bottom Frames
From $123.00
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02 / KITHalf Wall Shadow Box Ready to Assemble Wall Paneling Package, Factory Primed Half of Wall
From $235.00
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03 / KITShaker Board and Batten Grid Wainscoting Kit, 1 to 5 Sets | Self-Adhesive Easy Installation
From $69.80
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04 / KITChair Rail Half Wall Wainscoting Kit, 6 cm Rail | Self-Adhesive Easy Installation
From $39.41
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05 / KITBoard and Batten Half Wall Paneling Kit with Chair Rail | Pre-Cut MDF Easy Installation
From $31.42
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06 / KITHalf Wall Wainscoting Kit with 4 cm Chair Rail | Self-Adhesive Easy Installation
From $33.41
View kitQuestions
How much molding do I need for a 7 ft bathroom wall with picture frame frames?
About 9.67 m (32 linear ft) including a chair rail and 10% waste, which is 5 sticks of 240 cm. That assumes 3 frames per row, 22.7 in wide, on an 8 ft ceiling.
Is SW Alabaster warm or cool?
SW Alabaster has a warm (yellow) undertone and reads as a white white. Its calculated LRV is 82.2, so it reflects a lot of light and keeps molding shadows soft.
Should trim be the same color as SW Alabaster walls?
Painting the molding the same color gives a modern, tone-on-tone finish where only shadows show the pattern. White trim adds almost no contrast, so the molding reads through shadow alone (a tone-on-tone look) (1.08:1), and black trim gives 13.69:1.
How high should the chair rail be in a bathroom?
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. Use moisture-resistant polystyrene outside the shower spray zone and a bathroom-rated paint.
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